Wolf

by Valerie Hobbs

Jack has finally found a home and a purpose on a farm, where he keeps a flock of sheep safe from coyotes and helps train young pups to do the same. But when two sheep disappear in broad daylight, Jack doesn't know what happened to them. Was it his fault? Is he just getting too old for this job? Still, he's determined not to disappoint his boy, Luke, who thinks that Jack is the smartest and fastest dog around. Then Jack and Luke discover that the animal threatening their farm is far more dangerous than any coyote: it's a rabid wolf. Jack knows that he must gather the courage and strength to protect the ones he loves most―but can an old dog learn new tricks?

Wolf, the heartwarming sequel to Sheep, also stands on its own as another classic dog story from Valerie Hobbs.

Genres: Dogs, Animals, Fiction, Chapter Books, Nature, Adventure, Young Adult

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2013

About the author

Valerie Hobbs is the author of many award winning novels for young adults including Sonnys War, Tender, and How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadnt Called You Back, for which she was designated a Flying Start author by Publishers Weekly in 1996. Hobbs was the winner of the 1999 PEN/Norma Klein award for an emerging voice of literary merit among American writers of childrens fiction and the Arizona Library Association Young Adult Author of the Year in 2003. Defiance, her most recent middle-grade novel, was given the 2006 most distinguished fiction award by the Childrens Literature Council of Southern California and has been nominated for twelve state awards. "

Reviews

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in alternating voices of the rabid wolf and Jack, the border collie from the previous book, Sheep. A very moving story.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal response:
I like this book because I was reading about my favorite animals. You read about horses, dogs and my most favorite wolves. This book was kind of an easy read but it kept me interested, it always wanted me to read more to see what happened.

Plot Summary:
The book Wolf was about this wolf who got kicked out of his pack and is looking for a new pack or trying to find a mate. This wolf decides to crash next to a sheep farm. This sheep farm has sheep dogs or herding dogs they are called border collies, these dogs are bred to work with herding animals, mostly sheep. The lead dogs name is Jack, Jack's owner is Luke. Luke has to take care of the farm, he has to watch over the sheep and with the help of his dogs. One of the new pups named Jackie wants to just like Jack and tries her hardest. Luke took Jack and Jackie to the fair and entered them in a sheep herding event, since Jack is old he took second place instead of first like he usually did. The wolf was desperate for a mate so he tried to get Jackie to be his partner when Jackie ran home the wolf followed; three of Luke's dogs went to attack the wolf. The wolf bit on of the dogs and the dog got rabies. At the very end of the book Luke and his close friends go out and try to kill this wolf. Luke sits down by a tree and the some of the tree branches fell on him, while Jack went to get help the wolf came again. Jack kept dodging his attacks. Jackie was there to help, she bit the wolves tail while Jack bit into the wolf's neck also dug his claws into his back. The wolf ran off into his cave where he later join the rest of his pack in heaven.

Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals. I give this book a five star because it was really interesting on how the dogs acted when they saw something different or something not right they would alert the owner. With this book I never found myself confused or lost. This is a great book easy book to read, I think everyone who likes the canine family should read it.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack, the border collie whose story is first told in Sheep, worries about growing older and slower and finding someone to take his place in helping out on the ranch. Still, despite his worries about the approach of old age, he continues to adore his human companion, Luke, and would do anything to please or protect him. When a rabid wolf enters the area and threatens the sheep, Jack is willing to risk his life for Luke. The author describes perfectly the emotions of Jack as he worries about Jackie, his granddaughter, and her fitness to lead the other dogs, and how to protect his domain. She somehow captures effectively the worries that assail Jack as he realizes that there is nothing he can do to slow down the onslaught of time. Interestingly, Jack often shows more awareness, patience, and insight than many of the humans that surround him. The inclusion of chapters related from the wolf's perspective add immeasurably to the story's appeal. Like many, I hope there will be more to Jack's story.

[Progressional Fantasy Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't exactly love this book. I mean, it was good for people that don't love so much exciting books, but a book that you could just read if you just kind of want to lay down and watch a documentary - that sort of book. So, to make it straight, it WAS interesting, but if you're someone that likes a good, exciting book, I wouldn't recommend this book for you because it isn't so exciting due to the problems that occur in the story. The writing style was interesting from the given POV - a dog, Jack. But other than that, the writing was just similar to your normal ordinary writing (not that innovative or special). The characters didn't have that much emotion, besides maybe Jack, the dog and main character, but other than that they felt pretty dry. It's a relatively short read, but it felt longer to me because it was pretty "so so."
So, I didn't "love" this book, but it could've just been because it wasn't the type of book I'd ever want to read, now that I've fully experienced it and not just from the synopsis.

Also see this review @ http://kidbookreviewer.com

[Gwen Dandridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of us who have waited for the sequel to the award winning “Sheep,” this is it. Jack, the sheepdog is getting older and many trials are upon the horizon. From the young pups training to herd, to a sheepdog trial, to a new and dangerous threat to his sheep, Jack has challenges that would test the abilities of a lesser dog, but Jack has his unusual past and tricks up his paw. But will he let his fears prevail? Val Hobbs creates a great story that pulls the reader into Jack’s world with a predator that threatens Jack’s whole world--his person, Luke.

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack is very committed to taking care of his boy and his sheep. There is something lurking in the woods. It smells like coyote, but not quite. Jack vows to keep everyone safe, no matter what the cost.
(reviewer #26)

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing life from a devoted dog's perspective - well done.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, interesting, told from the dog's - and the wolf's - perspectives. Who knew that some border collies could count?

[Aulanie Olivares · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Wolf by Valerie Hobbs is a terrific book!I think it really important to read books that are realistic fiction.I say this because it makes you realize that events in the book can actually happen in real life.For example,somewhere in the beginning of the book Jack the Border Collie and his owner Luke were adopted by Olaf and Katherine who own a farm.There are people out there in the world who were or are being adopted,but not necessarily by people who own a farm.But the tragic ending of the book really makes you think about the animals in the book especially since it's the kind of book that tells you their thoughts.This book can relate to other realistic fiction or historical fiction books because of how real the events are.If I had to recommend this book to someone,it would have to be people who really care about animals,like veterinarians.This is because the book is mainly about Jack and his companions and their sheep.

[Mely · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love Jack! This is a compelling sequel to Sheep. I love that this author can put her young readers through all the feels. You can't help but root for our furry protagonist. We can't wait to read more of his story and also looking forward to reading more from this writer.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice balance of drama, humor and tragedy in a storyline accessible for younger readers.

[Kenneth Bwanika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be used in the classroom to teach students lessons on responsibility, accountability, and friendship. I enjoyed reading the book and I think it's great for all level learners. Jack is getting older and he feels it's starting to affect his job of looking after the sheep and teaching the new puppies. The story unlocked some of my emotions as I started getting attached to the characters. Jack's old age came with wisdom and patience, while Jackie was fearless and ready to take on the big responsibilities. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think I can be a great tool to be used in the classroom. This book reminds of the feeling I get every time I go back home after a long semester. I really relate to Jack in a way that I have to find a new purpose in the house with my young sibling. Jack is always looking for a new way to inspire Jackie.

[asiya | アセヤ (free palestine) · Rating 2 out of 5]

So... This book definitely did NOT live up to it's title from the first one. Sadly, the story strayed away from the dog's perspective and went more towards the humans' perspective. Not a fan of this book at all, I had definitely expected something much better, given that I had actually cried in the first one, and this one was just ridiculous.

[Carol Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story shifts between two non-human points-of-view. Jack is the border collie who is responsible for the sheep on the ranch, so when two sheep come up missing, he feels responsible and worries that his age is catching up with him. Wolf has been kicked out of his group and must find territory of his own. In his search for food, he snared a rat that bit him. Now, he's sick.

I just discovered that this is the sequel to Sheep. I didn't read that! This story is a fine read on its own, but I did get the feeling that there was a back story I was missing out on, when Jack and his owner, Luke, were on their own. I thought at times that the back story sounded more interesting, even though I didn't know about Sheep.

[Katie Bettis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story,"Wolf" by Valerie Hobbs is about a border collie named Jack ,that works on a farm, one day realizes that two sheep disappeared. At first he thought it was his fault, but later he found out that the animal who took the sheep was a rabid wolf. Jack has to protect the ones he loves most. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction.

[Ashton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: Wolf by Valerie Hobbs follows the life of an aging sheep dog, Jack, on a farm with coyote threats. Jack’s owner and best friend, Luke, first begins to notice that Jack is aging when he loses the annual sheep herding competition at the county fair. This leads to Jack’s fear that he will be unable to care for the sheep or worse Luke. The book also tells the story of a rabid wolf alone in the woods near Luke’s family’s farm. The wolf first attacks Jack’s sheep and then one of the other dogs. After one of the farm dogs get rabies Luke knows that there is a threat to his farm. As Luke set out to kill the rabid wolf he finds himself in danger and it is Jack and the other farm dog, Jackie, which save him. In the end we see that while Jack is aging he is capable of protecting those he truly loves.
Review: The dynamic aspect of this book is what make the average story line, a good book. The perceptive of the farm dog is the first great part, Hobbs writes so well, I am convinced she knows how dogs think. The next great part of the book is the alternating perceptive of the wolf, which allows the reader to make assumptions about the plot and feel more connected to the story. Hobbs also balances the two perceptive well, if she chose to speak more from the wolf it would have gotten confusing, but she manages it just right. The story is predictable and not that great but the way the book is written is what make it a good book. I might use this book in a class to help encourage student to write from different perspectives as it makes any book truly interesting.

[Carol Royce Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not realize that there was a book I should have read (Sheep) before reaching for this book, but that didn't end up mattering too much. Wolf stands on its own, telling an exciting story of Jack, an aging prize-winning Border Collie who adores his owner, Luke, and knows it his duty and responsibility to protect and honor him at all times. When the sheep on the farm are threatened by what seems to be a pack of coyotes, Jack is on full alert, especially as he feels responsible for every one of them, too, and does not see any of the two year old dogs ready to be lead dog.

But what Jack doesn't know, is that the danger is far greater than a pack of coyotes...it's a wolf that has been forced out of its pack and is in search of a mate and new territory. Unfortunately, that wolf is sick.

Besides being a good book to teach point of view, as the reader is taken from hearing the perspective of Jack to that of the wolf, this book would also be a good story to use as a read aloud when teaching persuasive writing. As you read you begin to consider your own ideals about what to do when wildlife endangers your livelihood as well as the use of guns. Can't wait to share this with some students, and with only 116 pages, I know it will appeal to some reluctant readers.

[Emilee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sequel to her first book Sheep. Jack is a loving border collie who has been the a lead dog for years herding sheep for his faithful owner Luke and his father Olaf. He lives with 4 other younger dogs who he often feels responsible to mentor and help them. This story is told from the view of Jack the dog. He has an internal conflict because he’s getting older and can’t perform and quickly as he used to. He gets frustrated by it. Any farm owner is naturally challenged with the possibility of coyotes killing their flock. Unfortunately a beast kills one of their sheep. Jack knows something is wrong but struggles to figure out what it is that’s attacking his sheep it’s not the norm, They discover that it is a rabid wolf. The wolf got rabies and its only drive was to survive and later to mate. At times the book will change typography and tell the story from the view of the wolf it’s confusion and starvation. The story was hard to follow towards the beginning trying to figure out who was a dog, who was a human. It was definitely tricky. I also had a student reviewer who felt the same way. If students like Call of the Wild this is a good recommendation.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about an aging ranch dog and his struggles with aging and a dangerous foe, a rabid wolf. The dog, Jack, and his best friend must deal with aging, disappointment, and a threat to their family's ranch.
I liked that this book was written from Jack's perspective. It was different and I liked that the author thought to write from that perspective and make the book more interesting for the reader. Not many people think about how an animal views the world. I also liked the inclusion of acceptance of passing time and changes. Jack learns that he is not such a young pup anymore and that things sometimes must change in our lives. I did not like the ending of the book too much. It seemed rather abrupt but perhaps that is because the life of the wolf was coming to an abrupt end as well. I also liked the perspective of the wolf being added to the story. While the wolf was the antagonist in the story, the reader can also see that the wolf was trying to survive alone with a fatal illness.

[Penny Peck · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this continuation of SHEEP, Jack the dog describes an incident on the farm - a rabid wolf is killing sheep in the area. On the positive side, the novel is brief and fast paced (just over 100 pages), and Jack is an interesting narrator (told in third person but from Jack's perspective). Luckily, I had already read SHEEP or I would have been lost; it doesn't really stand on its own and SHEEP is a stronger book. But for fans of SHEEP, this is a nice follow-up. It may inspire some readers to seek out Jack London's CALL OF THE WILD, which is referenced in this story.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wolf, a dog, a boy...that's the way this children's book begins but it quickly unfurls many layers! This story is primarily written from the border collie's and wolf's perspective. It is a narrative about survival, loyalty, and finding one's "place" in society (human or otherwise). A great book for teaching point of view, voice, and empathy. One cannot help but feel for all all the characters involved, especially the antagonist. My next read-aloud!

[Cornell Poder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf is a good book in my opinion. It will tell you the story in two different points of views. One of the POV (point of views) is a dog named Jack. Jack is a Border Collie. The other POV is a wolf that was like banned form the pack. So the wolf had to live on his own for the entire story. But at the end there is a some bright side for the wolf, Jack,and along with Jack's handler Luke. This is and exciting story filled with adventure, action, and a lot of drama in my opinion.
Done by: Sierra

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a book with a border collie on the cover! So many connections and notes for this one, wish I was writing reviews back when I read Sheep in 2006. I love Jack's self awareness of his aging process, memories of my beloved Guthrie. Love the alternating canine POV, love Jack, love it all!

[Courtenay · Rating 4 out of 5]

(spoiler alert!) Goodness, but I feel for the wolf! I identified with it like I did Charlotte in Charlotte's Web, all alone at her death at the fair. As for Jack, I've followed him through both stories and feel his pain, too, at aging, but the big emotional tie was to the rabid wolf trying to find a mate...

[Alex T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple but decent story about an old Border collie trying to prove himself when coyotes and a wolf attack his flock. Bit too short and black-and-white and basic in my book, and I do wish it was more about the wolf, but it's not bad, either.

Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...

[pati · Rating 2 out of 5]

Animal narrator for a realistic story is always tough to pull off and this book is marginal because the animal/human story don't quite come together for me. Everything in this story wraps up too neatly; nature is brutal and raw,Wolf is sugar-coated nature.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good appeal with wolves & dogs, and I'd recommend it to "Call of the Wild" fans, but confusion abounds with on/off anthropomorphic animals. I much preferred "Summer of the Wolves." It also referred to much to the previous book's plot line, which kept reminding me was I reading a sequel.

[Isaiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought is was a nice book and action was a big part of it and feelings and about animals, I do not like it that much there is not enough detail though and it gets pretty boring for me but over it was ok.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ageing border collie Jack first introduced in the novel Sheep takes on a rabid wolf. A short engaging dog story told well from the alternative perspectives of the dog and the wolf.

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. I loved the dog Jack...fiercely loyal.
Felt terrible for the wolf .

This might be a perfect story for a boy who likes dogs, the outdoors and a shorter book.