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Mysteries in Our National Parks #1
Wolf Stalker
Yellowstone National Park buzzes with rumors about a wolf attack.
And a stalker edges through the trees, ready to kill.
Unaware that they are in danger, 12-year-old Jack Landon and his younger sister, Ashley, have their hands full dealing with rough and rebellious Troy Haverson-- the teenage foster child who's just come to live with the Landon family.
From the opening moments at Old Faithful through the next 48 hours, the dramatic tension builds. Keen pacing allows for scenes of suspense, adventure, and tenderness as readers are caught up in the fate of three kids-- and the wolf they've come to call Silver.
And a stalker edges through the trees, ready to kill.
Unaware that they are in danger, 12-year-old Jack Landon and his younger sister, Ashley, have their hands full dealing with rough and rebellious Troy Haverson-- the teenage foster child who's just come to live with the Landon family.
From the opening moments at Old Faithful through the next 48 hours, the dramatic tension builds. Keen pacing allows for scenes of suspense, adventure, and tenderness as readers are caught up in the fate of three kids-- and the wolf they've come to call Silver.
152 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1997
25 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Gloria Skurzynski
90 books30 followers"May you live in interesting times."
That ambiguous wish was not meant to be kind, because interesting times can be difficult. You and I certainly live in interesting times - dangerous, challenging, and fascinating.
My parents were born just before the start of the twentieth century; my youngest grandchild arrived in this century's final decade. The years in between have been the most dynamic in the history of the human race. Technical knowledge has exploded; so has the Earth's human population. We can create almost anything, yet each day we lose parts of our planet that can never be replaced.
I'm greedy: I want to write about all of it - the history, the grief, joy, and excitement of being human in times past; the cutting-edge inventions of times almost here.
--from the author's website
Gloria Skurzynski has also co-written books with her daughter Alane Ferguson.
That ambiguous wish was not meant to be kind, because interesting times can be difficult. You and I certainly live in interesting times - dangerous, challenging, and fascinating.
My parents were born just before the start of the twentieth century; my youngest grandchild arrived in this century's final decade. The years in between have been the most dynamic in the history of the human race. Technical knowledge has exploded; so has the Earth's human population. We can create almost anything, yet each day we lose parts of our planet that can never be replaced.
I'm greedy: I want to write about all of it - the history, the grief, joy, and excitement of being human in times past; the cutting-edge inventions of times almost here.
--from the author's website
Gloria Skurzynski has also co-written books with her daughter Alane Ferguson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 16, 2024
Fun mystery set in Yellowstone Park, at the time that wolves were just being reintroduced to the area, and the ranchers just outside the park were having a lot of feelings about it. I lived near there at the time, and it was CONTENTIOUS. (It might still be, I just don't know.)
It was a little bit funny to read a book where the mom has a brand new cellular phone because of her work, and it has a range of like, twenty miles. It made me feel very old to explain to my kids, Yes, children, gather 'round to hear of ye olden days!
It was a little bit funny to read a book where the mom has a brand new cellular phone because of her work, and it has a range of like, twenty miles. It made me feel very old to explain to my kids, Yes, children, gather 'round to hear of ye olden days!
December 9, 2021
So I read this on the way to and from the horse ranch this morning (and I am glad I brought a book with me as my driver decided to take a longer detour). This is the second book I have read in this series now that is set in the National Parks. And I must say I definitely enjoyed this one a lot more! Why? Because in the first book, Ghost Horses, Jack had been just SO super annoying! He had kept complaining about the other boy his family had taken in. It drove me nuts and I do think it had badly affected the story. And while he was a little grumpy or suspicious in here it wasn't too bad at all. He was being more fair while he brought needed skills to the story.
The new character in here, another boy their family takes in temporary, is Troy. At first I wasn't too sure about him at all. He seemed very cold, tough and had that "leave me alone" attitude. But it turns out that very tough exterior was hiding a very tender heart and I ended up loving him! Which I had not expected at all...because at the beginning he was just so ... Unlikeable! Troy comes from a really bad family and has never experienced many things.
And it turns out I could really relate to Troy too! He has a big heart for animals and he is willing to risk his own neck to save Silver, a wolf in the park. But Troy is a city kid and he doesn't know anything about surviving in the wilderness and certainly not out at Yellowstone! That is pure wilderness. And worse snow is coming! So since I have a close connection with animals (mainly horses but other ones too) I could feel close to Troy and what he was going through.
The action and adventure was great in this one! Just don't expect bubbling volcanoes...it's not that kind of story. It's about wolves and saving wolves. And reintroducing them to Yellowstone. It also explains on how some people hate wolves and how it is illegal to hunt in the park.
This book does have a good mystery too. I admit I did guess the one clue pretty easily. To me it was pretty obvious but it may not be obvious to everyone.
Different editions of this book seem to have different covers but I certainly like this one better. It's more colorful while the other one is too dark and drab.
There is one thing that confuses me. The map at the beginning calls Yellowstone a "biosphere reserve" but doesn't explain what that means. I have never heard that phrase before and I doubt kids will know?
The new character in here, another boy their family takes in temporary, is Troy. At first I wasn't too sure about him at all. He seemed very cold, tough and had that "leave me alone" attitude. But it turns out that very tough exterior was hiding a very tender heart and I ended up loving him! Which I had not expected at all...because at the beginning he was just so ... Unlikeable! Troy comes from a really bad family and has never experienced many things.
And it turns out I could really relate to Troy too! He has a big heart for animals and he is willing to risk his own neck to save Silver, a wolf in the park. But Troy is a city kid and he doesn't know anything about surviving in the wilderness and certainly not out at Yellowstone! That is pure wilderness. And worse snow is coming! So since I have a close connection with animals (mainly horses but other ones too) I could feel close to Troy and what he was going through.
The action and adventure was great in this one! Just don't expect bubbling volcanoes...it's not that kind of story. It's about wolves and saving wolves. And reintroducing them to Yellowstone. It also explains on how some people hate wolves and how it is illegal to hunt in the park.
This book does have a good mystery too. I admit I did guess the one clue pretty easily. To me it was pretty obvious but it may not be obvious to everyone.
Different editions of this book seem to have different covers but I certainly like this one better. It's more colorful while the other one is too dark and drab.
There is one thing that confuses me. The map at the beginning calls Yellowstone a "biosphere reserve" but doesn't explain what that means. I have never heard that phrase before and I doubt kids will know?
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May 17, 2010F SKU mionp bk.1
April 2, 2008
this is a great book.
June 15, 2020
National Parks mysteries? Sign me up.
Wolf Stalker is a fun little mystery obviously intended to get the target audience interested in and excited about the U.S. National Park system, and I'd wager it does a pretty good job doing that. I was particularly impressed that it, being a wolf story put out by the National Geographic Society, does not endorse the outdated, debunked "science" of wolf packs ("alpha wolves" are complete nonsense, thank you very much) and instead explains real wolf pack dynamics to child readers*. The mystery is a bit too to-be-expected, but I'm not going to hold that against the authors; in the first mystery of a series about National Parks, what other trope to start with besides poachers?
*You can read a little bit about that here, though I've gotta offer up some fair warning because that link delves into the subject via the context of abusive men justifying their assaults/behavior as being "alpha males"--which, I repeat quite strongly, are not a thing that exists.
I will point out that this story does feel a bit thematically all over the place, even if I did enjoy it. There's a lot of little things peppered in here that are kind of inexplicable and never get any justification; more glaring among these is the appearance of literal Nazi skinheads, an anti-government militia, and a group of ranchers who compare wolves to Hitler for some reason(!?). Like, why are fascism and antifacism running themes lurking in the background of this children's mystery, present yet never actually addressed? I have genuinely no idea.
The major subplot, regretfully, has much of the same problem. In it, the main character (a little boy named Jack) must learn how to extend compassion to the teenage boy (Troy) that his family is temporarily fostering. It was honestly frustrating for me, personally; if there's one thing I don't want to read about, it's anyone having to learn that the disenfranchised deserve compassion. But the moral of the story is that of course Jack's just being a dick and must learn not to be a dick... which is great and all, but it doesn't really tie thematically in to the wolf plotline. There's an argument to be made that the wolves and the teenager are both misunderstood, but the parallels aren't really there strongly enough to make a good argument on that front. So the "misunderstood foster kid" B-plot is just kind of there instead of actually serving the story.
But like I said, I did enjoy this. I also have quite a few other books in this series hanging around here somewhere, and I'm looking forward to getting into those. I'm very curious to see if this series will continue with the same family of characters (and if it does, whether or not we'll ever see Troy again) or if the next story will not only be about a different park but a whole different cast, too.
Wolf Stalker is a fun little mystery obviously intended to get the target audience interested in and excited about the U.S. National Park system, and I'd wager it does a pretty good job doing that. I was particularly impressed that it, being a wolf story put out by the National Geographic Society, does not endorse the outdated, debunked "science" of wolf packs ("alpha wolves" are complete nonsense, thank you very much) and instead explains real wolf pack dynamics to child readers*. The mystery is a bit too to-be-expected, but I'm not going to hold that against the authors; in the first mystery of a series about National Parks, what other trope to start with besides poachers?
*You can read a little bit about that here, though I've gotta offer up some fair warning because that link delves into the subject via the context of abusive men justifying their assaults/behavior as being "alpha males"--which, I repeat quite strongly, are not a thing that exists.
I will point out that this story does feel a bit thematically all over the place, even if I did enjoy it. There's a lot of little things peppered in here that are kind of inexplicable and never get any justification; more glaring among these is the appearance of literal Nazi skinheads, an anti-government militia, and a group of ranchers who compare wolves to Hitler for some reason(!?). Like, why are fascism and antifacism running themes lurking in the background of this children's mystery, present yet never actually addressed? I have genuinely no idea.
The major subplot, regretfully, has much of the same problem. In it, the main character (a little boy named Jack) must learn how to extend compassion to the teenage boy (Troy) that his family is temporarily fostering. It was honestly frustrating for me, personally; if there's one thing I don't want to read about, it's anyone having to learn that the disenfranchised deserve compassion. But the moral of the story is that of course Jack's just being a dick and must learn not to be a dick... which is great and all, but it doesn't really tie thematically in to the wolf plotline. There's an argument to be made that the wolves and the teenager are both misunderstood, but the parallels aren't really there strongly enough to make a good argument on that front. So the "misunderstood foster kid" B-plot is just kind of there instead of actually serving the story.
But like I said, I did enjoy this. I also have quite a few other books in this series hanging around here somewhere, and I'm looking forward to getting into those. I'm very curious to see if this series will continue with the same family of characters (and if it does, whether or not we'll ever see Troy again) or if the next story will not only be about a different park but a whole different cast, too.
January 29, 2020
I ran into these in a National Park bookstore this summer and knew I needed to check them out at some point. This first book was great - even better than I expected!
Olivia and Stephen have just taken in a foster child whose mother is missing. He insists she is fine and wouldn't leave him, but everyone suspects otherwise. When Olivia, a wolf biologist in Yellowstone, gets a call about a dog-wolf incident that needs investigating, they pack up their kids and head off to Yellowstone. The kids end up witnessing a wolf shot inside the park - can they catch the shooter? And will Troy's mom reappear?
I really enjoyed this book! Sure, it's a kids' book, so it's not overly detailed. But, there's a good balance of learning empathy for someone who has lived a whole different life than you, there's a great love for nature and national parks, and there's some info on the importance of wolves in the park, too. This is what I think is so great about the junior ranger program and books like these - it gets kids interested, gets kids learning, and hopefully they will help to educate their families - and grow up to be responsible caretakers of our natural places.
I'll go 9 of 10 overall and 5 of 5 for readability! Really short, but a great read!
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
Olivia and Stephen have just taken in a foster child whose mother is missing. He insists she is fine and wouldn't leave him, but everyone suspects otherwise. When Olivia, a wolf biologist in Yellowstone, gets a call about a dog-wolf incident that needs investigating, they pack up their kids and head off to Yellowstone. The kids end up witnessing a wolf shot inside the park - can they catch the shooter? And will Troy's mom reappear?
I really enjoyed this book! Sure, it's a kids' book, so it's not overly detailed. But, there's a good balance of learning empathy for someone who has lived a whole different life than you, there's a great love for nature and national parks, and there's some info on the importance of wolves in the park, too. This is what I think is so great about the junior ranger program and books like these - it gets kids interested, gets kids learning, and hopefully they will help to educate their families - and grow up to be responsible caretakers of our natural places.
I'll go 9 of 10 overall and 5 of 5 for readability! Really short, but a great read!
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
January 24, 2018
The book I read was Wolf Stalker by Gloria Skurzynski. It follows Jack, Ashley, and Troy when they go to Yellowstone Park to investigate the mystery of a dog that was killed by wolves with their parents. The parents, Olivia & Steven, go to the scene of the dog while the kids stay at a small area waiting to be picked up by a local park ranger. Troy(who is a foster child) decides he wants to see some wolves and runs away to try and find one, prompting Jack and Ashley to follow. When they find Troy who has found wolves, they watch as two of them hunt down some deer. Suddenly as their watching one of the wolves is shot in the leg. They follow the wolf into the woods where they take care of him for about two days. Once they feel the wolf is better they leave him to himself. They find their parents who are relieved to see them and then go to the man whose dog was killed by the wolves. They realize that he was the one who shot the wolf they were taking care of and also was hunting for deer horn in Yellowstone. They call the authorities to report his crimes and then the book ends. Overall I think this was an interesting book. In the beginning Troy was a foster child who didn’t like Jack that much. But after the woods and the wolf he’s grown to come around to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2022
Staff Review:
While their parents are investing the death of a farmer's dog by wolves, a brother, sister and foster child wander into Yellowstone backcountry as they try to save an injured Wolf.
What an exciting introduction to Yellowstone and its wolves. As an adult who has visited and loves Yellowstone, this book approaches the introduction of the wolves, issues for ranchers & communities, and a taste of the science and hard work behind the introductions in an easy-to-read and understand the story. It has just enough excitement and suspense to keep the reader turning the pages for more. I wasn't a fan of the main character, Jack, but he did learn and grow by the end of the book. This book makes me want to learn even more about these amazing animals!
While their parents are investing the death of a farmer's dog by wolves, a brother, sister and foster child wander into Yellowstone backcountry as they try to save an injured Wolf.
What an exciting introduction to Yellowstone and its wolves. As an adult who has visited and loves Yellowstone, this book approaches the introduction of the wolves, issues for ranchers & communities, and a taste of the science and hard work behind the introductions in an easy-to-read and understand the story. It has just enough excitement and suspense to keep the reader turning the pages for more. I wasn't a fan of the main character, Jack, but he did learn and grow by the end of the book. This book makes me want to learn even more about these amazing animals!
June 18, 2022
What an exciting introduction to Yellowstone and it's wolves. As an adult who has visited and loves Yellowstone, this book approaches the introduction of the wolves, issues for ranchers & communities, and a taste of the science and hard work behind the introductions in an easy to read and understand story. It has just enough excitement and suspense to keep the reader turning the pages for more.I wasn't a fan of the main character,Jack, but he did learn and grow by the end of the book. This book makes me want to learn even more about these amazing animals!
July 20, 2020
I read this as a kid and re-read now since I'm missing national parks. The kids are a little silly, but I know you need to create drama for books. Jack is also a little moody. Overall, though, this is a great way to teach kids about conservation, science, and national parks in an interesting way. Plus, the kids are from Jackson Hole (one of my favorite places) and this one takes place in Yellowstone, which is a fabulous park.
July 5, 2024
Shortly after hearing somone mention reading this series years ago I came across WOLF STALKER frpm the National Parks series. The main characters are a brother and sister ehose parents are a woldlife veterinarian and a photographer. In this book they are joined by a foster child as they visit Yellowstone Park. Somoen has accused the wolves of attacking and killing his dog. While the parents go off to examine some evidence the kids try to help a wounded wolf and end up solving the case.
October 6, 2017
National Geographic published, this was well written. We are to be good stewards of the creation God has given us. This has evolutionary mention regarding "millions of years", and lousy attitudes on the kids' parts including lies, but a good story for young people who are grounded in the Truth and will not be swayed by these negatives.
July 21, 2025
Read with my kids (10 + 7) and they absolutely loved it. Very predictable but was so great to read while driving through Yellowstone as they could mark all the locations in the book as we traveled through!
October 21, 2018
3.5 Good solid mystery and I love the theme of the National parks. Good read aloud for grades 3-5, especially if they are learning about the western states.
December 3, 2018
I love this book. The book throws a curveball at you. The guy who said that a wolf a tacked his dog is the guy who tries to kill a wolf.And the man pointed his gun at Jack.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2019
I read this short National Park mystery to my 6 and 8year olds. They loved it.
December 5, 2019
Would be an interesting read for middle/high school students
April 7, 2020
A great read to get kids interested in conservation, national parks, ecosystem restoration and wildlife management.
April 21, 2020
An excellent read for about 4th/ 5th graders. It loses one star because the dialogue is a little stilted.
November 23, 2020
lots of action and drama
February 15, 2023
Want to read more in this series. Loved the family and they homed a new child every book. Which is a side story and adds to the adventure.
March 11, 2024
exciting and educational
May 25, 2024
Read this as a teen I believe? I probably read this book like 3 times, and would read a hundred times more. I absolutely loved it!
January 17, 2012
Twelve-year-old Jack Landon and his eleven-year-old sister Ashley live with their mom, Olivia, who is a wildlife veterinarian at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, WY, and their father Steven, who is a photographer. The family also takes in Troy Haverson, a somewhat rebellious thirteen-year-old boy whose mother has just disappeared. Then Olivia gets a call from Mike, head of Yellowstone National Park’s Wolf Restoration Program, about a nearby rancher’s dog which was supposedly killed by park wolves, and he wants her to come and investigate. When the Landons arrive at Yellowstone, there are all kinds of people picketing and protesting the wolves, and this slows down the rangers. After Mike comes, he, Olivia, and Steven need to go off to investigate the scene, leaving the children for another ranger to pick up. While waiting, the children see a pair of wolves, and as Jack is taking pictures, one of the wolves is shot.
Troy runs after the wolf hoping to save it and perhaps catch the sniper, so Jack and Ashley run after him, and the three of them spend a cold night in the wilderness with the injured wolf. How will they survive? What really happened to the dog and the wolf? Is there more to the rancher’s story than he’s been telling? And will Troy’s mother ever be found? Wolf Stalker is #1 in the National Parks Mystery series. I first saw a display of these books in the gift shop at Valley Forge National Historic Park in Pennsylvania and recognized the name of one of the authors, Gloria Skurzynski, from another wonderful book of hers, The Minstrel in the Tower, that we had read. Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson are a mother and daughter writing team. It was my hope that there would be one on Valley Forge, but there isn’t, so I bought the one about Yellowstone. Originally, these books were called the “Mysteries in Our National Parks” and published in hardback but most were republished in “digest edition paperback.” This one certainly has a lot of tension and excitement.
However, there are some language and attitude issues. Besides a few childish slang terms (crud, crap, screwed), which I assume are used to make the characters seem “relevant” to modern readers, references to “cussing,” though no actual cuss words are found, and to a “nasty hand gesture,” though it is not described in detail, appear. Jack calls Ashley “tick brain,” and other examples of seeming disrespect occur. The truth is really stretched during the interrogation of the rancher, and on one occasion Jack is actually said to have “lied.” These things may not be issues for many parents, but others may find them somewhat objectionable. For these reasons, I would say ages 12 and up rather than 8 and up. At the same time, despite their spats, it is clear that Jack and Ashley really do love one another, and Olivia said that she “prayed and prayed” while the kids were missing. It’s an interesting story with a good premise and a lot of factual information, but some parents may prefer better role models. Other books in the series take place in Mesa Verde, Everglades, Glacier, Zion, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Virgin Islands, Acadia, Carlsbad Caverns, Denali (Mt. McKinley), and Smoky Mountains National Parks. Another one in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Rage of Fire) is listed but apparently not available in a paperback edition.
Troy runs after the wolf hoping to save it and perhaps catch the sniper, so Jack and Ashley run after him, and the three of them spend a cold night in the wilderness with the injured wolf. How will they survive? What really happened to the dog and the wolf? Is there more to the rancher’s story than he’s been telling? And will Troy’s mother ever be found? Wolf Stalker is #1 in the National Parks Mystery series. I first saw a display of these books in the gift shop at Valley Forge National Historic Park in Pennsylvania and recognized the name of one of the authors, Gloria Skurzynski, from another wonderful book of hers, The Minstrel in the Tower, that we had read. Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson are a mother and daughter writing team. It was my hope that there would be one on Valley Forge, but there isn’t, so I bought the one about Yellowstone. Originally, these books were called the “Mysteries in Our National Parks” and published in hardback but most were republished in “digest edition paperback.” This one certainly has a lot of tension and excitement.
However, there are some language and attitude issues. Besides a few childish slang terms (crud, crap, screwed), which I assume are used to make the characters seem “relevant” to modern readers, references to “cussing,” though no actual cuss words are found, and to a “nasty hand gesture,” though it is not described in detail, appear. Jack calls Ashley “tick brain,” and other examples of seeming disrespect occur. The truth is really stretched during the interrogation of the rancher, and on one occasion Jack is actually said to have “lied.” These things may not be issues for many parents, but others may find them somewhat objectionable. For these reasons, I would say ages 12 and up rather than 8 and up. At the same time, despite their spats, it is clear that Jack and Ashley really do love one another, and Olivia said that she “prayed and prayed” while the kids were missing. It’s an interesting story with a good premise and a lot of factual information, but some parents may prefer better role models. Other books in the series take place in Mesa Verde, Everglades, Glacier, Zion, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Virgin Islands, Acadia, Carlsbad Caverns, Denali (Mt. McKinley), and Smoky Mountains National Parks. Another one in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Rage of Fire) is listed but apparently not available in a paperback edition.
May 17, 2016
Audience: As young as second grade if your kids are gutsy. If not, maybe fourth grade. A few of the books (especially Valley of Death and Over the Edge) are pretty scary. I still have an irrational fear of flash floods from Over the Edge ha ha. But the good news is that there is no sexual content or foul language (as far as I remember).
Plot: Jack and Ashley Landon travel to various national parks with their veterinarian mother and wildlife photographer father. Each book features a new national park and Jack and Ashley learn about the park while solving some mystery the adults can't seem to figure out. The Landons are also a foster family and each book features a new temporary foster child whose rough past adds to the drama of the plot.
What makes them great?
These books are both entertaining and educational. When we read them as kids, my siblings and I learned all sorts of things about the national parks, wildlife conservation, and political controversy, all while hanging on the edge of our seats ( . . . or the side of the bunk bed in this case) to see how the mystery would be solved. I also liked how each new foster child brought in the perspectives of a different lifestyle or culture into the Landon family. It's a pretty good idea. These books are a great series to read aloud to kids, especially in preparation for trips to various national parks.
Where to find them?
We got them through a National Geographic subscription, which I imagine wouldn't work anymore. However, I have seen them at libraries and in national park bookstores and I am sure they are on Amazon somewhere.
Here is a list of all the titles and where they take place:
#1 Wolf Stalker (Yellowstone National Park)
#2 Rage of Fire (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
#3 Cliff Hanger (Mesa Verde National Park)
#4 Deadly Waters (Everglades National Park)
#5 The Hunted (Glacier National Park)
#6 Ghost Horses (Zion National Park)
#7 Over the Edge (Grand Canyon National Park)
#8 Valley of Death (Death Valley)
#9 Escape from Fear (Virgin Islands National Park)
#10 Out of the Deep (Acadia National Park)
#11 Running Scared (Carlsbad Caverns National Park)
# 12 Buried Alive (Denali National Park)
#13 Night of the Black Bear (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Plot: Jack and Ashley Landon travel to various national parks with their veterinarian mother and wildlife photographer father. Each book features a new national park and Jack and Ashley learn about the park while solving some mystery the adults can't seem to figure out. The Landons are also a foster family and each book features a new temporary foster child whose rough past adds to the drama of the plot.
What makes them great?
These books are both entertaining and educational. When we read them as kids, my siblings and I learned all sorts of things about the national parks, wildlife conservation, and political controversy, all while hanging on the edge of our seats ( . . . or the side of the bunk bed in this case) to see how the mystery would be solved. I also liked how each new foster child brought in the perspectives of a different lifestyle or culture into the Landon family. It's a pretty good idea. These books are a great series to read aloud to kids, especially in preparation for trips to various national parks.
Where to find them?
We got them through a National Geographic subscription, which I imagine wouldn't work anymore. However, I have seen them at libraries and in national park bookstores and I am sure they are on Amazon somewhere.
Here is a list of all the titles and where they take place:
#1 Wolf Stalker (Yellowstone National Park)
#2 Rage of Fire (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
#3 Cliff Hanger (Mesa Verde National Park)
#4 Deadly Waters (Everglades National Park)
#5 The Hunted (Glacier National Park)
#6 Ghost Horses (Zion National Park)
#7 Over the Edge (Grand Canyon National Park)
#8 Valley of Death (Death Valley)
#9 Escape from Fear (Virgin Islands National Park)
#10 Out of the Deep (Acadia National Park)
#11 Running Scared (Carlsbad Caverns National Park)
# 12 Buried Alive (Denali National Park)
#13 Night of the Black Bear (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
April 23, 2014
I decided to read one last book in this series before putting it down altogether. This book takes place in Yellowstone National Park and this time the Landon family is investigating the death of a rancher's dog. The rancher claims the dog was killed by one of the recently reintroduced wolves in Yellowstone Park. While the parents are investigating the remains of the dog their children, Jack and Ashley, along with their foster child Troy, end up lost in the woods and protecting an injured wolf they see get shot. Of course, when they are rescued this is vital information to their parents investigation. Since this says it's a mystery, judging it as that the mystery isn't particularly complex. If you like mysteries that require a lot of thought then you will probably be disappointed. This (and most of the series) is more of an adventure story. I think this is probably my least favorite of the four books I've read in this series. It didn't feel as suspenseful as Running Scared (when they were lost in the caves) or have all around crazy going on like in The Hunted (when the kids were attacked by a bear!!!). It did get more interesting near the end when What I also didn't didn't like was how annoying Jack was in this book, fortunately that was a part of his character arc in this book, so he learns by the end of the book to be less bossy. And this is something he learns from because he doesn't have this problem in later books. (yay continuity!)
If you like the other books in the series or think your kids might like them I recommend this book. It is interesting and usually educational.
If you like the other books in the series or think your kids might like them I recommend this book. It is interesting and usually educational.
June 25, 2014
Wolf Stalker is the first in the National Parks Mystery series published by the National Geographic Society.
Book #1 follows Jack and Ashley Landon on an adventure in Yellowstone National Park, where their parents are working. Another boy, Troy Haverson, joins with the Landon family as the kids work together to sort out the source of a problem in the park. Wolves are getting hurt and a local news story breaks out about a rancher whose dog is killed by the wolves on the reservation. Bad publicity for Yellowstone soon ensues. The adventure leads the kids to an all-night camp out trying to save a hurt wolf they find... the question is whether or not it can survive until a rescue team arrives.
Overall, it's a fun story for young readers. There are a few key points to mention to parents though... The story mentions about "millions of years ago when the earth was formed". In one chapter it says that a boy runs off "cussing under his breath". I also don't approve of Troy's bad attitude, but I think the authors were trying to bring out how he had lived a rough life -- even then, not everyone has to have a bad attitude just because of their childhood experiences.
Wolf Stalker still has some good qualities about it, like showing kids what it means to protect the earth, and how to treat wild creatures.
Book #1 follows Jack and Ashley Landon on an adventure in Yellowstone National Park, where their parents are working. Another boy, Troy Haverson, joins with the Landon family as the kids work together to sort out the source of a problem in the park. Wolves are getting hurt and a local news story breaks out about a rancher whose dog is killed by the wolves on the reservation. Bad publicity for Yellowstone soon ensues. The adventure leads the kids to an all-night camp out trying to save a hurt wolf they find... the question is whether or not it can survive until a rescue team arrives.
Overall, it's a fun story for young readers. There are a few key points to mention to parents though... The story mentions about "millions of years ago when the earth was formed". In one chapter it says that a boy runs off "cussing under his breath". I also don't approve of Troy's bad attitude, but I think the authors were trying to bring out how he had lived a rough life -- even then, not everyone has to have a bad attitude just because of their childhood experiences.
Wolf Stalker still has some good qualities about it, like showing kids what it means to protect the earth, and how to treat wild creatures.
September 4, 2014
Wolf Stalker: A Mystery in Yellowstone National Park is a fictionalized novel which deals with our nation's resources, their conservation, and most importantly with The Wolf Preservation Project that was begun in Wyoming. The Landon family, parents Steven and Olivia (who is a wildlife veterinarian) and kids Ashley and Jack travel together to try to solve the mystery of the apparent endangerment of the wolves in park. These wolves were re-introduced into their natural habitat and many citizens are up in arms about it...fearing that their farm and domestic animals are in danger. Dr. Olivia knows better.
So, they travel to Yellowstone to check out the facts and along with them is a troubled foster child, Troy who has abandonment issues. He is sully and withdrawn at first, but quickly bonds with a wolf that he names Silver which has been illegally shot. He connects with the animal in a way that the others cannot.
This series, Mysteries in Our National Parks are full of environmental facts and paint a picture that kids and adults can relate to. The mystery adds an element of fast-paced tension. Great for a class studying this richly landscaped part of The United States.
So, they travel to Yellowstone to check out the facts and along with them is a troubled foster child, Troy who has abandonment issues. He is sully and withdrawn at first, but quickly bonds with a wolf that he names Silver which has been illegally shot. He connects with the animal in a way that the others cannot.
This series, Mysteries in Our National Parks are full of environmental facts and paint a picture that kids and adults can relate to. The mystery adds an element of fast-paced tension. Great for a class studying this richly landscaped part of The United States.
June 25, 2015
This book was better than I thought it would be.
I'd been browsing the gift shop of the visitor center of Zion National Park when I was on vacation and came across an entire shelf of these children's mystery books where each book is set in one of the National Parks. I felt that was a bit of a weird premise, but I remembered devouring mystery books when I was a kid: Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown; I felt, "why not?" and checked book #1 of the series out from the library when I got home. This is how I ended up reading WOLF STALKER, a book set in Yellowstone National Park and primarily about the wolf reintroduction program at the park.
For a kid's book it really isn't bad, and was surprisingly fun. I read it in a couple of hours and it was a pretty decent mystery and features kids doing things that kids probably shouldn't do (run into the wilderness with a bare minimum of supplies, touch wild wolves, help investigate a possible wolf hunter at his house with his many guns), but I thought it was pretty entertaining.
I think it's also neat that the co-authors are a mother/daughter team, the mother primarily a children's author and the daughter primarily a mystery author. Combining their talents to create a children's mystery series is a cool idea.
I'd been browsing the gift shop of the visitor center of Zion National Park when I was on vacation and came across an entire shelf of these children's mystery books where each book is set in one of the National Parks. I felt that was a bit of a weird premise, but I remembered devouring mystery books when I was a kid: Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown; I felt, "why not?" and checked book #1 of the series out from the library when I got home. This is how I ended up reading WOLF STALKER, a book set in Yellowstone National Park and primarily about the wolf reintroduction program at the park.
For a kid's book it really isn't bad, and was surprisingly fun. I read it in a couple of hours and it was a pretty decent mystery and features kids doing things that kids probably shouldn't do (run into the wilderness with a bare minimum of supplies, touch wild wolves, help investigate a possible wolf hunter at his house with his many guns), but I thought it was pretty entertaining.
I think it's also neat that the co-authors are a mother/daughter team, the mother primarily a children's author and the daughter primarily a mystery author. Combining their talents to create a children's mystery series is a cool idea.
April 28, 2011
For kids/5th graders, I'd give it a 4, but for adults, a 3. These books are written for children, but being a National Park Ranger AND a Fifth Grade Teacher, I was DELIGHTED to bump into these at the gift shop in the visitor center at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho (of all places). I had never heard of them before. I was so delighted, in fact, that I wanted to buy all ten they had on display, but my husband said I could only choose two. The authors are mother and daughter. One is an award winning mystery writer and the other is an award winning science author, so they put their heads together and came up with these "educational mysteries", each taking place in a different national park, put out by National Geographic. So, I like to think of it as "Nevada Barr meets Trixie Belden." Nevada Barr writes ADULT mysteries about a female park ranger named Anna Pigeon, each mystery taking place in a different park. I've read all of Nevada's, but due to her increasing harshness, ugliness, edginess...whatever you want to call it, I don't think I can read anything else of hers in the future. I'm excited to see if any of my students will pick this one up!
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