In The Time of the Wolves

Woods Family Saga #2

by Eileen Charbonneau

The Year Without SummerFourteen-year-old Joshua Woods would like nothing better than to leave his Catskill mountain home and follow his uncles to Harvard. But it is the Spring of 1824, and Joshua's father, believing strange predictions of "a year without summer," refuses to let him go. And the Chases', a family who once owned his father as an indentured servant, are trying to lure Joshua into their intrigues. Joshua is caught between his loyalty to his father, a man of mixed French and Indian ancestry, and his desire to fit in. Will Josh betray his father?At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Historical Fiction

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 1994

About the author

Eileen Charbonneau is the author of award-winning historical novels for adults and young people. Her stories explore America through eyes of her immigrants, her native peoples, her women. Eileen’s books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and many others. She runs a small bed and breakfast inn with her husband in the brave little state of Vermont, where the world appears on their doorstep to see the leaves go glorious evey autumn. Eileen is addicted to maple creemies, period dramas and American roots music.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is book 2 of a trilogy, but I read it first due to confusion about the order of the books. I read the first book afterward, and liked it better.
It was hard for me to understand what made the boy in this story feel so badly about his relationship with his father. It seemed that the father clearly loved all of his children, and didn't treat this boy more harshly or with any less regard and love than the others.
I was also disappointed that the author chose to change the date of "the year without a summer," which happened in 1816, and caused widespread famine in New York State. It was disconcerting to me, as the story of that year is prominent in the history of my own town. I suspect she did so because of the time she set for the first book, and then wanted the ages of the characters to make sense for the story line of this book.
I have the third book in the trilogy set aside to read.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOT ALL THE WOLVES HAVE FOUR LEGS

Set during the summerless year of 1824 in the Catskill Mountains of NY state, this novel proves grim but interesting fare for readers 16 and older. Twins Joshua and Susannah, almost 15, view their parents and their roles in this mixed family with different attitudes. Nor is the superstitious community of Stony Clove at ease with the unusual couple. Asher Woods was raised more as Native American--despite his partial French heritage, while his wife, Ginny, is easily accepted as the Anglo-Saxon heiress of a rich landowner.

Despite the adolescence of the protagonist, this book is not a typical YA tale. As the story progresses Joshua chafes under the back woods tutelage of his stern father with his Indian habits and French expressions--a man whom he can not accept, much less, love unconditionally like his sister. Joshua's dream of attending Harvard and becoming a man of learning is threatened by the family's need for him to remain on their woodland farm. Even worse, the Woods family suffers increasing suspicion and hostility as the chapters unfold. For the locals are wary of Asher's Indian heritage and customs--even though he fought with Washington's men in the American Revolution, thereby earning the unquestioned loyalty and devotion of his soldiers.

During a river trip on the Hudson to Albany, father and son hear a grim prediction for a scant harvest and inevitable famine from a former soldier, invalided but loyal to Woods. Alas, when Asher shares this critical information with his fellow townsmen and presents Quinn's advice for agricultural survival, his words are met with skepticism and open hostility--any excuse to criticize and discredit him as a godless heathen. When his pessimistic words prove true, the villagers actually Blame him for their agrarian predicament, despite his humane efforts to relieve the distress of many poor families.

Joshua comes of age in this book--a serious, personal odyssey of
growth as he questions his private loyalty, which is seriously threatened and slyly undermined by unscrupulous outsiders motivated by slight love and basic human greed. Will Joshua sell out for a scholar's life, deserting his grieving family to their dark fate? Echoing Joshua's confusion about his role in the world, Nature itself is out of equilibrium, as desperation and hunger drive the wolves ever closer to the emaciated community. At this crucial time he considers deserting them on the very night they most need him. A poignant tale about the effects of a devastating global disaster in direct, human terms.

(June 22, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story of this book, however this book does not age particularly well. The language used to describe Native Americans and their culture is just racist. It's unfortunate because I did like the story. The story is about a young boy growing up in a family with a Native father and a white mother. Obviously that is a tough situation in a mostly white, Christian town in Northeast New York. The boy would like to pursue an education at Harvard, but his father disagrees. I enjoyed the conflict that was set up and I appreciated the ending.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 2 out of 5]

1824, Catskills, prejudice against biracial (half Indian, half French).

[Dani Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look into the life of a French-Canadian mixed marriage Indian Family.