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.
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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) ( )

It's a good book! ( )

Intense story about a boy who loses his father and must destroy a possessed demon-bear before it destroys the world...sounds crazy but very very good (set 6,000 years ago!) ( )

It's action packed! ( )

I liked this book because it is exciting, thrilling even. It takes you back in time to an age with no cars and electrical items. ( )

a fantastic book about a kid how can talk to wolves his father was killed by a bear and now has to survive in the wild with a possessed bear chasing after him.This story was set in the olden days before guns were invented i recommend it to kids with a reading age of 10-11 or better ( )

it was interesting but it sucked that the dad died and i also liked the all the fighting i will try to read the other books ( )

It has a lot of detail and numerous tasks. ( )

I enjoyed this book very much. Michelle Paver takes the reader into the world of Tovak ad his people with all the knowledge of the natural world, and the terror of living so close to it, that they eperience. But most of all I love this book because my 12 year old son has read it and its sequels this Summer, and can't wait for the last two. When you're an avid reader with two sons who are really lukewarm about it, that means a lot! ( )

I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by this Caudill nominated book. It takes place 6000 years ago when people are mostly nomadic and live in clans. Torak and his father live away from other people. After his father is killed by a bear, who turns out to be demon possessed, Torak is on a quest to try to stop the bear. He has to journey to the Spirit Mountain and find three items to give to the great spirit that answer the ancient riddle. Torak finds an orphaned wolf cub and it turns out he has the ability to speak the language of wolves. Renn for the Raven clan also is a helpful companion on the quest. This is the first in a series. Although I won't be running out to read the rest of the series, I think this book will definitely appeal to many of the students participating in the Caudill program. ( )

3 4 5 ( )

love this series of books. but hate that they only comes out ones a year. you want to read all the books right away. ( )

An absolutely action packed and fast paced adventure story! Wolf Brother is the first book in the series, 'Chronicles of Ancient Darkness'. I was kept one on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. Will Torak achieve what he promised his father he'd set out to do; find the mountain spirit and defeat the demon bear? Or... will the physical and laborious obstacles that face Torak, Ren and Wolf throughout their journey prevent them from doing so? The time period of six thousand years ago really draws one into the primitive nature in which our ancestors lived. The need for survival is a constant. I very much enjoyed reading 'Wolf Brother'. A treacherous and exciting tale of companionship, friendship, family and survival. ( )

http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200... ( )

Awesome read, set thousands of years ago
Adventure with fantasy elements ( )

Wolf Brother is a tale of survival and good versus evil in a prehistoric setting. The main character, Torak, begins the story as a new orphan faced with an impossible quest: find the unfindable Mountain of the World Spirit and defeat the demon-possessed bear intent on destroying all Torak holds dear. Although he begins his quest alone, he is soon joined by a wolf cub who shares a special bond with Torak, and plays a special part in his quest. This story has it all. Well-developed characters, a rich setting, adventure, good versus evil, friendship, danger, and a special focus on our place in nature. Fans of survival stories should enjoy this book, as well as fans of epic fantasy concerned with saving the world. Very highly recommended! ( )

it is an great book ( )

Wolf Brother is a very good bok it has every thing a good book needs. ( )

An interesting story set in the time of ice in Europe. A boy's father is killed by a bear, a bear with supernatural strength and the father send the son to help kill it.

With the help of a wolf cub and a girl from another tribe he fights tribe elders who want to kill him, the elements and overwhelming odds.

An interesting story that really paints a solid picture of what it must have been like without being too patronising or too modern. ( )

This is definitely a children's book. Whereas the backdrop is different (set in Europe of 6000 years ago), the themes/plot aren't. It is a typical 'orphan on quest to fulfill prophesy and defeat evil' storyline.

However, it is still a wonderful book. It is fast paced, adrenalin-packed and keeps you hooked all the way through. This would make a great book for children just getting into proper reading.

I shall be seeking out the rest of this series. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Mostly because of the archaeological research that went into it, but also because it’s absolutely thrilling and adventurous. The setting of the story is 6000 years ago when Western Europe was still covered by forest, and the people in it were hunter-gatherers. They didn’t have the wheel, writing, metals, or farming, yet. That’s the archaeological part. As for how they thought, their spirituality, how they interacted with their surroundings, this the author got from the more recent lives of the San of Southern Africa, the Native American tribes, Eskimos, and the Ainu of Japan. An example is the description of what is done to prey after it’s been killed. That no part of the animal is wasted, what’s not eaten is used to make pouches, and string and clothing, etc, etc.

Then there’s the story of a 12 year old boy, whose father raised him , taught him the ways of a hunter and the ways of the Forest, but kept him separate from people. The story opens with his father dying, having just been mauled by a bear. Before he dies however, he manages to croak out some cryptic pieces of information, like that the bear is possessed, the boy has powers that he doesn’t know about, he needs to make his way to a mountain that nobody has ever found, he’ll have a guide, and that he’s the only one who can defeat the bear (demon) before it destroys the entire forest and life as he knows it. That’s all in the first few pages.

From then on it’s your typical coming of age story, just with an added dose of adventure, intrigue and lots of heart. ( )