A Wolf Called Wander - Rosanne Parry

Not a book you’ll find on many a TBR. Not a book that’s a proof you’ve been dying to get your hands on from a book blogger’s perspective. A shame because it’s a most entertaining read. This book was a Christmas present from some dear friends who live in Portland, Oregon. The author is a local lady. My friends that thought as I’m a reader a locally sourced book would appeal to me. It’s been on my TBR shelf since Christmas. And during this current unprecedented lockdown due to coronavirus I have read all my proofs and blog tour books and I’m now starting on my neglected TBR shelves. This is the first I’ve picked because I love these friends dearly and I’m dying for them to know how much I enjoyed the book. That begs the question did I enjoy it?

‘A New York Times bestseller

The wolf star, brightest of all in the summer sky, shines over my home ground. I know every hidden lake and rocky ridge, but if my pack is not in the mountains, then it is no home to me. I feel a howl deep inside, but dare not let it out.

Swift lives with his pack in the mountains, until one day his home and family are lost. Alone and starving, Swift must make a choice: stay and try to eke out a desperate life on the borders of his old hunting grounds, or strike out and find a new place to call home. The journey Swift must go on is long and full of peril for a lone wolf, and he'll need to take every chance he can. Will he find the courage to survive all by himself? 

Inspired by a true story, A Wolf Called Wander is about family, courage and survival. With beautiful illustrations from artist Mónica Armiño and an extra factual section about wolves and their environment, this book is perfect for animal lovers.’

Wolves have always fascinated me. Perhaps it’s the fairytale ‘big bad wolf thing’ but I’ve always felt they’ve got something of an unfair rap as predator and devil.This book, which I believe is probably intended at the younger reader, redresses that balance.

The whole story is told from the perspective of the wolf, initially called Swift,but as he matures prefers to be known as Wander, a juvenile wolf, who is separated from his family, his pack. So it typifies the 'lone wolf' concept except that Swift/Wander doesn't want to be a lone wolf! He wants a home and a family. Does he get it? Read the book. It’s apparently based on a true story of a wolf who was microchipped so that scientists could track just how far a wolf can travel. 1,000 miles ! 

It’s a wolf coming-of-age story, I guess! For in it Wander learns how tough it is to survive; to find food, to find water, to be safe, to learn about humans and the threat they pose. It’s an endearing narrative that attempts to get inside the wolf’s head as he tries to make sense of this world he’s left alone in. It attributes him with emotion, conscience and a kind of morality. The story is accompanied by some lovely illustrations. At the end of the book there’s also some factual information about wolves which I found very interesting.

I had no expectations of the book at all when I began it. As a reader I did think of Jack London, White Fang, Call of the Wild, and for me, being as perverse and contrary as I am, the title made me think of John Cleese and A Fish called Wanda but once I got beyond all of that I was totally immersed. And easy, straightforward, entertaining and informative read. A good choice for a sunny lockdown afternoon.