A Wolf Called Wander

By Rosanne Parry, Mónica Armiño (Illustrator)

Book #1 in the A Voice of the Wilderness series

A lone wolf embarks on a perilous journey to find a new home.

5.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 11,993 ratings

243 pages· 30,228 words· Est. 4 hour read

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Swift, a young wolf, is forced to flee when a rival pack attacks, scattering his family. Alone, he embarks on a thousand-mile journey across the Pacific Northwest, facing forest fires, hunters, and hunger. Inspired by the true story of OR-7, this tale of survival and courage explores the challenges of one of nature's most misunderstood creatures. Will Swift find a safe place to call home?

From the publisher

This gripping novel about survival and family is based on the real story of one wolf’s incredible journey to find a safe place to call home. Illustrated throughout, this irresistible tale by award-winning author Rosanne Parry is for fans of Sara Pennypacker’s Pax and Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan.

Swift, a young wolf cub, lives with his pack in the mountains learning to hunt, competing with his brothers and sisters for hierarchy, and watching over a new litter of cubs. Then a rival pack attacks, and Swift and his family scatter.

Alone and scared, Swift must flee and find a new home. His journey takes him a remarkable one thousand miles across the Pacific Northwest. The trip is full of peril, and Swift encounters forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before he finds his new home.

Inspired by the extraordinary true story of a wolf named OR-7 (or Journey), this irresistible tale of survival invites readers to experience and imagine what it would be like to be one of the most misunderstood animals on earth. This gripping and appealing novel about family, courage, loyalty, and the natural world is for fans of Fred Gipson’s Old Yeller and Katherine Applegate’s Endling.

Includes black-and-white illustrations throughout and a map as well as information about the real wolf who inspired the novel.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 243
Words: 30,228
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 670L

Themes & topics

Books about wolves, coyotes, and wild dogs Books about survival stories Books about journeys and voyages Books about wolves Books about family

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Violence

This book contains multiple inclusions of animals hunting their prey (and eating them), as well as more specific animal injuries from the main characters' stories, such as his father having "red come out of him," and thought processes as the main wolf catches his prey. Men also come to shoot at wolves during one scene.

Potty Humor

This book includes a few instances of the animals "wet-marking" their territory.

After the last page

Talk about it together

This book includes extra information in the back on the backstory on the story of OR-7, the wolf the story is based on. What do you think about the story after realizing it's based on a real wolf?

Swift has a great journey with a lot of obstacles. What did you find the most surprising about his journey?

What readers & critics say