Summer of the Wolves

by Polly Carlson-Voiles

Julie of the Wolves meets Hatchet in this middle grade novel that follows orphaned twelve-year-old Nika and her seven-year-old brother Randall as they leave a California foster home to visit a long-lost uncle in the wilderness lake country of Northern Minnesota. A phone call from their uncle sets them on a journey in a small floatplane over the thick green forest canopy, to spend the summer on a wilderness island. Nika, of all people, knows not to get her heart set on anything, but as she follows her uncle in his job studying wolves, Nika stumbles upon a relationship with an orphaned wolf pup that makes her feel — for the first time since her mother died — whole again. Here in these woods, with this wolf, none of the hard things in her past can reach her.

With vivid details about wolf behavior and a deep sense of interconnectedness with nature, this captivating first novel illuminates the intricacies of family while searching for the fine balance between caring for wild animals and leaving them alone.

Genres: Animals, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Wolves

343 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Polly Carlson-Voiles grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, spending memorable long summers in Hawaii, Virginia, and the north woods of Minnesota. Stray animals, wild animals, deep woods, ocean waves, storms and lakes helped shape her love for science and the natural world. During high school and college she discovered the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness, which became a lifelong magnet. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in English and Art, she lived in California for several years before moving back to Minnesota to teach special education and English.

Polly's interest in writing for children ranges from poetry, picture books, non-fiction, and middle grade novels. Her teaching spanned grades K-12 in settings from elementary to juvenile detention to teaching teen parents. From her teaching Polly learned that books are windows, glue, tunnels, and telescopes for children at any level of learning.

While visiting her cabin on Lake Vermilion, Polly noticed a disturbance in the glassy water of the lake, only to watch a deer swim out into the water, pursued by a wolf. After several attacks the exhausted wolf swam back to land 50 feet from where Polly stood, camera-free but electric with interest. It is this wolf who worked its way roundabout into Polly's winter book, Someone Walks By, The Wonders of Winter Wildlife. She says it was this wolf and a frozen frog who inspired her to illustrate and write this book.

With their children grown, and both retired from teaching, Polly and her husband Steve moved up north to live full time in the wild and beautiful lap of the BWCAW, outside of Ely, Minnesota, where the wolves howl and leave their tracks at the bottom of the driveway.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, I'm sad this book isn't more popular. It is a great book, especially for kids who love animals. It also deals with some pretty heavy issues, like being an orphan and the problems with foster systems and the problems with protecting endangered predators. The whole book feels very true. This is one of the first books I've read in a while in which the main child character actually acts exactly their age. Nika is 12--a precocious 12, used to being independent after the death of her parents--but definitely 12. Given that, and the emotional place she's in, she makes some bad decisions, but she eventually learns to be happy with the family she still has. Although, I have to say, at least from her perspective, the family she has is (at the least) unaccustomed to dealing with preteen girls. A little bit of affection never hurts, awkward naturalist bachelor uncle. And her relationship with her brother seems strangely superficial, especially given that they've been the only family for each other for two years. I mean, he's seven. You don't expect much from a seven-year-old. But at points she seems to forget she has a brother. Then again, maybe if I had a baby wolf to take care of when I was 12, I would have been okay with ignoring my brothers for a while. Other than that, it's a really great book, and I'd still probably give it a 4.5.

[lorien ‧͙⁺˚*･༓ଳ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! Not only does it include wolves and a girl who has fantastic name, but the whole story is just gorgeous. It takes place in the woods and Annika (main character) takes care of the wolves in some sort of sanctuary. The author writes beautifully and overall the plot and everything is excellent! This is a great summer read. You must read this! ; )

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh. Another children's novel that seems more concerned with teaching us about the environment or animal cruelty or fill in the cause of the day than it does with TELLING A STORY. Especially a story that a kid would want to read.
This book had potential. A 13 year old girl and her little brother are orphaned when their mom dies in a car accident. No known relatives to live with. Out of the blue, an Uncle is discovered who lives in the wilderness and studies wolves. So far so good. This could be adventurous and interesting.
NOT SO!
We have alternate chapters between the girl's narrative and a she-wolf's. It is dumb. It just didn't work and felt contrived. The story rambles, you don't much like the girl, don't much like or understand the Uncle and I (who normally cry during "animal books") could've given a flip about the she-wolf.

[Lisa Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received my copy of Summer of the Wolves free in exchange for writing a review of it. Usually I steer clear of juvenile fiction, but the title of this book attracted me and I enjoyed every page of it.

Nika, the main character, and her brother, are orphaned and have been shuffled between foster homes for over a year. Eventually, social services locates their long-lost uncle, and Nika and her brother are sent to live with him for the summer.

Uncle Ian lives in the lake and park country of Northern Minnesota, and works as a wolf researcher. Nika helps her uncle rescue and raise a wolf pup, and despite Ian's warnings she falls head over heels in love with the pup. The book is somewhat predictable as it describes her resistance to loving and trusting her uncle, and her pain and loss over her deceased parents. But the author does a good job bringing Nika's character to life, and readers will identify with the awkward tween years and the fierce love a child can have for a pet.

Carlson-Voiles does a beautiful job describing the lakes and rivers, the wildlife, the trees and the seasons in her book. I could almost smell the pine trees and hear the loons calling. The secondary characters are well developed, including a doting grandmother figure and a villain. The reader also learns a lot about the lives of wolves - their social interactions with each other, their diets and the importance of wolves in the control of deer populations. The author addresses how wolves need wilderness areas in order to thrive without vilifying those who don't want wolves near their livestock. She also reveals the intelligence and loyalty in these cousins of our domestic dogs.

This book would expand nicely into a series about Nika's adventures in wolf country, and I hope the author writes a sequel. The editor compares Summer of the Wolves to "Hatchet" and "Julie of the Wolves", but it also reminds me of "My Side of the Mountain." I would have loved this book when I was a girl. I recommend Summer of The Wolves to any pre-teen girl (or boy) who enjoys outdoor adventure stories.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gem caught my eye in my local library. When I saw the beautiful, young, black wolf with golden eyes on the cover, then read the description, I just knew this book was for me. I am a HUGE wolf lover and love all things wolves.
Nika and her brother Randall have been bounced around to different foster homes for nearly
two years after their mother died. Finally, their Uncle Ian was notified and the kids were sent to him. Uncle Ian lives in a pretty isolated place in the wild lake country of Minnesota. He studies wolves, their habits and keeps a track on some through radio collars.
Everything changes when Nika and Ian stumble across an abandoned wolf pup. Nika learns what it's like to care for the pup, trust Ian and even learns about letting go of something you love so much.
I fell in love with the characters, the places and most of all, Khan. What I wouldn't give to have an experience like Nika! It's on my bucket list to someday visit a Wolf Sanctuary.
Don't let the "Young Adult" genre fool you. This can be read and enjoyed by adults too. Highly recommend!!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book at the recommendation of my 10 year old grandchild. The story features two children who were put into the foster system and were subsequently placed in the care of an uncle who was a biologist who lived in Minnesota and studied wolves.

[Adyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

summer of the wolves is an awesome book.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping to like this book more than I did. I give one star for the decent descriptions of the beauty of Minnesota’s north woods, and a second star for the author’s ability to sprinkle interesting wolf facts throughout the story. It was hard to continue liking the main character after she moved to Minnesota, and her uncle seemed too much of a cold fish. Perhaps the story would be better appreciated by its intended audience (probably readers in the 10-14 yrs range).

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect children's book, something my 10-year-old and current selves could both agree on. Orphan children meeting an estranged uncle who happens to be a wildlife biologist, an age difference equal to the one with my own brother, remote Minnesotan wilderness, a resilient young girl trying to make the best of what little stability she has left, and of course, WOLVES!

I really loved how the author captured the attitude of a naive 12-year-old whose love for animals sometimes outweighs common sense, such as when she sure there's nothing wrong with taking her half-grown wolf out for a run off leash because he always stays near her/comes when called (so far) (except that one time but surely that was atypical). It deserves awards.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young reader I would have lived and breathed this book. I would have been mesmerized by Nika's experiences with the wolf cub, and spent hours imagining myself into the wilderness setting. I highly recommend it just for those moments. But as an adult reader, I found myself becoming impatient with Nika's obstinance and obtuseness. Her character shows great intuitiveness and sensitivity in her relationship with the cub, yet makes one bad decision after another, showing no personal growth till the slap-dash ending. Her character is well-drawn enough that I found myself arguing with author -thinking that Nika would have figured things out a lot sooner in the story.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read! Nika is a girl who has lost both parents in separate events, and since no relatives are available, she and her brother, Russell, have been living in various foster homes. Finally, a log lost uncle is found. Uncle Ian researches wolves, and lives in the northern reaches of Minnesota, which is a completely different environment from her California home. I found the characters very believable, and the storyline shows the development of family ties.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nika is visiting her long lost uncle in the Minnesota wilderness after bouncing around 4 Pasadena foster homes in 18 months. He studies wolves. They find a pup with its dead mother and raise it together, as Nika tries to figure out what family and home mean to her.

The relationship between Nika and the wolf was beautifully written. I had to take a few breaks to hug my own "wolves," aka dogs, because the text conveyed so perfectly the mysterious connectedness between people and animals.

[willa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

So, this book was cute.

It's about an orphan named Nika. She has to go to live with her uncle Ian. He studies wolves and stuff like that. In the woods one day, they find a little wolf pup. They raise him and name him Khan.

Every book can't get to the point right away.

They have to build characters and backgrounds.

But I feel this book was really hard to get into and enjoy until they met Khan. It kind of bored me, and I was wondering when we would get to the good part.

Honestly, I don't know what I was expecting from this. Maybe a few more wolves, a little wilder, but overall it was a good story.

Nika did get a little too worked up about not getting to keep Khan. I mean, she knew it had to happen but wouldn't accept it.

I think with a few more edits this could be a really good story.

:D

[Lara Vehar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was different. I actually really liked it. It touches on fostering and the troubles foster kids face. It's also a heartwarming story about finding family and wild animals ... and the question if an animal that was rescued and raised by humans could be set free again and kids dealing with and accepting that no they cannot be released and wild again but they can live a good life in a huge pen where they get taken care by humans but with minimal interferance. I loved that we watched Khan the wolf pup rescued at the beginning of the book after his mother gets killed and the rest of the litter is sold away grow up right alongside Nika the main character, who feels abandoned by everyone and feels like nobody needs her... until she realizes where her home is. It's a really great book that has a really different story.

[Sierra Wadlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very well written, I love animals and this book is a perfect read for young readers to learn about them. The first time I read it, I was in 3rd grade, I'm in 8th now, and I have read it at least once every year since just as a quick read, it is till one of my favorite youth books.
Most of the characters are portrayed nicely but, the end was kind of rushed, I think their could maybe be a second book written to look back on how things all ended maybe.

[Leah Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply but beautifully written, Summer of the Wolves is a sweet coming-of-age type of story about being lost and finding home within your heart. Told from the perspective of ten year old Nika, whose voice brings together childhood dreams and fears, and new ideas for how to deal with the very real hardships of life. It's a lovely story for most anyone to enjoy.

[julie morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolves are so misunderstood

I am a wolf fan and this book is well written. A lot of truth not just with how to handle wolves but all wildlife. I hope my grandchildren get to see a live wolf in their lifetime and sanctuaries are still around.

[Jawahir Garane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl and her little brother they are orphanes. Nika and her brother live with their aunt but she has heart desies so they have to go Minnesota to go live with their uncle. I would recommend this book to who ever likes to read about animals.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book all the way through, but the resolution felt a bit rushed at the end. The characters were well developed except Elinor. I felt the book could have done just as well without her. Overall loved this story.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming story about a girl, a wolf, and finding your place in life. It is more of a YA than anything, but I did enjoy it. While it is fiction, it contains some good information about wolves.

[Snakebite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Nika, a girl who was orphaned a couple of years ago, when she finds a wolf pup and raises him with her uncle.
I thought that this was a very good book and would recommend this to anyone who likes stuff like The Last Diving Horse in America.

[grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever if you love animals I particularly like wolves. Khan is the greatest wolf you will ever hear of.

[Love]

It's my new favorite book! You have to read it

[Christine Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a young person who loves the wild and especially animals. Lots of details regarding the care of wolves and the complicated issues around trying to save wild/endangered animals.

[Kristy McRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this one up because I love wolves. I was not disappointed! A great coming-of-age story about a girl trying to find her place in the world and in her family.

[Geni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story with (for once!) good, realistic depictions of wolves!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story to introduce conservation to young readers.

[Nikki]

I think it was really good, I would definitely read it again and again. I love how Nika thinks of a name like Khan, its a really good name.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming-of-age tale set in far northern Minnesota in which young Nika learns the power of holding on (building family) and letting go (releasing creatures to be wild).

[Doris Ware · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book