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The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8 (A Young Readers' Edition)
"The Unlikely The Story of Wolf 8 is the gripping and true story of a small and scrappy young wolf who became the patriarch of the most powerful pack in Yellowstone National Park. … An inspiring read for any child who loves the natural world." —ROSANNE PARRY, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A WOLF CALLED WANDER
“Reading Rick McIntyre’s books, it’s like you’re out there with him, seeing what he sees.” —LILLY SULLIVAN, THIS AMERICAN LIFE
The Unlikely Hero tells the action and adventure story of one of Yellowstone’s most famous animals, Wolf 8: a runt of the litter who surprised scientists by becoming a powerful leader.
Newly reintroduced along with his pack to Yellowstone National Park, Wolf 8 struggles at first. Small and bullied by his siblings, he must learn to fend for himself in his new home, learning to hunt, compete for food, and even stand up to a grizzly bear 10 times his size. One day, little 8 meets an alpha female raising a litter of pups on her own. Her mate was killed by humans. Can little 8 rise to the occasion and help the young family survive? Is he ready to be an alpha wolf?
Based on McIntyre’s own sightings of Wolf 8 and told in a thrilling style, The Unlikely Hero is an unforgettable adventure—and a rare glimpse into the fascinating world of wolves and a coming-of-age story for underdogs everywhere.
Book 1 in the Chronicles of the Yellowstone Wolves Book Series!
Renowned wolf expert Rick McIntyre and award-winning author David A. Poulsen join forces to bring the stories of Yellowstone's most famous wolves to young readers. Based on McIntyre's award-winning, bestselling books for adult readers, and containing a wealth of scientifically sound information on wolf behavior, this series is written in an engaging style that brings the drama and intrigue of the wolves' world to life.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2024
9 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Rick McIntyre
17 books330 followersRick McIntyre is the acclaimed author of the Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone Book Series, which includes The Rise of Wolf 8: Witnessing the Triumph of Yellowstone's Underdog and The Reign of Wolf 21: The Saga of Yellowstone's Legendary Druid Pack (coming October 2020). McIntyre is currently at work on the third book in the series, about Wolf 302. McIntyre has recorded over 100,000 sightings of wild wolves--which is more sightings than any other person in history--and has written more than 7 million words of wolf observations, making him one of the world's foremost experts on wild wolf behavior. He has been featured on NPR, 60 Minutes, the Washington Post, the podcast This is Love and his book, The Rise of Wolf 8, was an Amazon Best Science Book of the Year and selected as a Notable Book by the prestigious Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Awards.
McIntyre worked as a ranger naturalist and wolf researcher for the National Park Service for four decades including many years in Alaska's Denali National Park, where he first began to study wolves. In 1994 he became Yellowstone National Park's first Wolf Interpreter, educating thousands of park visitors each year on Yellowstone's now-famous Wolf Reintroduction Project, which sought to reintroduce wolves to the park after the last wolves were shot and killed by park rangers 60 years earlier, in the 1920s. One day, McIntyre observed one of the first reintroduced wolves--a small, unassuming pup, the runt of his litter--stand up to a grizzly bear to protect his brothers. Over the next few years, McIntyre watched the small pup grow into a powerful alpha male, whose acts of bravery, loyalty, and kindness impressed McIntyre so much that he made him the subject of his first book, The Rise of Wolf 8. McIntyre profiles Wolf 8's equally remarkable adopted son in The Reign of Wolf 21.
In 1998, McIntyre transferred to the Wolf Reintroduction Project full-time and helped with research on the park's wolf population. He continued to work with the public by presenting talks along the roadside and showing visitors the wolves through his telescope. McIntyre retired from the National Park Service in 2018 to focus on his books, however, he continues to observe the Yellowstone wolves on an almost-daily basis, rain or shine. He lives in Silver Gate, Montana.
McIntyre worked as a ranger naturalist and wolf researcher for the National Park Service for four decades including many years in Alaska's Denali National Park, where he first began to study wolves. In 1994 he became Yellowstone National Park's first Wolf Interpreter, educating thousands of park visitors each year on Yellowstone's now-famous Wolf Reintroduction Project, which sought to reintroduce wolves to the park after the last wolves were shot and killed by park rangers 60 years earlier, in the 1920s. One day, McIntyre observed one of the first reintroduced wolves--a small, unassuming pup, the runt of his litter--stand up to a grizzly bear to protect his brothers. Over the next few years, McIntyre watched the small pup grow into a powerful alpha male, whose acts of bravery, loyalty, and kindness impressed McIntyre so much that he made him the subject of his first book, The Rise of Wolf 8. McIntyre profiles Wolf 8's equally remarkable adopted son in The Reign of Wolf 21.
In 1998, McIntyre transferred to the Wolf Reintroduction Project full-time and helped with research on the park's wolf population. He continued to work with the public by presenting talks along the roadside and showing visitors the wolves through his telescope. McIntyre retired from the National Park Service in 2018 to focus on his books, however, he continues to observe the Yellowstone wolves on an almost-daily basis, rain or shine. He lives in Silver Gate, Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 4, 2024
Thank you Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read and review The Unlikely Hero The Story of Wolf 8 by Rick McIntyre and David A. Poulsen on NetGalley.
Narrator: George Newbern
Published: 10/01/24
Stars: 4
Where were books like this when I was a kid? Genres: Children's Nonfiction, Outdoors & Nature, & Science are all seamlessly woven in a 2.5 hour audiobook. Wolf 8 lives in Yellowstone National Park which added another enjoyable element to the already fascinating story.
This adventure takes the reader through a wolf's life cycle and all that is required of him through birth. Author McIntyre studied the packs. His storytelling is factually based with tidbits sprinkled throughout.
I would recommend this wholeheartedly.
Narrator: George Newbern
Published: 10/01/24
Stars: 4
Where were books like this when I was a kid? Genres: Children's Nonfiction, Outdoors & Nature, & Science are all seamlessly woven in a 2.5 hour audiobook. Wolf 8 lives in Yellowstone National Park which added another enjoyable element to the already fascinating story.
This adventure takes the reader through a wolf's life cycle and all that is required of him through birth. Author McIntyre studied the packs. His storytelling is factually based with tidbits sprinkled throughout.
I would recommend this wholeheartedly.
May 14, 2024
After visiting Yellowstone, I fell in love with the wolves. I have read all of Rick’s adult books, but this is my first children’s book I have read by him. It follows the same straightforward language of his other writing. With just enough details to make you feel like you are there with the wolves, Rick and David have teamed up to write a story that young readers won’t be able to put down. I can’t wait to share it with my 3rd grade class!
March 8, 2025
Reading a story based on actual wolf packs in Yellowstone National Park, written in the third-person point of view of the wolves themselves, is refreshing, original and a delightful educational experience. Even better, a foremost wolf expert intersperses the wolves’ stories with sidebars loaded with fascinating facts and insights, making this both a fiction and nonfiction book, and barely even fiction since most of the story’s incidents actually happened (observed by wolf experts tailing them day and night for many years).
So, The Unlikely Hero offers up nature, adventure, survival and wolf-kingdom insights like no other book, and it’s aimed specifically at middle-grade readers thanks to the talented pen of David A. Poulsen – a Canadian rancher and author of 28 books, many of them award-winning novels for youth.
Poulsen teamed up with Rick McIntyre, a retired National Park Service ranger who has watched wolves in America’s national parks for more than 44 years, 28 of those in Yellowstone, where he accumulated more than 100,000 wolf sightings, worked on the Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Project and educated the public about the park’s wolves, including by writing several books for adult readers.
All that having been said, there are a few aspects that make this book slightly awkward. First,
we’re not with the “main character,” Wolf 8, throughout the story, nor are we always in his point of view. We meet his partner, children, step-children – and sometimes “hang out” with them before returning to him. Second, an omnipotent narrator’s point of view piggybacks (wolf-backs?) on the wolves’ point of view, a necessity given that Wolf 8 can’t really tell us how old he is in human years, how much elk weigh or which rangers are watching him. That switch back and forth is a little difficult to get used to:
8 often traveled by himself, partly because his brothers still sometimes ganged up on him. 8 had no way of knowing it, but he’d just had his first birthday. That meant he was no longer a pup but a yearling, which made him about the same age as a human 12-year-old.
Sometimes after his brothers had beaten up on him, his mother would gently lick 8 on the face and in the places where he had been bitten. That always made him feel better...
The six Crystal Creek wolves continued on their way. It wasn’t long before the two adults spotted a herd of elk. Elk are large — the cows weigh approximately 500 pounds (225 kilograms) and the bulls can weigh up to 700 pounds (320 kilograms). But while they are much bigger than wolves, they are considerably smaller than bison and, as a result, are a lot more manageable as prey. Back in Alberta, 8’s parents had specialized in hunting elk…
The Crystal Creek wolves were not alone in the section of Yellowstone that made up their home. There were other animals, of course, but there were also humans. Among them were the rangers and biologists whose job it was to observe 8 and his family and the other wolves that had been released into Yellowstone National Park. One of those rangers was Rick McIntyre. Rick was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. He and his family lived…
Finally, fictionalizing real events almost always makes for a slightly less gripping read than one made up from scratch; the plot points, actions, pacing and character changes aren’t always ideally aligned. So, even though we get plenty of action – duels between wolves and their competitors (from bears to birds and other packs) – and up-close family scenes that teach us much, and even though we follow Wolf 8 from puppyhood to death, we need to enroll a little more patience than with other novels, animal-told or not.
But back to the nonfiction sidebars. Kids who love learning facts will relish these. Here are some examples:
One term you have already encountered and will see a lot more of in this book is alpha. The alpha male and female are the highest-ranking wolves within the pack. But the leader of the pack is the alpha female, a critical job requiring intelligence, leadership skills and courage. Alpha female wolves are tremendously important to the success of the pack. Beta females and males are secondary to the alphas. ⋆ RICK
Wolf parents will often feed their pups by regurgitation — that is, bringing food they have stored in their stomachs back up into their mouths and then spitting it out onto the ground for the pups to eat. The pups will run to the returning hunters and lick their faces. The licking will trigger the regurgitation, which is not the same as nausea or throwing up. The adults are not sick; they are just providing food for the youngest members of the family. When pet dogs lick the faces of their human friends when they return home, it is a reminder that their distant ancestors were wolves. ⋆ RICK
Occasionally Rami (a school-visiting tame wolf) would pick out a child she wanted to meet. If that happened, the student could pet her. Sometimes it was a girl Rami chose to befriend, and other times a boy. It might be a young child or an older one. Kent began to ask the teachers if there was anything special about the student the wolf had chosen. The teachers nearly always said the wolf had gone to the most picked-on boy or girl in the school. ⋆ RICK
In summary, this book is incredibly rich in knowledge about wolves and the natural environment, as well as fun and gripping to read. It’s an unusual treat that many a middle-grade reader will lap up.
NOTE: THIS REVIEW ALSO APPEARS AT https://yadudebooks.ca, A BOOK-REVIEW SITE THAT CONNECTS BOYS WITH READING.
So, The Unlikely Hero offers up nature, adventure, survival and wolf-kingdom insights like no other book, and it’s aimed specifically at middle-grade readers thanks to the talented pen of David A. Poulsen – a Canadian rancher and author of 28 books, many of them award-winning novels for youth.
Poulsen teamed up with Rick McIntyre, a retired National Park Service ranger who has watched wolves in America’s national parks for more than 44 years, 28 of those in Yellowstone, where he accumulated more than 100,000 wolf sightings, worked on the Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Project and educated the public about the park’s wolves, including by writing several books for adult readers.
All that having been said, there are a few aspects that make this book slightly awkward. First,
we’re not with the “main character,” Wolf 8, throughout the story, nor are we always in his point of view. We meet his partner, children, step-children – and sometimes “hang out” with them before returning to him. Second, an omnipotent narrator’s point of view piggybacks (wolf-backs?) on the wolves’ point of view, a necessity given that Wolf 8 can’t really tell us how old he is in human years, how much elk weigh or which rangers are watching him. That switch back and forth is a little difficult to get used to:
8 often traveled by himself, partly because his brothers still sometimes ganged up on him. 8 had no way of knowing it, but he’d just had his first birthday. That meant he was no longer a pup but a yearling, which made him about the same age as a human 12-year-old.
Sometimes after his brothers had beaten up on him, his mother would gently lick 8 on the face and in the places where he had been bitten. That always made him feel better...
The six Crystal Creek wolves continued on their way. It wasn’t long before the two adults spotted a herd of elk. Elk are large — the cows weigh approximately 500 pounds (225 kilograms) and the bulls can weigh up to 700 pounds (320 kilograms). But while they are much bigger than wolves, they are considerably smaller than bison and, as a result, are a lot more manageable as prey. Back in Alberta, 8’s parents had specialized in hunting elk…
The Crystal Creek wolves were not alone in the section of Yellowstone that made up their home. There were other animals, of course, but there were also humans. Among them were the rangers and biologists whose job it was to observe 8 and his family and the other wolves that had been released into Yellowstone National Park. One of those rangers was Rick McIntyre. Rick was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. He and his family lived…
Finally, fictionalizing real events almost always makes for a slightly less gripping read than one made up from scratch; the plot points, actions, pacing and character changes aren’t always ideally aligned. So, even though we get plenty of action – duels between wolves and their competitors (from bears to birds and other packs) – and up-close family scenes that teach us much, and even though we follow Wolf 8 from puppyhood to death, we need to enroll a little more patience than with other novels, animal-told or not.
But back to the nonfiction sidebars. Kids who love learning facts will relish these. Here are some examples:
One term you have already encountered and will see a lot more of in this book is alpha. The alpha male and female are the highest-ranking wolves within the pack. But the leader of the pack is the alpha female, a critical job requiring intelligence, leadership skills and courage. Alpha female wolves are tremendously important to the success of the pack. Beta females and males are secondary to the alphas. ⋆ RICK
Wolf parents will often feed their pups by regurgitation — that is, bringing food they have stored in their stomachs back up into their mouths and then spitting it out onto the ground for the pups to eat. The pups will run to the returning hunters and lick their faces. The licking will trigger the regurgitation, which is not the same as nausea or throwing up. The adults are not sick; they are just providing food for the youngest members of the family. When pet dogs lick the faces of their human friends when they return home, it is a reminder that their distant ancestors were wolves. ⋆ RICK
Occasionally Rami (a school-visiting tame wolf) would pick out a child she wanted to meet. If that happened, the student could pet her. Sometimes it was a girl Rami chose to befriend, and other times a boy. It might be a young child or an older one. Kent began to ask the teachers if there was anything special about the student the wolf had chosen. The teachers nearly always said the wolf had gone to the most picked-on boy or girl in the school. ⋆ RICK
In summary, this book is incredibly rich in knowledge about wolves and the natural environment, as well as fun and gripping to read. It’s an unusual treat that many a middle-grade reader will lap up.
NOTE: THIS REVIEW ALSO APPEARS AT https://yadudebooks.ca, A BOOK-REVIEW SITE THAT CONNECTS BOYS WITH READING.
April 23, 2024
THis Junior Library Guild recommended title is the first of a series that recount in detail (and with excellent storytelling style) the factual lives of some of the earliest wolves moved to (and later born into) Yellowstonee Park in order to repopulate the animals that once were native to its lands.
One of the co-authors, Rick McIntyre, has long been involved in observation and documentation of the process. For many years he directly recorded the details of WOLF 8's life and patterns. Co-authored by David Poulsen, this short account is told in both voices, very effectively and acce=ssively for young readers.
The events in then lives of Yellowstone wolves are both heartwarming and harsh, but the text does not advocate for any point of view beoyond that own the wolves. Plenty of natural science is embedded to make the predator/prey cycles understandable and also to indicate the very distinct connection nbeqteen humans and wolves across vasts expanses of time. Each wolf reveals its distsinct personality without anthropomorphizing.
A valuable read that will intrigue many young audiences and may encourage adult audiences to read Mcintyre's other titles for adults. This title is the first inn a planned series that will document other notable wolves of Yellowstone, allowing readers to learn more and more with each account.
One of the co-authors, Rick McIntyre, has long been involved in observation and documentation of the process. For many years he directly recorded the details of WOLF 8's life and patterns. Co-authored by David Poulsen, this short account is told in both voices, very effectively and acce=ssively for young readers.
The events in then lives of Yellowstone wolves are both heartwarming and harsh, but the text does not advocate for any point of view beoyond that own the wolves. Plenty of natural science is embedded to make the predator/prey cycles understandable and also to indicate the very distinct connection nbeqteen humans and wolves across vasts expanses of time. Each wolf reveals its distsinct personality without anthropomorphizing.
A valuable read that will intrigue many young audiences and may encourage adult audiences to read Mcintyre's other titles for adults. This title is the first inn a planned series that will document other notable wolves of Yellowstone, allowing readers to learn more and more with each account.
October 7, 2024
Reviewed version of this book is the audio version (which doesn't seem to be listed as an edition on GoodReads yet). I would highly recommend the audio version; especially if on your way or driving around Yellowstone National Park. We visited Yellowstone last May and did see a wolf in the Lamar Valley. I was looking for an audio about Yellowstone prior to our trip; would have loved to have found this one. The story of Wolf 8 looks to be the first in a potential series.
The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8 was very well written. (And well written for both children and adults, especially if a child were interested in being a national park ranger.) This book tells the story of one of the first wolves introduced to Yellowstone, but there are also "side bars"/additional information by Rick throughout the book. His insight really added a lot of depth to the story.
George Newborn did a great job narrating.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and authors Rick McIntyre and David Poulsen for approving my request to listen to the advance review version of The Unlikely Hero in exchange for an honest review. Approximately 2.5 hours.
The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8 was very well written. (And well written for both children and adults, especially if a child were interested in being a national park ranger.) This book tells the story of one of the first wolves introduced to Yellowstone, but there are also "side bars"/additional information by Rick throughout the book. His insight really added a lot of depth to the story.
George Newborn did a great job narrating.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and authors Rick McIntyre and David Poulsen for approving my request to listen to the advance review version of The Unlikely Hero in exchange for an honest review. Approximately 2.5 hours.
September 29, 2024
The Unlikely Hero, The story of wolf 8, is a book aimed at the 9-12 age range. I was given access to the audio version and listed to it with my 7.5 yo daughter. I wasn't sure how it would go, but she was drawn in immediately by the soothing voice of narrator George Newbern. The personal reflections from Rick McIntyre were very interesting and David A Poulson's storytelling about the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park was captivating. It was truly a pleasant surprise to learn about wolf facts and have my daughter apply them to our family dog. ITs been a few days since finishing the audio book and my daughter has been regaling family and friends with wolf stories and watched a video of a wolf at Yellowstone with amazement. Thank you so much to Dream Scape Media for allowing us access to this new series!! We will most definitely be interested in following the series as it progresses.
December 25, 2024
This is a middle grade retelling of Rick McIntyre's "the Rise of Wolf 8," the first of his amazing reporting of the adjustment of the wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. This slim volume condenses the tale without sacrificing the essential point and does not sanitize the facts of the rough lives of wild wolves.
Based on extremely extensive and continuous observation, the familial details are astounding as the authors help us understand the generational learning capacities of wolves and the diversity of individual personalities of wolves.
If you don't have the inclination to read the full report in "The Rise of Wolf #8" then read this one and you very well might end up with the inclination to read several of McIntyre's detailed books, unlike anything ever before written and unlikely to ever be repeated.
Based on extremely extensive and continuous observation, the familial details are astounding as the authors help us understand the generational learning capacities of wolves and the diversity of individual personalities of wolves.
If you don't have the inclination to read the full report in "The Rise of Wolf #8" then read this one and you very well might end up with the inclination to read several of McIntyre's detailed books, unlike anything ever before written and unlikely to ever be repeated.
February 21, 2025
I was anxious to learn more about Wolf 8 after reading A Wolf Called Fire by Rosanne Parry. While there's an adult nonfiction book titled The Rise of Wolf 8 by Rick McIntyre, this young reader's edition was the perfect way for me to dive deeper into his story. I really enjoyed learning about Wolf 8 and his stepson, Wolf 21. Both wolves were remarkable, kind leaders, and McIntyre’s observations of their lives made the story even more captivating. This is the first book in a series about the Yellowstone wolves, and I’m excited to see what the second installment brings!
Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
Jayme A. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
Jayme A. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
April 24, 2024
Ages 8+
I had a feeling this would be a bit of a vanity purchase for my nonfiction collection - that is, it was a book that I thought I would be interested in reading. And it was! I feel like this is a great booktalk for 3-5th grade kids who like animal stories. Although there's some anthropomorphization of the wolves thoughts and feelings, it suits the book's fiction-ish bent.
For your nature and animal lovers. (Though not for your very sensitive ones; there's plenty of abuse, pupicide, and murder because wolves.)
After finishing this book as an adult, I felt like I could take the story of Wolf 8 and use it as a framework for some pretty serious ABO shifter fanfic. So many battles and drama! Wolf 40...a villain for our times.
I had a feeling this would be a bit of a vanity purchase for my nonfiction collection - that is, it was a book that I thought I would be interested in reading. And it was! I feel like this is a great booktalk for 3-5th grade kids who like animal stories. Although there's some anthropomorphization of the wolves thoughts and feelings, it suits the book's fiction-ish bent.
For your nature and animal lovers. (Though not for your very sensitive ones; there's plenty of abuse, pupicide, and murder because wolves.)
After finishing this book as an adult, I felt like I could take the story of Wolf 8 and use it as a framework for some pretty serious ABO shifter fanfic. So many battles and drama! Wolf 40...a villain for our times.
December 17, 2025
Voor iedereen die meer wil leren over de intelligentie en de sterke familiebanden van een wolf. Wolf 8 is één van de Canadese wolven die in het Yellostone National Park werden losgelaten en daarmee heeft bijgedragen aan de terugkeer van de wolf in de Amerikaans natuur.
De wolven hebben nummers en voorin het boek kun je goed nakijken welk nummer ook al weer tot welke roedel behoort. Het hele verhaal is gebaseerd op jarenlange waarnemingen door bioloog en wolvenexpert Rick McIntyre. Bibi Dumon Tak vertaalde het boek in het Nederlands onder de titel
'Een onverwachte held. Het verhaal van Wolf 8.'
Zelf lezen vanaf 9 jaar.
In de bibliotheek staat het boek bij de informatieve boeken. Het leest echter als een spannend verhaal en kan ook prima als zodanig gepromoot worden.
De wolven hebben nummers en voorin het boek kun je goed nakijken welk nummer ook al weer tot welke roedel behoort. Het hele verhaal is gebaseerd op jarenlange waarnemingen door bioloog en wolvenexpert Rick McIntyre. Bibi Dumon Tak vertaalde het boek in het Nederlands onder de titel
'Een onverwachte held. Het verhaal van Wolf 8.'
Zelf lezen vanaf 9 jaar.
In de bibliotheek staat het boek bij de informatieve boeken. Het leest echter als een spannend verhaal en kan ook prima als zodanig gepromoot worden.
August 7, 2024
An immersive narrative of the Yellowstone wolves, and most notably, Wolf 8. The runt of the litter that showed a resilient and strong character lived and thrived successfully in the wild. McIntyre and Poulsen brings the reader on an unforgettable journey where they dive deeply into the wolf packs, providing an experience with the wolves’ personality, habits, successes, and challenges along the way. Very well-written and filled with events personally witnessed. Excellent read!
August 12, 2024
Really great, accessible, interesting story following some of the reintroduced wolves of Yellowstone. There's a lot of harsh reality in here, but I think it's well and factually presented -- kids who are passionate about wildlife need to know the truth of things (pupicide, fights to the death, hunting). McIntyre's love for the wolves shines through, and it's a gift to learn about the reintroduction firsthand.
October 16, 2024
Thoughtful
Moving
Written primarily in third person, but as if the wolves were people (the book tells readers what happened to the wolves, but also tries to infer the reasons why the wolves made the decisions they did and what they were experiencing, thinking, and feeling)
Be prepared for the circle of life and all the emotions it may evoke
Generally recommended online for ages 9-12 and grades 4th-7th
Moving
Written primarily in third person, but as if the wolves were people (the book tells readers what happened to the wolves, but also tries to infer the reasons why the wolves made the decisions they did and what they were experiencing, thinking, and feeling)
Be prepared for the circle of life and all the emotions it may evoke
Generally recommended online for ages 9-12 and grades 4th-7th
June 13, 2025
Supposedly Wolf 8 is the wolf Rosanne Parry’s Wolf Called Fire book is based on
Rick McIntyre worked for park service
Not sure if this is the kid version of adult book by same author or separate
B&W drawings, bold type indented paragraphs with Rick’s notes of actual wolf behaviors
Very readable
Wish there were sources, but the authors are the experts
Love ending section about wolves and people connected from native approach
Rick McIntyre worked for park service
Not sure if this is the kid version of adult book by same author or separate
B&W drawings, bold type indented paragraphs with Rick’s notes of actual wolf behaviors
Very readable
Wish there were sources, but the authors are the experts
Love ending section about wolves and people connected from native approach
December 21, 2025
This is a young adult book about the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park in 1995. It is a great insight the activities and lifestyles of different packs. It was interesting to learn of Wolf 8 and how the runt of the litter became one of the greatest leaders, not not one of the most compassionate.
Side note: I did not realize this was a young adult book until after I finished listening to it. I'm glad I did listen to it, it was an enjoyable story.
Side note: I did not realize this was a young adult book until after I finished listening to it. I'm glad I did listen to it, it was an enjoyable story.
June 7, 2024
This is a wonderful little book following the life of wolf number 8, one of the first wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. This is a fascinating book written by an expert in the field. I also found descriptions of the different pack dynamics interesting.
This project has been so successful and an amazing example of how we can repair some of the damage done in the past.
This project has been so successful and an amazing example of how we can repair some of the damage done in the past.
September 24, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape for a copy of this audiobook for my honest review.
My kids and I listened to this book in one day. We loved it. Devoured it. It was a pretty straightforward telling of the story of wolf 8. We loved the wolves! We are looking forward to listening to more books by the authors and narrator!!
My kids and I listened to this book in one day. We loved it. Devoured it. It was a pretty straightforward telling of the story of wolf 8. We loved the wolves! We are looking forward to listening to more books by the authors and narrator!!
January 20, 2025
Easily read in one sitting, this was an engaging and interesting MG version of The Rise of Wolf 8. Authors love for wolves shines through. Circle of life is front and center, sensitive upper elementary may find this distressing. Overall an excellent read.
June 19, 2024
Fascinating and fun - great for reluctant readers!
July 7, 2024
The gripping and true story of a small and scrappy young wolf who became the patriarch of the most powerful pack in Yellowstone National Park.
December 27, 2024
I was caught up in this narrative. I love Yellowstone NP and enjoyed learning about some of the individual wolves that were introduced back into the park in the mid 1990's.
January 6, 2025
My seven year old daughter and I devoured this book and I cried…several times. What a beautiful tale. I’m jealous of Rick’s time spent watching these amazing creatures!
January 23, 2025
Very interesting.
June 28, 2025
anthropomorphized wolves
July 8, 2025
I had no idea a nonfiction book about wolves would be so fascinating. I couldn't put it down.
August 16, 2025
Written from the wolf's point of view and tells of wolves being reintroduced in Yellowstone.
September 21, 2025
Ik houd van de wolf, een prachtig en interessant dier. Wolf 8 zit in mijn hart (en wolf 21 ook).
September 30, 2025
A charismatic tale of a real world journey. Gruesome at times, but it’s the fact of life for this lack of wolves. Very descriptive and visual
March 29, 2025
The true story about Wolf 8 and the other Yellowstone wolves told once again by Rick McIntyre. This book is definitely a bit of a more juvenile version of the author's "Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone" series, but it's still good and I do recommend it.
October 22, 2024
Wolf 8 was part of the reintroduction program that reintroduced wolves to Yellowstone National Park. He was the runt of his litter and was almost left behind in Canada as a pup. The story of his life is so interesting and his impact on the wolves of Yellowstone National Park is long lasting. It was an interesting story to listen to and learn from. I can’t wait for the Chronicles of Yellowstone Wolves to continue.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this book prior to publication.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this book prior to publication.
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