Faelan the Wolf: Odd Wolf Out

Read NZ Te Pou Muramura accidentally sent out 2 review copies for this book, so you have 2 reviews for the price of one!

Anabel's review:
This tale, set in the wolf world, is the first of three books that follow Faelan, a young, vegetarian wolf set apart from his pack by his idiosyncrasies and lifestyle.

It is reminiscent of classic anthropomorphic books such as Watership Down by Richard Adams, and Tales of Duncton Wood by William Harwood, in that Faelan and his comrades have a dangerous quest to fulfil, the outcome of which will affect the future of the pack.

Early on in the book we are made aware of Faelan’s failings but also his ability to withstand peer pressure, and his quiet determination not to conform but to live life his own way. Despite being shunned for his lifestyle, Faelan does not aspire to become like his peers, but would just like acceptance.

The one criticism I have is the awkward juxtaposition of McIver’s writing styles for older and younger students, with the more serious themes and plot mixed with slapstick humour that do not always sit well together.

I read this book in one sitting; it is 172 pages long and very readable. It has a bright, inviting cover and has comprehensive notes and discussion points provided by Scholastic.

Claire's review:
The main protagonist in this book is a vegetarian, harp playing, tea drinking wolf called Faelan (Fee-lan) whose best friend is a skunk called Flora! It’s a chapter fantasy book with 20 chapters approximately 8-10 pages each chapter. It’s the first book in a fantasy set of 3 books.

The story centres around a wolf pack led by a dying leader, a son who is Faelan's enemy and a daughter who is Faelan's friend who tells him his father is still alive. There’s a rival wolf pack led by Varg who wants to control the whole area. Tara the leader's daughter persuades Faelan to come with her on an adventure.

The book is very fantasy based and while not my preferred genre, it includes some nicely placed drama, intrigue and humour (especially from the skunk).

The first pages house a map that illustrate the quest that Faelen will embark on, but it felt badly laid out map and was hard to decipher and read.

This book could be a bedtime reader, a class read aloud or a starter chapter book for burgeoning young readers. The book finishes with a nice set up for the second book in the series.