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Two Wolves
One afternoon, police officers show up at Ben Silver’s front door. Minutes after they leave, his parents arrive home. Ben and his little sister Olive are bundled into the car and told they’re going on a holiday. But are they?
It doesn’t take long for Ben to realise that his parents are in trouble. Ben’s always dreamt of becoming a detective – his dad even calls him ‘Cop’. Now Ben gathers evidence and tries to uncover what his parents have done.
The problem is, if he figures it out, what does he do? Tell someone? Or keep the secret and live life on the run?
It doesn’t take long for Ben to realise that his parents are in trouble. Ben’s always dreamt of becoming a detective – his dad even calls him ‘Cop’. Now Ben gathers evidence and tries to uncover what his parents have done.
The problem is, if he figures it out, what does he do? Tell someone? Or keep the secret and live life on the run?
271 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
140 people are currently reading
1388 people want to read
About the author
Tristan Bancks
37 books163 followersTristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, the Tom Weekly series, and Nit Boy. Ginger Meggs, Tristan’s 100th anniversary book of short stories, is based on characters created by his great-great uncle, Jimmy Bancks, in 1921. His books have won and been shortlisted for many awards, including a Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book, the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, ABIA, YABBA, KOALA, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and Queensland Literary Awards. His latest release is Cop & Robber, a nailbiting crime story for age 10+.
Tristan is a writer-ambassador for literacy non-profit Room to Read. He is currently working with producers to develop a number of his books for the screen. He’s excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create. You can find out more about Tristan’s books, play games, watch videos, join his Young Writer’s StorySchool and help him try to change the world at tristanbancks.com
Tristan is a writer-ambassador for literacy non-profit Room to Read. He is currently working with producers to develop a number of his books for the screen. He’s excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create. You can find out more about Tristan’s books, play games, watch videos, join his Young Writer’s StorySchool and help him try to change the world at tristanbancks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
April 17, 2020
Ben's and Olives parents hastily drags the kid out of the house piratically kidnapping them. Ben is a different kid with vary few friends and he thinks much differently then most kids, he is vary creative it lets him push out the rest of the world. I really love this book it's constantly into the plot and it so exiting your always wanting to know what is going to happen next. One thing I didn't enjoy is how fast it get's into the plot, it's almost so fast its confusing but once you get a hold of the books story it's truly enjoyable. I would really recommend this to a teen that can grasp onto story's vary well and that enjoy crime and mystery if you can't grasp onto books well it wouldn't be interesting at all.
January 7, 2016
Brilliant. I highly recommend this for anyone 10 years and above. Loved it.
January 7, 2014
Tristan Bancks latest book is an intense novel for younger readers. Ben is a chubby, thoughtful, insecure 13 year old. His world is filled with the escapism of online games and stop-animation film-making, where he controls the action. From the first chapter we can hear in Ben's voice that he is unsure about his family, can recognise that they are poor, and that there is an undercurrent of hopelessness and anxiety about his life.
One afternoon the police come to the Silver's front door, and Ben's parents get home from work shortly after the cops leave. They bundle Ben and his sister, Olive, into the car, and take off on a 'holiday'. Ben's misgivings at this turn of events is palpable. He knows that they aren't well-off - hell, he can't even go on school excursions because they're so poor. And when they swap cars at Uncle Chris' - Ben's anxiousness goes up another notch and continues to rise.
Bancks handles the increasing tension really well. This is not an action-thriller, but each of the events that increase the tension are believable and well-written. Olive's particular brand of stubborn defiance is wonderfully written, and the sense that you get of the siblings becoming closer over the course of the story creates a hopeful feeling in an otherwise bleak situation.
The two wolves of the titles comes from a Cherokee Indian story, quoted as a preface to the story. Ben is faced with moral and ethical choices all along the way. Whatever he chooses (no spoilers!) he has to live with the consequences - and his own thoughts.
One afternoon the police come to the Silver's front door, and Ben's parents get home from work shortly after the cops leave. They bundle Ben and his sister, Olive, into the car, and take off on a 'holiday'. Ben's misgivings at this turn of events is palpable. He knows that they aren't well-off - hell, he can't even go on school excursions because they're so poor. And when they swap cars at Uncle Chris' - Ben's anxiousness goes up another notch and continues to rise.
Bancks handles the increasing tension really well. This is not an action-thriller, but each of the events that increase the tension are believable and well-written. Olive's particular brand of stubborn defiance is wonderfully written, and the sense that you get of the siblings becoming closer over the course of the story creates a hopeful feeling in an otherwise bleak situation.
The two wolves of the titles comes from a Cherokee Indian story, quoted as a preface to the story. Ben is faced with moral and ethical choices all along the way. Whatever he chooses (no spoilers!) he has to live with the consequences - and his own thoughts.
August 20, 2014
I could never quite see the attraction of those two enduring Aussie soaps, 'Neighbours' and 'Home and Away', although if you have the climate the Poms have to put up with I can see a reason for their adoration of them – a daily dose of Oz sunshiney-ness (yes, I know – not the right spelling. I just prefer the word that way) would bring light and colour to their dun world. It is, though, undoubtedly true that the twin mainstays of our early evening programming have provided an excellent breeding ground in the basics of acting for many who have gone on to wider fame nationally – even internationally – in the movies and music. Some have become household names – you know them! I don't have to list! – as well as fodder for the celebrity rags.
One who has taken a road less travelled for ex-soapies is Tristan Bancks. He is now starting to attract attention as a wordsmith for younger people. He has tried his hand, post his role as Tag O'Neale in HandA, at all manner of vocations, including directing and anchoring tele shows here and in the UK. I suspect it is as a writer that he'll find his forte. He surely will on the basis of 'Two Wolves'. This is his latest and perhaps his most polished of now a very worthy list of titles, including 'My Life and Other Stuff I Made Up', 'Mac Slater Cool Hunter', 'Galactic Adventures First Kids in Space' and the 'Nit Boy' series (about a kid with the worst case of nits in world history). Most of these are seemingly designed to tickle the juvenile funny bone, but the content of 'Two Wolves' is decidedly no laughing matter. It would have many a young fella, as well as perhaps a lass or two, on the edge of their seats. I wish it was around in my teaching days.
This habitué of Byron Bay is right on the money with this novel. It measures up to his goal of producing a '...fast paced work appealing to youngsters.' - with something here to inspire as well. There is excitement and suspense on every second page as Ben Silver and feisty little sis Olive try to find a way out of the pickles they get themselves in. You see, Ben, just entering teenagerdom, has a father who is – let's not mince words – an out and out dropkick. What I do like about this nasty pasty, as horrid as he is to his long suffering missus and kids, is that, despite his depicableness, nary an expletive exits his mouth, no matter how much he does his block. Brainless bogan that he is, he doesn't need the f-bomb to get his point across loud and clear. This would have been a temptation for many more 'cutting edge' practitioners, but thankfully Bancks doesn't succumb.
The author has used, as a basis for his storyline, recent headlines about bank malfunctions, awarding surprised customers instant wealth. Most, of course, would do the right thing – despite the 'big fours' crusade to rip off its customers to the max – but a few souls have taken the money and run. Such a twit is Ben's old man. With his family going bush in response and the cops hot on their trail, the young man, who has desires to be a law enforcer one day, has some decisions to make – does family or right come first. What happens is our ever resourceful hero tries to tread a fine path between the two – a path that becomes increasing fraught as the book proceeds apace. In all this Ben is mentored by Sam Gribley, with those who are au fait with children's literature knowing all about his own battles on his side of the mountain. He's a good lad to have in your corner.
This book would be the perfect offering to dish up to a class approximating the age of the main protagonist. Ideally, presenting it to a cohort of boys would achieve the best results. In the past I have found selecting class novels quite onerous as it is far easer keeping girls under the thumb than boys, so usually gender bias is skewered the latter's way for peace – and I was guilty of that myself . I was aware of doing so and tried to make up for it in other ways ensuring, for example, most of my short stories, read aloud, had girls at the helm. Olive, as resilient as she is, because of her age, doesn't cut the mustard here.
The ending is a ripper as Bancks' pulls out all stops to have our hero, after all he went through, finally have to face his nemesis in a final showdown. This novel possesses much that is life affirming and is simply a thoroughly good read. I enjoyed it immensely and I am sixty plus!
One who has taken a road less travelled for ex-soapies is Tristan Bancks. He is now starting to attract attention as a wordsmith for younger people. He has tried his hand, post his role as Tag O'Neale in HandA, at all manner of vocations, including directing and anchoring tele shows here and in the UK. I suspect it is as a writer that he'll find his forte. He surely will on the basis of 'Two Wolves'. This is his latest and perhaps his most polished of now a very worthy list of titles, including 'My Life and Other Stuff I Made Up', 'Mac Slater Cool Hunter', 'Galactic Adventures First Kids in Space' and the 'Nit Boy' series (about a kid with the worst case of nits in world history). Most of these are seemingly designed to tickle the juvenile funny bone, but the content of 'Two Wolves' is decidedly no laughing matter. It would have many a young fella, as well as perhaps a lass or two, on the edge of their seats. I wish it was around in my teaching days.
This habitué of Byron Bay is right on the money with this novel. It measures up to his goal of producing a '...fast paced work appealing to youngsters.' - with something here to inspire as well. There is excitement and suspense on every second page as Ben Silver and feisty little sis Olive try to find a way out of the pickles they get themselves in. You see, Ben, just entering teenagerdom, has a father who is – let's not mince words – an out and out dropkick. What I do like about this nasty pasty, as horrid as he is to his long suffering missus and kids, is that, despite his depicableness, nary an expletive exits his mouth, no matter how much he does his block. Brainless bogan that he is, he doesn't need the f-bomb to get his point across loud and clear. This would have been a temptation for many more 'cutting edge' practitioners, but thankfully Bancks doesn't succumb.
The author has used, as a basis for his storyline, recent headlines about bank malfunctions, awarding surprised customers instant wealth. Most, of course, would do the right thing – despite the 'big fours' crusade to rip off its customers to the max – but a few souls have taken the money and run. Such a twit is Ben's old man. With his family going bush in response and the cops hot on their trail, the young man, who has desires to be a law enforcer one day, has some decisions to make – does family or right come first. What happens is our ever resourceful hero tries to tread a fine path between the two – a path that becomes increasing fraught as the book proceeds apace. In all this Ben is mentored by Sam Gribley, with those who are au fait with children's literature knowing all about his own battles on his side of the mountain. He's a good lad to have in your corner.
This book would be the perfect offering to dish up to a class approximating the age of the main protagonist. Ideally, presenting it to a cohort of boys would achieve the best results. In the past I have found selecting class novels quite onerous as it is far easer keeping girls under the thumb than boys, so usually gender bias is skewered the latter's way for peace – and I was guilty of that myself . I was aware of doing so and tried to make up for it in other ways ensuring, for example, most of my short stories, read aloud, had girls at the helm. Olive, as resilient as she is, because of her age, doesn't cut the mustard here.
The ending is a ripper as Bancks' pulls out all stops to have our hero, after all he went through, finally have to face his nemesis in a final showdown. This novel possesses much that is life affirming and is simply a thoroughly good read. I enjoyed it immensely and I am sixty plus!
October 25, 2019
Aaaaaahhhh this book was the death of me. It was soooooo bad. The plot twists were not really plot twists because they were so expected it’s not even funny. It was just like, ‘his parents are criminals, really? I never saw that coming. Their car was chased by police twice and there’s a mysterious bag of money hidden somewhere. Who would have thought?’
March 6, 2017
it's sucked
March 14, 2014
I loved this book! Tried out this new release as I thought the kids may not have read it yet (in time for Literature Circles next term). Am quite excited as I think this story is perfect for the group of boys I will be working with. They like reading and discussing books but are very limited in the types of books they choose to read (we need to move beyond Diary of a Wimpy Kid). The story was fast-paced, the 13 year-old protagonist was relatable and there was just enough conflict with the characters to make it interesting (but not irritating). There was a good ending - one that will spark a conversation and personal differences.
I loved that this book was set in Australia, yet it could have been in any other place. It didn't rely on Ausralianisms to make it relatable. I also liked that the language of this story makes it suitable for all ages, although the story line, content and message are best for grades 5/6 to ensure understanding. If a younger student reads this book however, I won't have to worry that it will be inappropriate.
I will actively seek out more of Bancks' writing now!
I loved that this book was set in Australia, yet it could have been in any other place. It didn't rely on Ausralianisms to make it relatable. I also liked that the language of this story makes it suitable for all ages, although the story line, content and message are best for grades 5/6 to ensure understanding. If a younger student reads this book however, I won't have to worry that it will be inappropriate.
I will actively seek out more of Bancks' writing now!
December 7, 2023
Perfect for the target audience of 12 year old boys. The wild ride down a crashing waterfall never stops.
As the not intended audience, everything was a bit too crazily far fetched for me. Must remember I'm not a 12 year old boy, but my nephews who are getting this book for Christmas will love it
As the not intended audience, everything was a bit too crazily far fetched for me. Must remember I'm not a 12 year old boy, but my nephews who are getting this book for Christmas will love it
April 7, 2018
Trigger warnings: fat shaming, abusive parent, implied abusive relationship, animal cruelty, vomit.
3.5 stars.
I was super intrigued going into this one, because it's one of our highest circulating titles at work. And it was definitely a compelling story - I sped through the first 84 pages in about twenty minutes. And I read the rest of it in under an hour this morning. So it's incredibly fast paced.
But once they got to the cottage, the story definitely got less interesting for me. It reminded me of the existence of My Side of the Mountain, which I LOVED as a kid, so there's that. Buuuuut other than that, there wasn't a huge amount of depth to the story or the characters. Things were very simple a lot of the time, especially the language that was used. And, like, I know it's a middle grade book. But that doesn't mean that it has to be so...basic.
Still, it was compelling and fast paced. So. *shrug*
3.5 stars.
I was super intrigued going into this one, because it's one of our highest circulating titles at work. And it was definitely a compelling story - I sped through the first 84 pages in about twenty minutes. And I read the rest of it in under an hour this morning. So it's incredibly fast paced.
But once they got to the cottage, the story definitely got less interesting for me. It reminded me of the existence of My Side of the Mountain, which I LOVED as a kid, so there's that. Buuuuut other than that, there wasn't a huge amount of depth to the story or the characters. Things were very simple a lot of the time, especially the language that was used. And, like, I know it's a middle grade book. But that doesn't mean that it has to be so...basic.
Still, it was compelling and fast paced. So. *shrug*
January 16, 2021
2 stars even though I did not like it at all for it was poorly written and tedious! This is not usually a genre I read. Since it is considered ‘young adult fiction’, I should be more flexible and lower my expectations, thus, an extra star is probably fair.
January 2, 2022
4 stars
Cracking story, beautifully written.
Cracking story, beautifully written.
April 3, 2016
This is a gripping adventure/thriller suitable for young teens+. Our narrator, Sam, is likable, fiesty, and ultimately heroic (in the true sense of the meaning). He has to navigate a difficult journey, both physical and emotional, that requires him to mature well before his time. This a story about choices: the bad choices parents and grandparents have made, that could make it very easy for Sam to follow suit...and the choice that Sam ultimately makes. A great book, particularly for reluctant boy readers.
March 21, 2018
I couldn't put this book down. I read The Fall by the same author first and it was amazing, but this book engaged me to the point of staying in my pyjamas all day, just so I could finish it. The suspense in this book put me on the edge of my seat.
March 20, 2021
It's the worst book I've ever read. I only read it because my sister forced me to read it for school. I really don't recommend this book because it's really bad and it wasn't interesting. don't go out of your way to read this book it's absolute trash.
May 1, 2025
i mean it’s a book for kids so it’s simple but i think the way the dad kept calling him son a ‘wuss’ or a ‘little girl’ for being scared put me off a bit
January 24, 2021
3.5
This book was ok but it wasn’t the best thing you can read.
This book was ok but it wasn’t the best thing you can read.
December 1, 2015
Ben Silver’s parents are crims. The story shows Ben’s journey of discovering this and trying to protect his sister. Although the concept of two wolves isn’t new, Ben’s internal struggle between being loyal to his parents and doing the right thing is thought provoking. Great characterisation: the dad was really bad and Ben’s internal struggle is shown well. The plot certainly sustains interest and there were great images and strong verbs. Although there were a few places where images were a little over worked for me (perhaps done on purpose for the young male audience), I am looking forward to what Tristan Bancks does next. Four and a half stars.
July 21, 2017
Two wolves is a gripping tale like no other. The complexity of the situation is humoured by Ben's younger sister Olive as she as she struggles to understand what is really going on. This book expresses many emotions all in one and is an adventure filled with action, a great book for someone who likes books that are hard to put down.
October 23, 2024
Absouloute poggers though me and my homie Noah are doing all the work, very skibidi and sebastian is zesty i predict that we will do hockey for sport
Hi me in the future
I was wrong about hockey we did tennis and also me and my homie noah played soccer but we lost 3-2 but he scored a goal so W
Hi me in the future
I was wrong about hockey we did tennis and also me and my homie noah played soccer but we lost 3-2 but he scored a goal so W
May 10, 2014
A well written realistic adventure. It began with Ben's family going on a sudden 'holiday' & initially Ben (who is 13) seems pretty naive about what's really going on. The second half was quite gripping. Recommended for Year 7 & above.
April 19, 2015
Very well constructed novel with believable child characters. This is a step into new territory for Tristan and I loved it.
June 2, 2019
My favourite book ❤️❤️❤️
October 11, 2019
This book was kinda of like watching a snail race on a path of salt
September 26, 2025
2.5 stars
I really enjoyed Scar Town by the same author which was a 2024 CBCA winner. It was a really tight thriller that even had me on the edge of the seat. Because I loved it so much I was able to hype it up to the boys in my library classes which got a lot of the reluctant readers eager to read it. Since reading it a lot of the same boys have asked for more books by the author which is why I read a book that was clearly not for my age group LOL
It looks like the publisher has decided to republish Bancks' back catalogue because all his books in the book store had the same look as Scar Town. It was actually what initially caught my eye.
Again, I read this as if I was a 13 year old which is why I enjoyed it. The premise is: Ben's parents have done something shady and they have to leave their house quickly. They have no time to pack and leave only with the clothes on their back and a suspicious canvas bag. Mum and dad take him and his younger sister to a dodgy cabin in the woods under the pretense of a 'family holiday'. The pacing was pretty good and the character of Ben was believable. What I struggled with as an adult reader was how his parents got the money that was obviously in the bag.
I don't think this book is as good as Scar Town but you can see Bancks starting to hone his craft. I am looking forward to recommending this book to my students
I really enjoyed Scar Town by the same author which was a 2024 CBCA winner. It was a really tight thriller that even had me on the edge of the seat. Because I loved it so much I was able to hype it up to the boys in my library classes which got a lot of the reluctant readers eager to read it. Since reading it a lot of the same boys have asked for more books by the author which is why I read a book that was clearly not for my age group LOL
It looks like the publisher has decided to republish Bancks' back catalogue because all his books in the book store had the same look as Scar Town. It was actually what initially caught my eye.
Again, I read this as if I was a 13 year old which is why I enjoyed it. The premise is: Ben's parents have done something shady and they have to leave their house quickly. They have no time to pack and leave only with the clothes on their back and a suspicious canvas bag. Mum and dad take him and his younger sister to a dodgy cabin in the woods under the pretense of a 'family holiday'. The pacing was pretty good and the character of Ben was believable. What I struggled with as an adult reader was how his parents got the money that was obviously in the bag.
I don't think this book is as good as Scar Town but you can see Bancks starting to hone his craft. I am looking forward to recommending this book to my students
November 15, 2017
Two Wolves is a gripping and “high-stakes adventure story that will keep you guessing and breathless until the last page.” Michael Gerard Bauer, author of “Don’t Call Me Ishmael” and “Just a Dog”.
This powerful story seems simple on the surface, yet soon the reader is pulled into the world of its main character, Ben Silver and his family, and into some deep undercurrents that don’t necessarily happen in most families. From the very outset, the reader can feel the tension building and it’s not too many pages in when suddenly action ignites and you can’t help but keep turning those pages with your heart racing, in the hope you find out what the heck is going on with Ben’s mother and father. There is definitely something odd going on and the author manages to keep the reader guessing; searching for answers. For Ben and his little sister Olive, it is a nightmare that they wish they could simply wake up from. But that is not going to happen in this powerfully told tale involving cop chases, an unconventional holiday shack and the odd comings and goings of two of the most important people in a youngster’s life, mum and dad. Aren’t parents meant to make you feel safe and secure?
There are many levels and questions associated with this story and as the reader is held hostage under the great penmanship of its author, you can’t help but feel sad for Ben and his little sister and you will be swept away hoping and praying that things turn out okay for them. Even the ending is heart stopping and you are never really left with a sense that everything is going to be alright. You can only stay with this family and find out for yourself.
To unpack and delve further into the techniques and strategies of author, Tristan Bancks, you can find Teaching Resource notes, prepared by Tristan Bancks, Zoe Walton, and Kimberley Bennett here.
Tristan Bancks – Author
Tristan Bancks is a children’s and teen author with a background in acting and filmmaking. He has written a number of titles including: the My Life series (weird-funny-gross short stories featuring Tom Weekly) and Mac Slater, Coolhunter series. His short films as writer and director have won a number of awards and have screened widely in festivals and on TV. Tristan is excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create.
Photo Credit: Debbie Smith Brisbane Writers Festival 2014
My Thoughts
I bought this book when I attended the 2014 Brisbane Writers Festival. I took my Year 6 extension writing students to the festival to participate in Word Play. We attended sessions by authors, Morris Gleitzman, Jackie French, Andy Griffiths and Tristan Bancks.
I find it hard to refrain from spending money on books, be it in a bookstore, marketplace, or writers festival, and this occasion was no different. I bought several titles by the authors mentioned above and looked forward to curling up in a comfy corner at home and devouring them.
I enjoyed Two Wolves from the very first page, well, actually before the first page. The quote at the very beginning of the book intrigued me. What quote you ask? Oh, I haven’t mentioned the quote yet, have I? Sorry about that. Well, here it is:
An old man tells his grandson one evening that there is a battle raging inside him, inside all of us.
A terrible battle between two wolves.
One wolf is bad — pride, envy, jealousy, greed, guilt, self-pity.
The other wolf is good — kindness, hope, love, service, truth, humility
The child asks, “Who will win?”
The grandfather answers simply,
“The one you feed.”
After spending almost an hour in the Word Play session with my Year 6 writers and Tristan Bancks, I didn’t have a hope of leaving the festival without Two Wolves tucked away inside my backpack. I was sold. The quote was displayed on a large screen, for part of the time, behind Tristan as he spoke. It was quite a deep and meaningful quote that was associated with the book he was promoting, Two Wolves, and it hooked me.
The book was a real page turner with a hook at the end of every chapter. Each chapter was action-packed and thrilling and had me feeling quite tense for Ben and Olive Silver. My heart broke a number of times for these two ‘lost’ children and I longed for things to be different for them. I’d take them home myself, and adopt them if I could.
The book flowed well, was easy to digest and I’m sure most 10+ readers would find the level of language suitable for their reading range. The way the book was sectioned worked well for me and I found the author’s hints of what’s to come throughout each chapter enticed and urged me to keep turning the pages. This novel explored the complexities of life, especially using a most unusual event in the lives of Ben and Olive’s family to explore family relationships at their most extreme. The author addressed a number of topics at different levels that left me thinking and trying to figure things out. Children would find this book difficult to put down without thinking about the events they’d just read about and I feel fairly confident that many would feel the need to discuss the events with other students or adults, hence why the teaching resources would be most useful.
I also think this story and the way it is told could be used as a springboard into conversations about dramatic events that happen in real life families and other ways we can learn to deal with unusual situations.
Some children will breeze through the story and take it on face value, while others may find a need to debrief. Having said that, this book is a great read and will promote thinking and possibly instil a feeling of gratitude that they come from the security of their own family (in the majority of cases, you would hope).
RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Happy reading….
This powerful story seems simple on the surface, yet soon the reader is pulled into the world of its main character, Ben Silver and his family, and into some deep undercurrents that don’t necessarily happen in most families. From the very outset, the reader can feel the tension building and it’s not too many pages in when suddenly action ignites and you can’t help but keep turning those pages with your heart racing, in the hope you find out what the heck is going on with Ben’s mother and father. There is definitely something odd going on and the author manages to keep the reader guessing; searching for answers. For Ben and his little sister Olive, it is a nightmare that they wish they could simply wake up from. But that is not going to happen in this powerfully told tale involving cop chases, an unconventional holiday shack and the odd comings and goings of two of the most important people in a youngster’s life, mum and dad. Aren’t parents meant to make you feel safe and secure?
There are many levels and questions associated with this story and as the reader is held hostage under the great penmanship of its author, you can’t help but feel sad for Ben and his little sister and you will be swept away hoping and praying that things turn out okay for them. Even the ending is heart stopping and you are never really left with a sense that everything is going to be alright. You can only stay with this family and find out for yourself.
To unpack and delve further into the techniques and strategies of author, Tristan Bancks, you can find Teaching Resource notes, prepared by Tristan Bancks, Zoe Walton, and Kimberley Bennett here.
Tristan Bancks – Author
Tristan Bancks is a children’s and teen author with a background in acting and filmmaking. He has written a number of titles including: the My Life series (weird-funny-gross short stories featuring Tom Weekly) and Mac Slater, Coolhunter series. His short films as writer and director have won a number of awards and have screened widely in festivals and on TV. Tristan is excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create.
Photo Credit: Debbie Smith Brisbane Writers Festival 2014
My Thoughts
I bought this book when I attended the 2014 Brisbane Writers Festival. I took my Year 6 extension writing students to the festival to participate in Word Play. We attended sessions by authors, Morris Gleitzman, Jackie French, Andy Griffiths and Tristan Bancks.
I find it hard to refrain from spending money on books, be it in a bookstore, marketplace, or writers festival, and this occasion was no different. I bought several titles by the authors mentioned above and looked forward to curling up in a comfy corner at home and devouring them.
I enjoyed Two Wolves from the very first page, well, actually before the first page. The quote at the very beginning of the book intrigued me. What quote you ask? Oh, I haven’t mentioned the quote yet, have I? Sorry about that. Well, here it is:
An old man tells his grandson one evening that there is a battle raging inside him, inside all of us.
A terrible battle between two wolves.
One wolf is bad — pride, envy, jealousy, greed, guilt, self-pity.
The other wolf is good — kindness, hope, love, service, truth, humility
The child asks, “Who will win?”
The grandfather answers simply,
“The one you feed.”
After spending almost an hour in the Word Play session with my Year 6 writers and Tristan Bancks, I didn’t have a hope of leaving the festival without Two Wolves tucked away inside my backpack. I was sold. The quote was displayed on a large screen, for part of the time, behind Tristan as he spoke. It was quite a deep and meaningful quote that was associated with the book he was promoting, Two Wolves, and it hooked me.
The book was a real page turner with a hook at the end of every chapter. Each chapter was action-packed and thrilling and had me feeling quite tense for Ben and Olive Silver. My heart broke a number of times for these two ‘lost’ children and I longed for things to be different for them. I’d take them home myself, and adopt them if I could.
The book flowed well, was easy to digest and I’m sure most 10+ readers would find the level of language suitable for their reading range. The way the book was sectioned worked well for me and I found the author’s hints of what’s to come throughout each chapter enticed and urged me to keep turning the pages. This novel explored the complexities of life, especially using a most unusual event in the lives of Ben and Olive’s family to explore family relationships at their most extreme. The author addressed a number of topics at different levels that left me thinking and trying to figure things out. Children would find this book difficult to put down without thinking about the events they’d just read about and I feel fairly confident that many would feel the need to discuss the events with other students or adults, hence why the teaching resources would be most useful.
I also think this story and the way it is told could be used as a springboard into conversations about dramatic events that happen in real life families and other ways we can learn to deal with unusual situations.
Some children will breeze through the story and take it on face value, while others may find a need to debrief. Having said that, this book is a great read and will promote thinking and possibly instil a feeling of gratitude that they come from the security of their own family (in the majority of cases, you would hope).
RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Happy reading….
March 19, 2020
I think my favourite thing about the book is the "Two Wolves" quote on the cover & at the start of the novel. It is so true & too often we spend too much time "feeding" the wrong wolf. The Bible talks about it in terms of our sinful nature & our spiritual nature, and again we spend too much time feeding our sinful nature instead of focusing on the things above.
The story itself could have focused on this concept a little more. Ben ponders "what is me" and whether he is destined to be a good person or bad, but it doesn't really hone in on what actions he does to feed either side.
Apart from that, this was an exciting, thought provoking story that went in directions I wasn't expecting. Unfortunately, some parts will be all too real for some readers and they will be able to see themselves and their family situation in this book.
The story itself could have focused on this concept a little more. Ben ponders "what is me" and whether he is destined to be a good person or bad, but it doesn't really hone in on what actions he does to feed either side.
Apart from that, this was an exciting, thought provoking story that went in directions I wasn't expecting. Unfortunately, some parts will be all too real for some readers and they will be able to see themselves and their family situation in this book.
March 17, 2025
Sometimes a bit predictable but mostly thrilling
May 11, 2020
An old man tells his grandson one evening that there is a battle raging inside him, inside all of us. A terrible battle between two wolves. One wolf is bad – pride, jealousy, greed. The other wolf is good – kindness, hope, truth. The child asks, ‘Who will win?’ The grandfather answers simply, ‘The one you feed.’
Excellent Australian author delivers a suspense novel that holds both children and adults in a grip between right and wrong.
Great early thriller
Excellent Australian author delivers a suspense novel that holds both children and adults in a grip between right and wrong.
Great early thriller
August 15, 2019
I was assigned this book for school and although I like the majority of the characters and enjoyed the book overall, I have a couple of bones to pick with the ending chapters and the main character, Ben.
Ben is not likable enough to be the absolute main character of this book. He is portrayed as an underdog, but Bancks' attempts to show this somehow don't draw enough sympathy or engagement from me. Ben is fleshed out and real, but I rarely find myself entertained by his humor, antics or quirks. He is a let down to the other, more complex characters in the immediate family. I feel like I'm forcing myself to like him as I read, as he is the main character after all.
I loved the major plot point of April standing up to Ray and revealing themselves to the police from behind the chicken coop, but everything after seemed like a downwards slope. It was underwhelming compared to the high tension that we had just experienced as readers and left me unsatisfied. April would have developed so much more as a character and mother to have lost her court case and go to jail, even if she got a shortened sentence. She still committed the crime, and Bancks not letting her live out her punishment seems like a trope of letting the good guys always win. I was waiting so long for a proper sand off between Ray and Ben, but i feel the one we got portrays the wrong message. Instead of realising that Ray's insults shouldn't be payed attention to, Ben has fixed every one of his insecurities in the time since we last saw him. He has lost weight and is fitter, he is newly supplied with a masculine bravery, and it is almost as if he could only win against his father now that these targets for bullying and tease were removed, a contradictory message to the rest of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and while feeling lost throughout at times, I commend the creation of the characters and world they have been placed in.
Ben is not likable enough to be the absolute main character of this book. He is portrayed as an underdog, but Bancks' attempts to show this somehow don't draw enough sympathy or engagement from me. Ben is fleshed out and real, but I rarely find myself entertained by his humor, antics or quirks. He is a let down to the other, more complex characters in the immediate family. I feel like I'm forcing myself to like him as I read, as he is the main character after all.
I loved the major plot point of April standing up to Ray and revealing themselves to the police from behind the chicken coop, but everything after seemed like a downwards slope. It was underwhelming compared to the high tension that we had just experienced as readers and left me unsatisfied. April would have developed so much more as a character and mother to have lost her court case and go to jail, even if she got a shortened sentence. She still committed the crime, and Bancks not letting her live out her punishment seems like a trope of letting the good guys always win. I was waiting so long for a proper sand off between Ray and Ben, but i feel the one we got portrays the wrong message. Instead of realising that Ray's insults shouldn't be payed attention to, Ben has fixed every one of his insecurities in the time since we last saw him. He has lost weight and is fitter, he is newly supplied with a masculine bravery, and it is almost as if he could only win against his father now that these targets for bullying and tease were removed, a contradictory message to the rest of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and while feeling lost throughout at times, I commend the creation of the characters and world they have been placed in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2018
Review copy provided by Random House Australia for an honest review.
Two Wolves is a hard book for to write about. I honestly am confused by my feelings towards it. On one hand, I enjoyed the honest and sweet perspective of Ben but on the other hand, I was bored and could barely follow the dull and plodding plotline.
The writing is what made me tolerate reading this. It was kept simple as the protagonist is quite young, but it was filled with a raw honesty and innocence that worked quite well to create the intensity of the situation that Ben and Olive found themselves in. The descriptions of the barren cabin land where they were staying painted a clear picture about just how confused and scared both Ben and Olive were.
Ben was an okay protagonist. I like how he questioned his own motives and wanted to be the best man he could despite his young age. His ideas about what makes a person "good" was cute and I really appreciated that despite everything going on he only wanted what was best. Olive was wonderful. I really loved her feistiness.
What let this down for me was the fact that I wasn't kept engaged by the "mystery". Honestly, I didn't really care about it. It was rather dull and I kept waiting for something to happen, something dramatic, something exciting, but nothing did and I was just bored.
While the writing was good, I have to say my lack of interested really bought this down. In the right hands, I can see that Two Wolves might work for some other readers, but just not for me.
Two Wolves is a hard book for to write about. I honestly am confused by my feelings towards it. On one hand, I enjoyed the honest and sweet perspective of Ben but on the other hand, I was bored and could barely follow the dull and plodding plotline.
The writing is what made me tolerate reading this. It was kept simple as the protagonist is quite young, but it was filled with a raw honesty and innocence that worked quite well to create the intensity of the situation that Ben and Olive found themselves in. The descriptions of the barren cabin land where they were staying painted a clear picture about just how confused and scared both Ben and Olive were.
Ben was an okay protagonist. I like how he questioned his own motives and wanted to be the best man he could despite his young age. His ideas about what makes a person "good" was cute and I really appreciated that despite everything going on he only wanted what was best. Olive was wonderful. I really loved her feistiness.
What let this down for me was the fact that I wasn't kept engaged by the "mystery". Honestly, I didn't really care about it. It was rather dull and I kept waiting for something to happen, something dramatic, something exciting, but nothing did and I was just bored.
While the writing was good, I have to say my lack of interested really bought this down. In the right hands, I can see that Two Wolves might work for some other readers, but just not for me.
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