Synopses & Reviews
A New York Times bestseller
"Don't miss this dazzling tour de force." – Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal winning author of The One and Only Ivan
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.
Review
"Wander's first-person narration...lends a unique perspective and immediacy to the story...Armiño's realistic black-and-white illustrations fill in gaps, making this memorable adventure a beautiful one as well." ALA Booklist
Review
"Inspired by a true story, Rosanne Parry evokes the Pacific Northwest with lilting, sensory-driven ambient details.... Parry's choice to have Swift narrate his own perilous journey brings an on-the-ground intimacy to the story.... Parry has written about being far from home before ...it's a terrain she captures expertly." The New York Times Book Review
Review
"Rife with details of the myriad scents, sounds, tastes, touches, and sights in Swift/Wander's primal existence, the immediacy of his intimate, first-person, present-tense narration proves deeply moving....A sympathetic, compelling introduction to wolves from the perspective of one wolf and his memorable journey." Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Rosanne Parry is the author of the novels Heart of a Shepherd and Last of the Name, among other acclaimed titles. She lives with her family in an old farmhouse in Portland, Oregon, and writes in a tree house in her backyard. www.rosanneparry.com