My Mum is a primary school teacher who, every year, tries to get the children in her class to read good quality books. Books which are well written, which have storyline, and which contain key writing elements which are taught as part of the English lessons (how to use writers’ hooks, to describe all the senses etc.). Since I received this book for Christmas a few years ago she has read them the opening paragraph:

“Torak woke with a jolt from a sleep he’d never meant to have. The fire had burned low. He crouched in the fragile shell of light and peered into the looming blackness of the forest. He couldn’t see anything. Couldn’t hear anything. Had it come back? Was it out there now, watching him with its hot, murderous eyes?”

Every year, without fail, the class all press her to read the whole opening chapter. She does. When she asks the children if they want the book’s details so that they can get a copy and read the whole thing she is nearly killed in the rush, and over the next few weeks many of the class can be found devouring this book in their spare time.

The detail and historical accuracy throughout so much of the book is outstanding. I think the world she has created is wonderful, and several years’ worth of schoolchildren agree with me. Be careful when giving this book to very young children to read though – it’s rather violent and scary in places for tiny tots. ( )

This book is a great book for adventure and some action. I like this book because it's about a teenage boy and his beloved wolf. ( )

this book is very heartwarming. a kids father dies he has to live on his own. then he finds a wolf pup that saves his life ( )

They say to never judge a book by its cover. But I like pretty shiny things.
So it went on my wishlist because it came as an automated recommendation, and stayed there because it was pretty.

Then I bought it because it was pretty.

Then it stayed in my shelf for a year looking pretty.

Eventually I came to my senses and decided that I should actually READ it.

So I gave the book a try. I had a slight idea that it as young adult's literature. I thought it was fantasy.

It was not exactly fantasy, but it sure was magical. I was hooked on the story from the first pages. I only had to start to read to be transported to this whole new world, and share my adventures with Torak. And Wolf. How I loved Wolf.

This story is not exactly new, as few stories are. Is the same old boy saves the world. The boy and its dog, or in this case, wolf. The boy and his friends. But it is beautifully done, a gripping story. The fact that it is set in pre-historical times makes it all more believable, even if there are demons about. ( )

Thousands of years ago the land is one dark forest. Its people are hunter-gatherers. They know every tree and herb and they know how to survive in a time of enchantment and powerful magic. Until an ambitious and malevolent force conjures a demon: a demon so evil that it can be contained only in the body of a ferocious bear that will slay everything it sees, a demon determined to destroy the world. Only one boy can stop it - 12 year old Torak, who has seen his father murdered by the bear. With his dying breath, Torak's father tells his son of the burden that is his. He must lead the bear to the mountain of the World Spirit and beg that spirit's help to overcome it. Torak is an unwilling hero.
----------------
Innuendo: Nothing at all.

Violence: A bear is possessed with an evil demon and it hurts/kills some people.

Swearing: None

Smoking, Drinking, or Drugs: Not a problem

Similar/better Books: The Five Ancestors series by Jeff Stone (similar idea of a boy(or boys) trying to defeat evil by themselves) ( )