Lone Wolf

Living up in the north woods, Perry Dubois and his dad don't see other people much. Perry's dad likes it that way, and Perry is getting used to it, too. So when Willow Pestalozzi and her large family move in nearby, Perry is not all that happy about it. For starters, Willow and her sisters ask too many nosy questions. Like, why doesn't Perry go to school? And where's his mom? And how does it feel to be an only child? But even though the Pestalozzis remind Perry of everything he wants to forget, he can't help being drawn to the generous warmth of their family. Kristine L. Franklin sends a bolt to your heart in an extraordinary novel that reveals how learning to laugh again also means being able, at last, to cry.

Perry and his father live in virtual isolation in the woods after his mother left them following the death of Perry's little sister in a car accident. The novel shows how a family can fall apart after a death. Perry's father copes by cutting himself off physically and emotionally, and Perry follows his example. Perry's friendship with the new neighbour, Willow, and her family triggers his memories. He finally releases his grief over his sister's death, his mother's leaving, and his father's emotional distance and current physical absence. During this period his father is also coming to terms with his loss and becoming more open.

Good YA novel.

A boy lives in a secluded area - has no friends.

Enjoyed. Recommend for intermediate/senior primary level.