Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf

by Deke Moulton

Benji Zeb has to balance preparing for his bar mitzvah, his feelings for a school bully, and being a werewolf in this heartfelt, coming-of-age novel for young readers. For fans of Don't Want to Be Your Monster and Too Bright to See.

Benji Zeb is good at keeping secrets. No one knows how badly he is drowning in his studies, not only for school but also his upcoming bar mitzvah. He's nervous about Mr. Rutherford, the aggressive local rancher who wants to shut down Benji's family's kibbutz and wolf sanctuary—but no one in the family is allowing him to help. And Benji hasn't figured out what to do about Caleb Gao, Mr. Rutherford’s adopted son, who turned into a jerk over the summer despite Benji being pretty sure they were both crushing on each other the entire previous year.

But the biggest secret of all? He and his entire family are werewolves, using the wolf sanctuary as cover for their true identities.

But it life gets harder when a new werewolf shows up at the kibbutz one night . . . and it’s none other than Caleb! He's unable to control his shifting and refuses to go home. He needs Benji's help. But with everything piling up, can anxious Benji juggle all of these things along with his growing feelings toward Caleb?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, LGBT, Jewish, Werewolves, Romance, Queer

298 pages, Hardcover

First published July 2, 2024

About the author

DEKE MOULTON is a writer currently living in the US Pacific Northwest. She is a former US Army drill sergeant and trained as an Arabic linguist during her time in service. Don't Want to Be Your Monster, her debut book, is a 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor Book and a Kirkus Reviews' Best Middle Grade Books of 2023. Her second book, Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf, was a Jewish Book Council middle grade finalist and a Sydney Taylor notable book.

She is represented by Rena Rossner.

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3 stars ✰

“You have a reason for being here. And if you have a purpose? Then a world needs to exist for you to fulfill that purpose. And do you know what that means?

That for your sake, the entire world, the entire universe, was created— just so that there could be a place in it for you to do whatever it is that only you can do.”

If not for the Author's Note, I may have judged Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf a bit differently; but seeing how this is a representation of something deeply personal to the author, I will be respectful of that.

“I’ve been so good at keeping on top of things, and even better at keeping everyone from knowing how overwhelmed I feel. But keeping secrets is a big part of what I do— I’m a werewolf.”

The inclusion of detail into Jewish customs and lifestyles and rituals was exemplary; I learnt a lot and I was very much moved at how dedicated Benji's family was in following their traditions and religious values with lots of respect, love, and care. When his crush, Caleb, even joins the fray, I appreciated the way Benji took the time and patience to show him the difference in their customs and values and that Caleb did not ridicule him for it; he was genuinely curious and eager to learn more. 👏🏻

It may have taken a while for me to get used to the idea of how the author put emphasis into showing that the attack on werewolves was similar to the way the general populace has a different and difficult outlook on Jewish people, but I acknowledge the semblance they wished to portray. 😔 It may have been too much of a hit on the nerve to be something that wasn't quite well-intended for a Middle Grade read, but I appreciate the efforts the author took to convey that message through Jewish mythology of werewolves. '— it’s either them or us, with the “them” always somehow capable of completely destroying all of society as we know it by merely existing— that’s led to werewolves being nearly extinct.' How people can misjudge and mislabel people without really knowing them; how they wish to limit a community or a race simply because they are different and don't follow the normal customs that they are more acquainted with. 😞

“Tolerance of others will lead to sharing the world together. But what he wants? Blaming problems on others instead of working with them? The only outcome of that is hate. And hate begets violence and separation and communities torn apart.”

It's tough topics and difficult subjects, but Benji was very dedicated to his love for being Jewish; how much it is a part of his life, and he wishes to live up to the name that he has been blessed with, simply because of the recognition it holds in their religion - the weighty expectation of being something greater than they are - to do something worthy of acknowledgment - a life-changing moment. 'This isn’t just about revenge. It’s not even just about shooting our wolves. They’re trying to get our sanctuary' 😥 And when the safety and sanctity of his family's livelihood is threatened - when the safety of the wolves they take care of is endangered, while also endangering their own chance of survival, Benji will have to find a way to not only overcome his own bouts of anxiety, but also have to fight the crush he's harbored on his classmate, Caleb, the son of the very man who's hellbent on targeting his family. 😟

“That can only mean the world needs a Benjamin like you in it. This moment’s calling for you, anxiety and all. You’ve already consumed foes. Divided the spoils. However great or small or quiet or loud you are — the world’s here for you.

Because if I know anything about you, it’s that this Benji Zeb is a ravenous werewolf.”

The charming points of Benji's story was the ability to navigate the serious tones with subtle notes of humor and levity, as well. Caleb may have been a thorn in Benji's side since earlier days, but he provided a lot of heart to Benji's life. Despite how much he aggravated and challenged Benji, he gave Benji the breath of fresh air he didn't know he had been holding in all this time. In a way - to have that fresh perspective of what an honor it is to not only be a werewolf, but to love being Jewish - was a cathartic and welcome necessary addition to Benji, at this pivotal moment in his life. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

He was on the brink of fully understanding the value and love that his family held for him and Caleb was that perfect outlet to provide it for him. I loved the back and forth banter they had, I enjoyed Caleb's novel approach to everything - much like myself - and I liked the subtle way in which their mutual interest in each other was kindled in a soft and gentle way that made Benji's blushing all the more worth his while. 🥰 He was the comfort and reassurance Benji needed at just the right moment, with the flair for dramatics and action that stirred up Benji's drive to protect his family even further.

Benji had a very engaging and passionate voice; despite how his anxiety would often affect his nerves and cause him to feel apart from the rest of his pack, I mean, family, his heart was truly in the right place. 😊 Determined and loyal and headstrong, he valiantly pushed the boundaries and limits to ensure the safety of his home. 'Everyone’s expecting something great. Some great mysterious something from someone who everyone’s waiting for.' His sense of right was very strong and though it came out a bit too unbelievable that his voice could serve as the voice of reason to diminish evil, his strength in his values were so intact that I didn't mind it that much. The writing captured so very vividly the turmoils of his heart and his head in a way that kept the pace of the story steady. He had a lot of family pride and had his heart set on being worthy of his family; while it did deter him at times, it was also his driving force. 🥺

“I mean, the same kind of idea— it’s either them or us, with the “them” always somehow capable of completely destroying all of society as we know it by merely existing— that’s led to werewolves being nearly extinct.”

The writing was solid and fluid; the author was able to hold my interest, not only with the werewolves storyline, but also give enough insightful and meaningful details into Judaism. 👍🏻👍🏻 The imagery of werewolf transformations were so very vivid that at times I actually thought to myself, 'Huh, maybe the author is a werewolf!' The comparison of racism into both was hard-hitting and emotionally drawn out. It made me pause and think and take heart into it. I admit, the ending seemed a bit too convenient and a bit reaching, like with a motive that wasn't quite the intent in which it had started upon, but again, after reading the Author's Note, I understood the significance and importance of this story to them.

So, with that in mind, I think it delivered a decent story. Not too sure how it will resonate with younger readers, but then, nowadays I am seeing more of a trend where middle grade books seem to be targeted for older audiences. I don't know if that's something that will be appreciated by younger readers, but as one who is much older, I am fortunate enough to pick upon those moments where the point of the story wishes to focus on the more important matters. 🙏🏻

*Thank you to Edelweiss for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of reading an early copy of this book for a blurb. This book is so very wonderfully Jewish, and queer, and neurodivergent, yet Moulton makes it incredibly accessible for young readers of all backgrounds and identities. I can't wait for it to be out in 2024 so I can shout about it some more.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Game to Play: List all the werewolves in children’s literature that you can. The obvious first thought, for better or for worse, goes to Remus Lupin the Harry Potter books, sure. And there are approximately 1.5 billion adult and YA romances that involve werewolves (with a mere 50% of them also incorporating vampires in some way). But in children’s literature the werewolf is an interstitial thing. I read a fair amount of fantasy for 9-12 year olds (cuz I’m just that cool) and I can tell you that while I may have run across the occasional werewolf here and there, they haven’t exactly stuck with me over the years. But having read Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf by Deke Moulton? It would take some serious head trauma on my part to forget a page of this book. This isn’t just A werewolf book for kids. It is THE werewolf book for kids. Reading it is also like watching Moulton balance about thirty different spinning plates in the air all at the same time. A plate or two may wobble, but the end result isn’t just impressive. It’s inspirational.

It isn’t enough. It isn’t enough that Benji Zeb has a bar mitzvah to study for. It isn’t enough that he feels this overwhelming and crushing anxiety whenever he’s around his family members at the kibbutz/wolf sanctuary they run. It isn’t even enough that he’s a werewolf and now his mom has forbidden him from changing until he’s finished studying. Now Caleb Gao, his one time crush/current bully and stepson of his family’s local enemy, Mr. Rutherford, has shown up at the kibbutz as a werewolf himself. Suddenly, Benji finds himself in the position of teaching Caleb everything he needs to know about shifting, all the while trying to figure out what plans Mr. Rutherford has for his family and their wolves. Turns out, there may be more to Caleb than Benji suspected, and there also may be more that Benji is capable of than anyone, even he himself, ever knew.

There are a fair number of children’s books with Jewish characters in them coming out in the same year as Benji Zeb. There’s fellow fantasy The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz and The Color of Sound by Emily Barth Isler. These books discuss their characters’ Jewishness to a certain degree, which is all well and good. What they do not do, though, is just seep the whole book in the religion. To write this story, Moulton essentially had to have a crystal clear sense of how to write instructions and info on Jewish history and ceremonies AND werewolf transformations. So it’s rather clever having Caleb show up on the scene as pretty much a blank slate (albeit with some ingrained prejudices) when it comes to every aspect of Benji’s life. This is a bit dangerous to the author, though. You can feel how much they want to pour exposition onto these pages. Indeed, there will be some readers who may feel like the exposition really does outweigh the storytelling at key moments. I got a sense of that once or twice, but generally felt like Moulton did a good job of balancing out story and explanation. To do that, that blank slate has to stick around and Caleb staying on the scene is tricky. He needs to remain so that he (and by extension, the reader) get more and more explanations. So to have him afraid to go home is smart and, to be frank, a clever way of getting around being trapped in Benji’s head all the time. In ways like this, Moulton anticipates the narrative's needs.

And that may be where Moulton really excels in this book too. It is, to put it mildly, an ambitious affair. Moulton has big dreams and intentions with this storytelling. They want to show Benji’s anxiety around his own family, dip into a wide variety of topics regarding being Jewish, give some pretty convincing information about werewolves (and essentially convince you that they really are in the Torah), and then on top of all of that have a first-love storyline between two boys AND talk about what happens when someone you love gets sucked into the online world of hate and conspiracies. The one thing the book does not do all that often is talk about wolves’ role as keystone species. I was initially a little surprised that we didn’t hear the word “Yellowstone” come up even once, but then I noticed something about this book: its page count. This book includes all those elements I just talked about while also clocking in at just under 300 pages. After reading bloated fantasies for years, you really gather an appreciation over time for books that know how to tell a good story with efficiency and smarts. This book has both.

Of all the elements it combines, one that struck me as particularly notable was the path that Caleb’s father starts to follow. Indeed, it’s so convincing that if there’s a weak point in the novel, it probably involves his denouement. Moulton, a former US Army drill sergeant, talks in their Author’s Note about seeing loved ones get sucked into that world. “This book is also for all those readers who I grew to know as genuinely good people in the military, who I saw get drawn into terrible hateful mindsets, who have been told by people they trusted to start blaming problems on small, powerless, marginalized populations. Queer communities, Asian communities, and, once again, Jewish communities.” There are plenty of older chapter books for kids out there that engage with hateful people, but rare is the book that talks about the emotional toll that takes place when someone you care for gets sucked into that way of thinking. Like watching a family member being drawn into a cult, it is happening to kids all over our country, but few authors touch on what that feels like. The end result is horrendously timely, and, possibly, a sign of more books of this kind to come. After all, this is an author who knows from whence they write.

But what about the fantasy elements? See, the thing is that this isn’t Moulton’s first rodeo. If you missed their previous book Don’t Want to Be Your Monster, then you may not be aware of how adept they already proved themselves to be when it comes to integrating fantasy elements with some pretty serious real world issues. That book discussed Jewishness in the context of vampires, and the degree to which Bram Stoker’s vampire contained scands of Jewish stereotypes in its narrative. Even so, Monster felt like it was just a warm up for this, the final act. So even while I was admiring how deft Moulton was at, for example, managing to show both how much Benji enjoys spending time with Caleb while also making it clear that Caleb legitimately likes Benji too, it was the logistics of werewolf changing that took my heart. Moulton just seems to have thought everything through. The confusion of having paws when, in your head, you logically believe you should have hands. The feeling of changing, and how much mindfulness has to do with shifting itself. Which elements of werewolves are true and which are prejudices. I think Deke probably cheats a couple times with the whole shifting-while-naked (considering Benji’s and Caleb’s burgeoning feelings, the book is surprisingly bereft of embarrassing moments), but in the long run it really isn’t that much of an issue.

Not a ton of middle grade fantasy novels for kids from secular presses begin with long quotes from Genesis. Still, as badass quotations go, Genesis 49:27 is hard to beat: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he consumes the foe, And in the evening he divides the spoil.” Now you combine that with the first sentence of the book, and you’ve got something unique: “Despite what you’ve heard about werewolves, my least favorite day of the month isn’t when the moon is full – it’s Rosh Chodesh.” All told, a pretty slambang beginning for a book for kids. An author for children does best when that person embodies a kind of fearlessness about their own material. Deke Moulton doesn’t just embrace their material, though, they celebrate it. Even as they pile on the different elements and attempt to make each one work in its own right, it takes a gutsiness to not only try but get the bulk of it all right AND in a svelte, handsome package. It would be difficult to overstate the impressiveness of Benji Zeb. With that in mind, hand it to your young readers that read fantasy not to escape the real world, but to highlight some of its most difficult elements. Elegant, smart stuff.

[Brok3n · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Is this a kissing book?"

I loved Deke Moulton's debut novel Don't Want to Be Your Monster. It was a strikingly original vampire story for middle grade readers with the Best Vampires Ever! I am therefore sorry to report that their second novel, Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf, a middle grade novel about Jewish werewolves, did not hit the spot for me in quite the same way.

I was surprised to learn that Jewish werewolves are a thing. In their Author's Note, Moulton reveals that this surprised them, too

I didn’t even know we had our own werewolf mythology. Or that Jewish werewolf myth is built upon lines from Torah, and that rabbis, thousands of years ago, built a midrash around it (Midrash is a biblical exploration, like rabbinical fanfiction).*

So that was fun -- in fact, I learned about a bunch of things I had not previously been familiar with before. That was the best part.

The problem was that, as a novel, it didn't really work for me. Our hero Benji somehow never really came into focus. Benji suffers from anxiety attacks, and, judging from the end matter, Moulton meant that to be an important facet of Benji's character, but I was barely aware of it as a distinctive trait -- that is, as something different from the anxiety everyone often feels.

Also, I found the story disappointing. It is, in unfairly sketchy outline: "Jewish community is pressured/attacked by bigots, then our hero makes everything all right with a Big Speech to one of the bigots." I couldn't make myself believe the "Big Speech solves everything" part.

Finally, for the Princess Bride question, "Is this a kissing book?"

Yes, yes it is.

I thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advance reader copy of Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf. This review expresses my honest opinions. Release date 2-Jul-2024.

*The quote is from an advance reader copy and may change before publication. If necessary, this review will be corrected on the release date.

Blog review.

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf is easily one of my new favorites. It's full of loud and proud Judaism supernatural creatures, teenage qualms, and a whole lot of heart. I loved how Jewish this book was and how Benji wasn't afraid to showcase who he is. Moulton also covered a ton of heavy topics including anxiety representation, antisemitism, racism, and trying to navigate being a teenager and feel like you're enough. There was also queer rep and diversity in both of the main characters as Benji is Jewish and Caleb is half Chinese which was so great to see. I loved the importance of family here as well and I thought the werewolf aspect made that so fun! I also loved how acts of hate transitioned into acts of love and learning. This book was truly spectacular and one that everyone should pick up and read. I can't stop thinking about these wonderful characters and how incredible the story was. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra books for providing me with an ARC to read and review!

[Jenna (Falling Letters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally published 30 Nov 2025 at Falling Letters.

Benji Zeb is an entertaining read with a lot of creative worldbuilding, which still managed to feel quick-paced and engaging despite the emphasis on information sharing and learning.

I found it stressful and a little bleak being in Benji’s head. Thankfully he has some great character growth over the course of the story.

The crush was a fun plotline (relatively lighthearted when compared to the rest of the story’s prejudices). Benji’s commentary when he’s embarassed for visibly crushing brings further levity to the story.

I enjoyed learning a few things while reading and there’s a lot of timely messaging. However, this book may be too didactic or informational to appeal to a wide range of kid readers.

💭 The Bottom Line: Whether you’ll enjoy Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf probably depends on your tolerance for didactism, but I found it another fun and creative read from deke moulton.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
This is pretty much a new favorite. The only "complaint" I have was that the end could have used a few more pages to wrap everything up more neatly instead of off-page. But werewolves, amazing anxiety rep and an adorably soft little gay love story? SO here for all of it!

Also, I learned more about Jewish history, culture and traditions in this book than I've learned in school or uni and I think that fact speaks for itself.

[Leah M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

CONTENT WARNING: anxiety, on-page panic attack, antisemitism, racism, mention of death of a parent, xenophobia, homophobia

I originally came to know the author of this book when they were still working on their debut book, through Twitter. I loved watching their journey as they struggled through deconstructing the antisemitic influence in vampire stories, and couldn’t wait to see the finished result. It far exceeded my expectations, and it made me even more eager to get my hands on this book.

Once I started, I was even more excited for this book, because it was everything I would have wanted to see in a story when I was the target age for this. However, reading it as an adult was just as enjoyable. To start with, this is an overwhelmingly Jewish book, but you don’t have to be Jewish to read it. There are a lot of Hebrew and Yiddish terms sprinkled throughout the story, but have no fear, there’s a glossary that explains everything very clearly, and in a way that makes it accessible for younger readers.

“(Midrash is a biblical exploration, like rabbinical fanfiction).”

I loved the way that Moulton doesn’t just pop Benji’s Jewishness into the story like an additive, but rather makes it a key thread that runs through the entire story. Benji lives on a kibbutz setting that also serves as a wolf sanctuary, and while everyone speaks English, they also use a lot of Hebrew and Yiddish loanwords. The kibbutz is made up of observant Jews from different diaspora communities, highlighting the diversity of the Jewish people. Among the families living on the kibbutz are Ashkenazi Jews who settled in Eastern Europe, but there are also families belonging to the Cochin Jews of India, the Mizrahi Jews of Baghdad, and Beta Israel Jews from Ethiopia. The vast majority of these families have experiences antisemitism, xenophobia, ethnic cleansing and threats of genocide. However, the families on the kibbutz all function as a giant family, whether they are related or not. One of my favorite aspects of the story is how Benji finds comfort in the familiarity of prayers—knowing that they have been recited the same way by people all over the world for centuries, and it’s one of my favorite aspects of Jewish practice as well.

“I know exactly what to say. What’s going to be said next. And what comes after that. The rituals have an order. They haven’t changed in centuries. I’m not even ashamed to admit the predictability helps me feel safe.”

Benji is preparing for his bar mitzvah, a big event for a young Jewish boy. It’s complicated by his anxiety—he struggles with anxiety and hasn’t opened up about it to anyone. Benji feels pressure to hide his anxiety because he feels as though werewolves are required to demonstrate control, and having anxiety will show that he doesn’t have control. However, it makes it difficult for him to focus and speak in front of others, including his family. He has found a couple of coping skills that work for him, and we get to see Benji practicing his coping skills in the book. Additionally, Benji grows over the course of the story and makes a lot of progress in coping with his anxiety.

Moulton completely deconstructs the werewolf myth in a similar way that they did with vampire lore. In this book, rather than being transmitted through a bite, werewolves are born that way, with all werewolves having some degree of Jewish ancestry. I loved how it was explained, but most of all, that there was a learning curve for new werewolves to function as wolves when they’ve been humans for their whole lives. It’s always frustrating to me when a character learns a new skill instantaneously, and that was completely avoided here.

“Werewolves aren’t created the way the myths say they are. Werewolves can bite people all day and wouldn’t make a single new werewolf. There’s nothing magical or curse-filled with our bite or spit or blood or whatever. You have to be born as a werewolf.”

This story was wonderful. There are a lot of heavy topics that are discussed throughout the book—anxiety, prejudice, antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and homophobia—and they directly affect the main characters in the story. Benji is Jewish, gay, and deals with his anxiety on a daily basis. The other major character in the story, Caleb, is biracial and gay, and shows up at the kibbutz because he suddenly discovers he is a werewolf as well. There’s a lot of time devoted to unpacking stereotypes and counteracting them, as well as finding new and creative ways to fighting hatred in various forms.

This is an especially meaningful book, and the author’s note makes that clear for a variety of reasons. First of all, Moulton shares their own experiences in the army as an openly Jewish person, living among people who held prejudices, many of whom had never even met a Jewish person before. It’s a lot easier to avoid hate than to stop it once it has taken hold. They also offer resources for people who have anxiety, and Moulton discusses their own experience with anxiety. I’m a huge fan of OwnVoices books, because it adds a level of authenticity to a story that I don’t generally find in books written by authors who don’t have personal experience with the subject matter. But most importantly, I loved the way that they allow Benji to find pride in his identities in a positive way, rather than focusing on the negatives. And the author leaves us with an important suggestion that applies to any group of people we don’t know much about:

“Don’t learn about a group of people from someone who hates them.”

Overall, this is a great story, and I loved every minute of it. We get a bit of everything in this one book, so it’s a satisfying read. There are elements of fantasy, romance, mystery, but this is mainly a coming of age story. The characters are fully developed, even the side characters, and their motivations are explored thoroughly in the story. Readers get to see what Modern Orthodox Judaism is like from the inside through the experience of Benji and his family, and have it explained as Benji describes what is going on to Caleb, who has a lot of questions. I loved seeing the emphasis on tolerance and cooperation to combat hate, which often stems from ignorance and misunderstanding. And while I loved the story for what was in it, I found myself loving it even more when I found out how personal of a story it was for Deke. This book also particularly stood out to me as a prime example of why OwnVoices books are so important—one word in this book hit me right in the feels. One single Yiddish word took me back to the days when my father was alive, and said that word all the time. It made me smile every time it showed up (which was often), and really see myself and my family in the pages of this story. Plus, the glossary helped me finally learn what the word means.

[BookishlyJewish]

This review first appeared on my blog BookishlyJewish

The sophomore slump is a real thing for writers. Second books are always harder, because there is an expectation that a writer not only knows what they are doing but that they will surpass their first piece. In reality, each new work serves to teach writers how very little we know about anything. Plus, if a writer is truly pushing themselves, they will be trying something new each time, not rehashing the same old stuff. Figuring all that out, allowing oneself the grace to breathe and explore, is often the actual struggle of submitting a second book for publication. It's quite different than all the manuscripts that came before, that were not published. I approached Sydney Taylor Honor recipient Deke Moulton's second book, Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf, with this in mind. However, I actually enjoyed the read even more than I did their prior book (Don't Want To Be Your Monster). And found it extremely fitting that anxiety was a featured topic.

The premise that the tribe of Benjamin's blessing in Birchat Yaakov (the blessings Jaacob gives to each of his sons in the bible) refers to Benjamin being an actual wolf rather than a metaphor for his prowess in battle, is certainly far fetched, but once we get past that suspension of disbelief the results are intriguing. Thirteen year old Benji Zeb has always known he is werewolf, because his family is composed of werewolves that disguise their shape shifting ability by running a wolf sanctuary. They are also unlike traditional werewolves in horror stories - Judaism holds that a werewolf keeps their human mind intact when they shift so these are not necessarily dangerous individuals, and they have control over when they shift rather than being beholden to phases of the moon. I actually found this to be hilarious and delightful. A bunch of werewolves running a werewolf sanctuary in a kibbutz like fashion? Adorable.

However, Benji's idyllic family life is facing threats from both within and without. His bar mitzvah is approaching and his crushing anxiety is leaving him unable to focus on writing his speech. With everyone expecting him to be perfect, he can't find the words to tell them about the turmoil in his mind. On top of that, his former best friend at school Caleb, has been acting horrible for months. Worse - Benji catches Caleb's stepfather and his white supremacist pals hatching a plan to sabotage the sanctuary.

When Caleb shows up at the sanctuary -in wolf form! - Benji has to reconcile his conflicting feelings towards him. He's still harboring a crush, and sometimes it seems like Caleb is encouraging it, but he also has a stepfather literally trying to destroy Caleb's family. Nobody will listen to him because they keep telling him to focus on his bar mitzvah speech and Caleb is kind of freaked out at discovering he's a werewolf (it's a recessive trait). There were definitely moments when I just wanted to yell at everyone to shut up and listen to each other. I suppose feeling like nobody will listen to you is part of being a teen. Although Benji's anxiety doesn't help matters - he can barely get a few words out to his parents. Which means he and Caleb are stuck figuring out a plan together.

Where Benji Zeb really shines for me is the ending. Unlike Moulton's first book, Benji Zeb, takes things a step further by allowing Benji to see the other side multiple times. He shows great maturity in imagining what things might be like for Claeb and his step father. Caleb is given a real and true voice and the step father is not a faceless evil, but rather someone who has made some bad choices after facing disappointment. Resolution is reached not by winning a battle, but rather through empathy, understanding and an offer to share. It was beautiful and nuanced in a way that younger readers could still understand.

I imagine after the success of Don't Want to be your Monster, it was daunting to write a follow up. I love that it features anxiety, because that's how I feel every time I send something out into the world never knowing how it will be received by people who liked my prior pieces, or if I'll get any feedback at all. So I'd like to provide this bit of reassurance: as a second book, Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf shows a lot of growth and a willingness to explore new themes. I look forward to seeing where Moulton goes next - be it a new magical creature, or a new age group, or genre.

Note: BookishlyJewish received an ARC from the publisher after we asked for one.

[bookishlycaffenaited · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endless thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"And for the first time, I really do feel like Shabbat is a sneak preview into HaOlam HaBa, because this? This calm that settles over me. The peace of being accepted. I could live in an eternity of that."

Deke Moulton has definitely become an auto-buy author for me. I will now read anything they publish, as their books bring me so much joy. I adored their debut, Don't Want to Be Your Monster, and this book was just as exceptional. Moulton does such an incredible job at depicting adolescence - Benji's voice and personality shined through in this novel, just like in their debut. Benji was at times hilarious, naive, scared, and anxious, but also incredibly precocious, brave, wise, and tenacious. His experience with anxiety broke my heart, but I loved how honest this portrayal was. I love how Moulton uses werewolves here as a metaphor for Jews and their experience with hatred and vicious antisemitism - from centuries ago to now. I loved the Hebrew and Yiddish embedded throughout; I truly felt the Kibbutz vibes, the sense of community and love. I loved how Jewish history was described, and I loved seeing it being told to Caleb, another character whom I adored.
I loved Caleb's attitude and humour, his heart, and his pain. I loved how Moulton showed realistic conversations, showing how people outside the Jewish faith and community would not be aware of our history, and the microaggressions and antisemitic libels that fester and influence the way Jews are perceived. I loved reading about the Chinese-American experience as well, as there were some aspects of history I was unaware of. The relationship between Calbe and Benji was simply adorable, and I loved watching them learn from each other, and be their truest, most vulnerable selves with one another. Again, the author's note at the end is essential reading. The message of the importance of community, the strength it takes to stand up to hate, to educate one another about our histories, and to learn to live with one another, engage in dialogue, and find common ground and understanding all shine beautifully here. It's a message I hope to see in our world soon.

[Mimi Schweid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll have to write a longer review in the morning but all I can say right now is that I loved it and it felt very healing.

Awake me; This book was adorable, a tiny bit heavy handed but I understand why. I loved how it handled the heavier topics, heavier conversations between Benji & Caleb and how supportive Benji's family were. It was a fast paced, fun read and felt a bit like a Jewish holiday special at times but it just made me feel so good I didn't mind. It had all the stops and was wrapped up in a cute lil happily ever after kind of bow I was hoping for.

[Mary Averling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody does heartfelt paranormal MG like Deke Moulton. BENJI ZEB IS A RAVENOUS WEREWOLF is sweet, fun, and fierce in equal measure, dousing the classic werewolf tale with wonderfully sincere heapings of queerness and Jewishness. It's about transformation, courage, and finding your people--and yourself--when the world considers you monstrous. Benji stole my whole heart from page one. I cannot WAIT to see what this author does next.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the werewolf storyline and the discussion about about how they were discriminated against. Benji was a sweet protagonist with very relatable struggles. However I unfortunately feel like there was a bigger emphasis on the religious/cultural aspects of the story rather than the werewolf plot, which disappointed me. A better balance between the two would be ideal.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Pam Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of a boy finding himself, and saving his community along the way.

The relationship between Caleb and Benji often felt like one of an old married couple. The words of encouragement felt real! I highly recommend this book for everyone no matter their age.

[Alison Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! A pleasure to read and also thought provoking. I'll look for more books by this author!

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly really liked this, but there were a few little things that bothered me. Full review to come.

[Lila (teawithalibra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful representation of Jewish culture in terms/examples simple enough for middle grades, but also super valuable for non-Jewish adults! Great multiculturalism and just beautiful storytelling all around.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While looking for books to order to bolster the library’s collection of books by Jewish authors, I came upon Deke Moulton’s Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf. It wasn’t…actually useful for my purposes, as I needed to find adult books, and Benji Zeb is for middle-grade readers, but my sister and I have been hunting for werewolf media for the last few years, so I was pretty thrilled to find a new werewolf story to read. I was especially interested because it’s a queer story, and werewolf-as-queer-metaphor is one of the things I enjoy the most about werewolves. Plus, the cover is just so adorable, with its intertwined wolf-shaped candle flames. So I checked out a copy from another library.

Protagonist Benji Zeb is a werewolf boy living in a werewolf kibbutz that also runs a wolf sanctuary in rural Washington State. He’s been trying to prepare for his bar mitzvah but keeps finding himself buckling under the pressure in ways that he never sees in anyone else. He has difficulty speaking to large groups of people - even when those people are his close family - and often says the wrong thing or clams up entirely and just can’t get the words out. He calms down most when he shifts into a wolf, but he’s been grounded from shifting because his family thinks it’s interfering with his bar mitzvah preparation. While in wolf form, Benji uncovers a plot by local cattle farmers to sabotage the wolf sanctuary, which he can’t tell his family about without revealing that he shifted while grounded. When Caleb Gao, Benji’s school crush and stepson of the cattle farmer trying to sabotage the sanctuary, shows up at Benji’s home as a newly transformed werewolf, Benji has to confront his feelings for Caleb, his anxiety, and the cattle farmers while introducing Caleb to his world.

Benji Zeb definitely uses werewolves as a queer metaphor. They’re a metaphor for his Jewishness as well, but for the most part the book fairly cleanly breaks its metaphors into two major groups - werewolves-as-gay and regular-wolves-as-Jewish.

Werewolves as Moulton has extrapolated them from Jewish scripture are born, not made, can shift at will, and keep their heads while transformed. They’re not dangerous or contagious, but popular misconceptions around them scare people into believing that they are, which forces them to hide themselves or risk ostracism and violence. While I was initially frustrated with this departure from the werewolf features with which I’m more familiar - and which make werewolves such a good analogy for disability - this take aligns fairly well with queerness, especially for a middle-grade audience. Even as Benji can safely be “out” as a werewolf among his family, he does feel the need to hide that he’s gay from them, which hurts in the same way that hiding his lycanthropy from his friends does.

Meanwhile, Moulton uses the recent backlash against wolf conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest as an analogy for antisemitism. The local cattle farmers treat wolves like their presence is unnatural and as though there’s no way for them and the wolves to coexist in the same space. Because Benji’s kibbutz is a wolf sanctuary, this extends to the Christian cattle farmers trying to push out the Jewish wolf sanctuary for bringing what they perceive as a dangerous outside threat into a space that they think should only be for them. This analogy is made more explicit as Caleb’s stepfather’s anger over the wolf sanctuary leads him down an online far-right pipeline, and he begins parroting nazi conspiracy theories to his stepson. It’s a good way to frame an introduction to antisemitism for middle-schoolers.

That said, I think Moulton extends too much grace to antisemites. I understand why they do; plenty of people, possibly even the parents of prospective readers, may buy into aspects of the most rampant conspiracy theory of all time, and it’s probably better to approach many of them as misguided people with the capacity to change rather than evil people with a hand in recreating the conditions that led to the most infamous genocide in history - even if they are…uh…doing that. But at one point, Benji’s father speaks directly about his own parents’ antisemitic views and says that “ultimately they were doing the right thing…if what they believed was real [….] because all this stuff they thought they were protecting me from was bad - even if it wasn’t real.” I understand the sentiment, and I even appreciated the passage enough to photograph it and send it to a few friends, but it still rubs me the wrong way, at a time when so many resources with true information exist, and people who claim to believe in blood libel are using that as an excuse to destroy the fabric of society. It’s simplified and made kinder for children, but maybe some children will need to protect themselves and others at a time when talking it out is the wrong call.

My other issue with the book is that it’s often too baldly informational. Benji Zeb is, in many ways, written to be an introduction for tweens to Judaism, queerness, antisemitism, wolf conservation, anxiety disorders, and anti-Chinese racism, and it does introduce each of these topics in pretty good detail. In return, though, it takes many pages that could have forwarded the plot and developed the characters and instead devotes them to one character spouting facts and defining terms for another, or Benji as narrator doing the same for the audience. It’s a bit clumsy and frustrating at times; on several occasions I thought I’d hit a point in the story where everyone was on the same page and we’d be over the exposition, only to hit another list of facts a few paragraphs later. There’s actually not a ton of action to the story, which really only covers a single weekend. I worry that while the novel’s intended audience could definitely use such reader-friendly introductions to these topics, they also don’t necessarily have my attention span and willingness to push through the vegetables to reach the meat, as it were.

Those issues aside, though, I really did enjoy this book. It’s a very cute introduction to some heavy and increasingly necessary subject matter, with fun characters and some genuinely beautiful passages about werewolves, Judaism, and queerness. Its use of wolf conservation to discuss antisemitism is creative, unique, and well-considered, and it’s a surprisingly effective primer for children about the spread of antisemitic conspiracy theories throughout history and their impact today.

[Rebekkah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting good things after reading Deke Moulton's middle-grade debut, Don't Want to Be Your Monster, but I was completely blown away by Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf!! I loved everything about this. The Jewish werewolf lore, the Talmudic discussions, the seamless integration of Jewish culture and tradition throughout. I laughed, I cried, I thought about the Yiddish word "paskudnyak" for the first time since I was a kid. Moulton tackles antisemitism, racism, and the political divisiveness in the United States, and somehow still manages to leave the reader feeling optimistic and hopeful for a better world. It was exactly the book I needed to read right now, and I think it is the book the world needs right now. I highly recommend this, for adults and young readers alike.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can clearly tell the author is a Zionist based on the heavy handed pro Israel content. This is mostly a book about Judaism, not werewolves. The antagonist hates them because they’re Jewish. Since this is a middle grade book, I don’t like how it throws every Jewish stereotype out there, as I found that it taught me new stereotypes that I’d never heard before, and would do so even more for children. Also, at a point the MC is lecturing the Chinese character about how he’d never know about discrimination… and then is taught that Chinese people face discrimination as well? Like he’s never thought about anyone but himself. Also the boys kiss right away after they come out, no relationship build up.

[Laura]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

Content notes:

- Anxiety, panic
- Antisemitism (subtle, recognized on page)
- Racism, mention of slurs (no on-page slurs)
- Racist microaggressions (referenced, from stepfather)
- Children in perilous situation

This is a really interesting tale on werewolf mythos and I really loved how Jewish this was and the community. Full review closer to release.

Jan 23, 2024: unsurprisingly based on a couple references which I shrugged off while reading, author is Zionist so will not be posting full review and removing rating.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been so much more interesting if it talked more about the werewolves. It's mainly a book about Judaism, which is interesting but not when you want a werewolf story.

[John Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s easy to believe, a lot of the time, we are being continually deprived of fresh narratives. The stories, myths, and people currently in the mainstream would like us to believe that’s “just how it is,” because this thinking benefits them. Stories like Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf put in such inspiring effort to make itself heard.

Broadly speaking, this is a story of Jewishness, race relations, families, paranoid bigotry, queerness, empathy, anxiety, and werewolves. This sounds like a lot for a book to have, but it approaches them with a deft touch.

Benjamin “Benji” Zeb is a Jewish boy who lives on a combination kibbutz and wolf sanctuary in Washington. He’s got a lot on his mind: an upcoming bar mitzvah, representing the sanctuary at a fair, trying to keep his anxiety under wraps, and wondering if he should come out as gay. With all that in mind, being a werewolf seems like the least of his worries.

Werewolf fiction gets me in the door, especially when a book tries to put a twist on it. Too often, it’s treated as less good vampire fiction, or trite horror. Werewolf myths are as diverse as the cultures that have them, and more werewolf stories should draw from them. Jewish culture is no exception.

Benji lives in that myth. Unlike many werewolf stories, which contend that the wolf and man are at odds with each other, the Jewish werewolf maintains their humanity. This is an exceptionally refreshing approach; it’s not something Benji fears or resents, but something he takes comfort in. He contains multitudes, which sometimes scares him, but his wolf represents a retreat for him.

Caleb Gao soon becomes a prominent player in his troubles and joys. Although Benji is crushing hard for him, he initially seems brash and standoffish. But when Caleb finds out he’s also a werewolf, he comes to Benji. At first Benji thinks it's to be blamed, but comes to realize Caleb is looking for help. Caleb’s home life is troubled, and comes to a head when his stepdad falls in with bad company.

Caleb, being of mixed Chinese descent and queer, believes he’s in danger. Especially when, as sometimes happens in rural America, minorities become an easy scapegoat for their ill fortune. Caleb thinks this way at first, scoffing at many of Benji’s customs, and insisting Chinese-Americans experience more persecution, but he’s put off these notions relatively soon. The other residents of the kibbutz, and Benji’s own patient but assertive demeanour, help Caleb shake off these fancies.

The story has a distinct educational aspect. It doesn’t sand off the edges of a pious Jewish milieu; Hebrew and Yiddish phrases are used throughout, with a handy glossary in the back. Caleb explains (CW: mentions of racial violence) the “Tacoma method,” which I hadn’t heard of. And even though it stays on a kid-appropriate level, it doesn’t pretend that truly awful people don’t exist. This feels pretty long-winded early on, but becomes more woven into the narrative once it’s established.

A few things come off a bit clunky. Present-tense narration is one of those things I should be used to in books for this age group, but it’s laid on pretty thick here. The plot feels rather low-key early on, consisting mostly of Benji explaining things, which makes the first half a slight drag. Also, as much as the story values understanding and diverse perspectives, it still clings to a few clichés, like the deadbeat stepdad and the backwardness of rustic folk.

But to sum, this is a story that mixes a personal, tender narrative with grand cultural and social ideas: ones that would electrify young readers. It feels valuable, courageous, and beautiful.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh, Benji's life right now! It's not enough that he's being bullied at school by Caleb, someone he used to have a crush on, but he's also under volcanic amounts of pressure to prepare for his bar mitzvah, and he suffers from volcanic amounts of anxiety, which he hides from his family. Plus, there's that whole thing about secretly being a wolf shapeshifter, like most of the people in his kibbutz. The kibbutz is in rural Washington state, near the mountains, and they run a wolf sanctuary with real wolves and wolf-dogs as a cover for their shapeshifting abilities. Currently they're being targeted by a local rancher, Caleb's stepfather, because their town's new fair chose the wolf sanctuary over Caleb's stepfather's proposal about better ranching methods (I think). He's being riled up by someone severely racist and anti-Semitic, and Benji is really worried what they might do to the sanctuary. And then, a new wolf-shapeshifter shows up at the sanctuary, terrified by what's happened to him. It's Caleb, so now that's on Benji's plate, too.

This is certainly a really original premise for a book, so I applaud the creativity. I think the portrayal of Benji's anxiety is realistic, and will let kids suffering the same thing feel not so alone (there are resources at the end of the book, too). I've also not read any stories set in a kibbutz, either, so it was interesting to learn how that worked for this particular small community. However, I'm not sure how this book will work for kids. First, I strongly take issue with them being called "werewolves." They are not werewolves. The moon has no effect on them, they can't bite someone and turn them into a werewolf, and they can shift anytime, therefore they are shapeshifters. Kids wanting a werewolf book, or a horror book (implied by the title and cover), will be disappointed. I also thought that while it's great to have details about the kosher Jewish life led by Benji and his community, there was too much info-dumping about it--it felt more like a lesson than a story at times. Then, the denouement in which Benji--a middle schooler who struggles to say word one in front of groups of people of any kind, and who suffers such crushing anxiety he can't control his shapeshifting--is suddenly eloquent as MLK Jr. in preaching to Caleb's stepfather about unity and sharing and cohabiting, etc. Um, didn't work for me. I agree with everything Benji "said," but it didn't feel natural or believable that he would do that. So, interesting and creative, but didn't quite work for me. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Raaven💖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Deke is not only a great person, but they are a great storyteller as well. I loved this as well as her debut Don't Want to Be Your Monster. I’ve learned so much about Judaism and being Jewish from these books. Having to look things up and learn has been so insightful. I would have never thought about any of this before, which means children reading these books might feel the same way. I finished this up in one day because it is short and also because it was enjoyable and fun to read, which you also need for a children’s book.

Benji was such a relatable MC. I felt for him through his anxiety and his longing to be able to express his true self to his family. I think we’ve all had moments as kids where we aren’t sure if we ready to tell them things about ourselves because we fear for their reactions. Benji being anxious and being gay were huge things for him to have to get off his chest. He felt like it was easier to be a wolf and not have to worry about the anxieties and pressure of being human.

I wasn’t sure what to make of Caleb first. He came off as a show off and a bit of a jerk, but he grew on me as the story progressed. He’s obviously just a kid who feels unwanted and unloved and can’t express himself. I’m glad we got a lot of his story and got to see the real him behind his façade.

I wish there were more of the side characters. I was glad to see Rachel again at the end, but she gets lost for most of it. She seemed like a good friend who was willing to stand up for Benji, but she’s also barely there. I’m just glad Benji was able to stand up for himself after a while.

The message of tolerance and forgiveness is so powerful in this book. The conflict resolution is done in a way I know I wouldn’t be able to because I’m a vindictive adult, but seeing kids work things out and make peace made me so happy. Seeing Benji be strong was so inspiring. I love the messages that were sprinkled throughout the story. Be yourself and be accepting. You aren’t trying to make the world exactly like you. You are trying to make the world accept EVERYONE and everyone is allowed to be happy in their culture, religions, and practices. This was a refreshing middle grade book that I will recommend highly.

[Toby P. Smith: The Nerd-Cave Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benji Zeb is a Jewish Werewolf who lives in a Kibbutz and Wolf Sanctuary in the US rural pacific northwest. I thought this story would be more focused on werewolves, but it's actually more of a coming-of-age story about the strength of community in the face of discrimination; homophobia, racism, and antisemitism. There was a lot more focus on the Jewish community and the actual Jewish myths of werewolves rather than the more traditional “monster” werewolf stories. Having grown up in a Hebrew speaking Jewish community myself, it was nice to see familiar terms and phrases used in the regular prose and dialog. I didn't realize at first that there is a glossary/index in the back with translations for the Hebrew and Yiddish words, so I was worried that if you didn't already know the language you might not be able to follow along like I could, but that was not the case.
When Caleb comes to the Kibbutz and is asking questions about the Shabbos rituals, I like how Benji is able to explain simply and succinctly in a way that the reader is able to understand. Benji has severe anxiety, and is therefore worried about how his family will react to that fact since, as he understands it, werewolves must always have control, and he feels he has none. The focus of the protagonists to talk with antagonist, Mr. Rocheford, rather than stoop to his level using violence is a great deviation from traditional werewolf tales. All in all, it's a nice story, which is also great for educating readers about the Jewish community, dispelling myths and antisemitism, and getting a good look at a young gay boy with a crush on the closeted former school bully.

Thank you to the Librarything Early Reviewers Club, the Author, Deke Moulton, and the Publishers, Tundra Books, for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review

[☆ Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published title: "Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf".

A much more accurate title: "Benji Zeb Is an Anxiety-Ridden Jewish Teen".

I'm a big fan of Fantasy/Supernatural stories and Young Adult books, so the blurb, along with the cute cover for this one, sold me immediately.

Unfortunately, having grown up in an extremely rigid, evangelical household, I have absolutely zero interest in all things religion, so I was less than thrilled when the book turned out to be about 20% werewolf and 80% "Introduction to Jewish Culture, Customs, and Terminology 101."

I really enjoyed the werewolf and wolf sanctuary parts of the story, but sadly, it felt as though there were four pages on Jewish life and Benji's anxiety for every one wolf-related page. 😞

And with "werewolf" being right there in the title, I was expecting/hoping for quite a bit more action, instead of the story being largely contemplative and introspective.

To have been tagged as Middle Grade, I suspect that more action would also hold the interest of that target audience a bit better, too. I remember being a middle grade reader and I tended to lose interest quickly when MC’s were stuck too deeply in their own heads.

3 stars.

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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.

See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)

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[Natalie Younger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good sign when I finish a middle grade or YA book and am immediately overthinking which young reader in my life I want to recommend or gift it to. With Benji Zeb that thought train left the station before I was even 1/3rd through. Moulton excels at wrapping important messages into compelling stories, but Benji Zeb feels extra ambitious; covering mental health and anxiety in kids, Jewish cultural and religious practices, Jewish history, realizing one's sexuality, coming out, the experience of being 'othered' in a rural town and even your own home, the toxicity of internet hate and conspiracy 'culture', wolves as a keystone species, *takes a deep breath* ALL WHILE building a rich and immersive world and believable werewolf lore. Basically, Moulton is spinning as many plates as their titular werewolf, only they make it look effortless.

I couldn't put this book down, and still, when I finished I was shocked--that it was the end (I wanted more!), that I learned so much, that I felt so much, and that Moulton (and Benji and Caleb) accomplished so much in such an efficient page count. But I still haven't decided who to gift my copy on to.

[As a side note, it was deeply comforting to watch Benji and Caleb not give up on the older family member who'd fallen into the online hate speech spiral -- for my jaded generation, it is pretty easy to assume those folks are out of reach forever. It warms my cold, cynical heart to think we're not teaching the younger generations that.]

//

I received an ARC of Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf as a part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

You CAN judge a book by its cover. A title about a "Ravenous Werewolf" might lead a potential reader to assume that the book is a horror story. But the beautiful cover with the picture of Benji lighting the Sabbath candles, while Caleb looks on, gives a better idea of what is inside. This is a coming of age story. Benji is a werewolf, but he is also a young man who is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, dealing with an overwhelming hidden anxiety issue, and his feelings for a friend who has turned into a bully.

Benji is a werewolf. But he in not a monster. The monster in this book is prejudice. Author Deke Moulton begins the book with a biblical quote and then a very clever opening line. The quote is the basis for a Jewish werewolf mythology. Jacob's son Benjamin was a werewolf, and therefore so are his dependents. She then presents the idea that all of peoples' assumptions about the werewolves are wrong. She draws the analogy between peoples' fear of wolves and werewolves based on hateful myths to the fear and hatred of other minorities.

Benji lives in a wolf sanctuary and kibbutz. The wolf sanctuary provides a perfect place for werewolves to live with out discovery. Over the years, several other werewolf families have found the sanctuary and joined the kibbutz. Benji is supposed to be preparing for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah, but he is overwhelmed by anxiety. He constantly feels that nothing he does is good enough. But he keeps this anxiety a secret. His other secret is his feelings for his classmate Caleb, the only person who he felt comfortable around. He realizes that he has a crush on Caleb. But when the town fair goes to the wolf sanctuary instead of the stepfather's free range ranch, en Caleb's stepfather becomes hateful. The boy becomes a bully, and Benji is crushed in a different way. When Caleb shows up at the shelter in wolf form, Benji must help the young man deal with his changes. In the process, they get to know each other better.

The author does a magnificent job of weaving together a coming of age story, with the themes of prejudice based on myths and fear, dealing with anxiety disorders, and a sweet story about first love.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really loved this book. I was honestly blown away by "Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf." It tackles so much in such a beautiful way. It's unapologetically Jewish, queer, neurodivergent and more.

"Benji Zeb" is a middle-grade fantasy that has plenty of werewolves (not gory), Judaism and 2SLGBTQ+ representation. It was a really fun and meaningful book to read, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since.

I really hope that readers don't see this one as "middle-grade" and walk away. To me, this book is a perfect example of why people are so wrong that middle-grade books are not for adults. I know so many people who would love this book, and more importantly, I know so many people who NEED to read this book. Just because something is targeted toward younger readers doesn't mean that adults won't take something away from it, and that's the hill I'm gonna die on today.

The storytelling in this book is excellent, and the way Moulton articulates the experiences of a Jewish person, a gay person, a person with anxiety -- all wrapped into one and also individually -- is remarkable.

Some of the ways Moulton expressed the Jewish experience really stuck with me. As I read this book, I found myself relating in ways I didn’t think I would. Benji Zeb has a lot going on, and so do the Jewish people. There’s a lot of navigation of Jewish life and survival, and I think that’s something every Jewish person can connect to at the moment -- even if we aren’t werewolves.

Benji says at one point, “In the darkness, I feel alone.” That sentence really struck a cod for me at our current moment in time as a Jewish people. It’s hard not to feel like an outsider, like we’re constantly trying to protect ourselves, like we’re fighting for our right to keep on living. But once Benji and his family start to light the Hanukkah candles and recite the prayers, he starts to find ease in the tradition and familiarity. With Rosh Hashanah and being surrounded by love and hope with family and friends, things feel a little lighter. The worries are never gone, but being immersed in our culture and heritage helps bring light.

Also, please read the author's note.