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Voice of the Wilderness #4

A Wolf Called Fire

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The stand-alone companion to Rosanne Parry’s New York Times bestseller A Wolf Called Wander tells the wilderness survival story of the wolf pup known as Warm and is illustrated in black and white throughout. This Voice of the Wilderness Novel features extensive back matter, including a map.

Warm is the smallest pup, the one his father calls the heart of the pack. But all Warm sees is his bigger brothers Sharp and Swift, even his sisters Pounce and Wag, winning all the wrestling matches. Just as Warm is finding his place, enemy wolves destroy and scatter the pack. Warm helps lead the pups away from the fight, only to find himself alone with four pups to defend and feed. Can he be both the heart and the head of a new pack? Does he have to choose the aggressive leadership style of his father and brothers? Or is there another way?

A Wolf Called Fire is a stand-alone companion novel to A Wolf Called Wander . It’s inspired by Wolf 8, a real Yellowstone wolf who was the smallest of his pack and constantly bullied by his bigger brothers. Wolf 8 survived a tumultuous first year and grew up to be a different sort of leader—one who fought many rival wolves to submission but never killed any. He had a rare talent for mentoring young wolves and became the patriarch of the largest and most successful pack in Yellowstone by choosing a more collaborative and generous leadership style. Features black-and-white illustrations throughout and extensive back matter, including a map.

244 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2025

309 people are currently reading
3384 people want to read

About the author

Rosanne Parry

17 books452 followers
Hey there,
I'm the author of several novels for young readers, including the NY Times best seller, A WOLF CALLED WANDER and A WHALE OF THE WILD. There is information about all my books on my website.
I write because I love the power of story to illuminate and uplift our world. I try to write things that are heartfelt and encourage conversation in families and classrooms. If you wanted to ask me a question or invite me to come speak at your school or library, I'd love that. There's a contact me area on my website

When I'm not writing I try to be an advocate for literacy and libraries whenever I can. I like to read (obviously) and hike and dance and go to the beach and play the harp and write in my treehouse.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Profile Image for Ruth.
120 reviews
February 23, 2025
Fans of A Wolf Called Wander (of which I am one) or of The Unlikely Hero: the story of Wolf 8 (of which I am also a huge fan!) will enjoy getting their hands on A Wolf Called Fire.

I look forward to recommending this one to middle graders. Especially fans of Erin Hunter.
101 reviews
August 10, 2025
This book is EVERYTHING. I was crying in the library because Fire found his family?? He made his own pack?? He did it not because he was the biggest or strongest but because he was himself??? And despite all this,,,,, WANDER IS STILL ALONE????
Profile Image for Taylor Becvar.
9 reviews
April 24, 2025
Very cute, and wholesome! A story about bravery and what it takes to be a true leader.
Profile Image for Maura.
781 reviews14 followers
September 21, 2025
Absolutely LOVED this newest installment in Parry's Voices of the Wilderness series. My now 12-year old son and I adored A Wolf Called Wander in audiobook version and he went on to devour the chapter book several times. The book even inspired us to change our 10-month road trip to visit the California Wolf Center and learn about their wolf conservation work. So we were SO excited about the release of this new book, and A Wolf Called Fire did not disappoint.

Parry has such a gift for capturing the voice of a pup and investing her audience with such emotional attachment to the pup that we soak up countless facts about wolf socialization and pack dynamics without realizing how much scientific knowledge we are learning. At times, I wanted to stop listening to the audiobook because the lives of wolves are so short and their survival is so perilous, and I loved Warm so much that I couldn't take the stress and heartbreak ahead of him. But his voice was so compelling that we couldn't stop listening.

I also loved the setting in Hell's Canyon and the surrounding native lands of the Nez Perce in Oregon and Idaho. The back matter was fascinating and made me want to go back to Oregon and Idaho to explore so much more.

Kids are going to love this book, and I fervently hope it will create more champions of wolf conservation and recovery. Highly recommended for elementary, middle, and even high school library collections.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
748 reviews40 followers
February 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 stars.

This is an objectively well written book, it is just not for me.

It was better than the first book in my opinion because there was more interaction and conversation between the wolves. Warm wasn’t alone for most of it like Wander was.

I liked Snow a lot! She was very brave to leave her original pack to be with Warm who was a lot kinder.

I liked the message of ‘you don’t have to be the biggest or fastest wolf to be the best.’ It’s encouraging for people to read to give them courage if they are feeling down about themselves.

I’m sad I didn’t see most of the artwork since that was my favorite part about the first book, but what was in the ARC was very beautiful! That really enhances the story so I’m glad illustrations are a part of the novel.

I like that there is a section about the real life tales of the wolf that was written about in this book, as well as the other facts about wolves and other aspects of nature in the back. It is very educational for kids who may read this. And for adults who may not know these things either!

If you really love the science behind nature and animals, this book is for you. If you are more of a casual lover of animals then you may find this a little boring.
Profile Image for Melanie Dulaney.
2,250 reviews142 followers
October 1, 2024
Lovers of animal stories that reveal their real life behaviors, such as Parry’s A Whale in the Wild, A Horse Named Sky and this book’s predecessor, A Wolf Called Wander will be thrilled to get their hands on the story of Warm, a smaller pup in the Mountain pack. Parry’s Warm is left to lead young pups to safety after another pack invades their mountain and when the dust settles, finds that they are now alone with the rest of the pack either dead, forced to join the invaders or lost. Calling on everything he was taught by the older members of his family, Warm keeps them safe, finds several members of the Mountain pack and even leads one of the rival pack to join his slowly coalescing group. After successfully defeating rival pack, the Ice Wolves and leading his own through flames started from lightning strikes, Warm becomes Fire and takes them back to their mountain home.

Parry’s expressive language use creates such vivid images in readers’ minds and her creation of terms like “bounders” for rabbits and “fire sticks” for guns adds to the charm of all the Voice of the Wilderness books. And although the main characters are wolves, each member has a distinct personality that is reflected in their name and, as with human characters, various events cause many of them to undergo changes over time. Illustrations, done by Monica Armino who also illustrated A Wolf Called Wander so beautifully, are frequent and enhance the story perfectly. Any of this series would make a terrific class read aloud with opportunities to skills instruction sprinkled liberally throughout the book, serve as an effective literature circle choice or simply immerse an individual reader into the world of wolves. Extensive back matter covers Parry’s inspiration for this installment in the series as well as flora, fauna and prints of the forest ecosystem.

Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 3-6.

Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss Above the Treeline.
Profile Image for Bethe.
6,908 reviews69 followers
May 6, 2025
5 stars. Mama wolf so kind & aware of Warm and his sense of yielding to his litter mates
Smallest & quietest
Lovely illustrations enhance story
Huckleberries!
Confrontations between wolves are just violent enough to portray what is happening, but not all the blood and gore
Great leadership can come from unexpected places. that wisdom can be more powerful than strength. and that generously nurturing the young makes the whole community stronger.
Based on Yellowstone wolf project research, great back matter
Wonder what animal will be next?
Profile Image for Ana.
140 reviews3 followers
March 13, 2025
Very sweet story about an underdog wolf fighting to protect his young pack. I appreciate that this story is inspired by a real wolf and I like that Parry included a snapshot of his story at the end. I also like the resources and information found at the end too. The story is sweet, engaging, and informative. The pictures really bring the story to life too, they are beautiful! Highly recommend this book.

Rating system:
1 star: the absolute worst and potentially DNF
2 stars: did not like and forgettable
3 stars: casually liked, not unique, and probably forgettable
4 stars: really liked, might reread
5 stars: phenomenal, will reread, will continue to think about
Profile Image for Abigail.
7,968 reviews263 followers
August 2, 2025
Author Rosanne Parry returns here to the close-knit lupine family who appeared in her first work of animal fiction, A Wolf Called Wander , this time telling the story of Warm, one of the five wolf cubs whose family is attacked and dispersed in that earlier book. Smaller and gentler than his litter mates, Warm seems destined to become a watcher like Growl, and as a yearling becomes involved in the care of his four younger siblings. When the pack is attacked, Warm leads the pups away on his mother's instructions, and finds himself in the unexpected role of leader. Tracking down Swift—his litter mate, and the hero of A Wolf Called Wander—he believes he has found the leader they need, only to be parted again. Now Warm must find a way to care for the pups, and lead them to safety. But how can one lone wolf protect and feed them, and what will he do when the ice wolves who destroyed his family come hunting for them...?

The fourth book in Parry's Voice of the Wilderness collection featuring engaging animal stories, and a direct follow-up to A Wolf Called Wander , A Wolf Called Fire is every bit and engrossing, entertaining and ultimately heartwarming as its predecessors. Like Wander in the earlier book, Warm is based on a real-life wolf, in this case Wolf 8, who was part of the group of wolves reintroduced at Yellowstone. Like the wolf who inspired him, Warm is atypical in some ways for a leader, being smaller and gentler, and less dominant in his treatment of others in his pack. But also like that real-life wolf, he has qualities—faithfulness, resourcefulness, the ability to work with a team and take each member's strengths into account, the willingness to meet each pack member's needs—that make for a successful alpha. Much as in the earlier books, I was rooting for Warm the entire time, and enjoyed seeing his journey from an insecure pup named Warm to a wise young leader called Fire. Also like the earlier books, I enjoyed the profuse illustrations here, contributed by Spanish artist Mónica Armiño, who likewise worked on A Wolf Called Wander , and I appreciated the informative section at the rear, with information about wolves, and the flora, fauna and geology of the mountain and prairie homes in Oregon where they live. Highly recommended to all young readers who enjoy animal fiction, as well as to anyone who read and enjoyed A Wolf Called Wander and the other books in the Voice of the Wilderness collection. I hope Parry continues to write other stories in this vein!
Profile Image for Kenya Starflight.
1,653 reviews21 followers
August 18, 2025
I've enjoyed all the animal books I've read by Rosanne Parry so far -- A Wolf Called Wander, A Whale of the Wild, and A Horse Named Sky. I was curious to see another wolf book by the same author, and wondered if it was a sequel of sorts to A Wolf Called Wander. It's more of a companion novel than a true sequel... but it's just as phenomenal a read, based on the true story of a famous Yellowstone wolf and telling an epic story about family, home, and what it means to be a leader.

Warm is the smallest wolf in his litter, and despite the pack guardian's assurance that it takes more than strength to make a leader, he wishes he were as strong or as fast as his siblings, Sharp and Swift. But when an invading pack of Arctic wolves takes over his pack's territory and drives him away, he finds himself the lone protector of the pack's pups. Alone and hunted, Warm must find a way to protect the pups, avoid the Arctic pack's brutal leader, and reclaim their territory.

Parry does a fantastic job of getting us into an animal's head without making them seem like a human in an animal costume. The wolves of Warm's pack all have distinctive personalities and are relatable, but still act and feel like wolves rather than people. And it's fascinating watching their dynamics, and seeing Warm grow over the course of the novel as he takes on responsibility and faces the challenges of survival. The story is well-paced and brilliantly told, and a joy to read.

The book also sneakily teaches the reader about actual pack dynamics in wolf packs, as well as their feeding habits. It also contains an afterword with more information on the story that inspired Warm's, wolves, and the territory they inhabit.

A fantastic companion to A Wolf Called Wander, and a delightful read all around. Also, Kirby Heyborne does a phenomenal job on the audiobook version.
Profile Image for Shelli.
186 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2025
Being quite familiar with the famous story of Wolf 8 of Yellowstone (and being a huge fan of Rick McIntyre) I was excited when I read that there was an MG novel that was inspired by Wolf 8's story!

I have enjoyed all the Voice of the Wilderness books up to this point, and I enjoyed this one too, but I was a tad disappointed that the author had taken so many liberties with the original story.

The most significant part of Wolf 8's story, to me, was that he was accepted into a pack where the newborn pups were no relation to him. He was their adopted father and had no biological reason to take care of them. And yet he risked his life and fought off a much larger alpha from a different pack, all by himself, in defense of these pups that were not his. That's the part of Wolf 8's story that fills me with amazement!

The author has changed a lot of the story for this book. In this book, the main character is actually taking care of his siblings, not unrelated pups. There's other differences too, such as this story not taking place in Yellowstone.

I understand this book was 'inspired by' rather than being an actual adaptation of Wolf 8's story, but I wish it had been more true to the actual amazing tale, because I find it so breathtaking and full of emotion. I want more people to tell Wolf 8's story!

But even so, I really enjoyed this book and loved reading about the characters and the lessons Warm learns as he goes through life. I love the characters of Warm and Snow, and how he changed her mind by showing her that not all packs live like her own aggressive family.

I just wish the whole 'inspired by' part had been left out of the marketing, since the story is so much changed from the real life animal it's based on.
Profile Image for Grace.
166 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2025
I felt this latest installment is better than its predecessor, a Wolf Called Wander. I liked Warm way more than Swift. Warm is more kind and likeable than his brother, Swift. Swift comes off as more selfish and boastful. Unlike Sharp, by the end of his book, he doesn't seem to undergo any kind of major character change. He still kind of stays confident and self-contained about his own interests. I kind of wish that he would find out that
(spoiler sort of) that his brother was alive and that he would reunite with him and meet his pack with Night. That would actually be a pretty nice idea that the families could join and unite again. Maybe the next book could be how Sharp or maybe the one with the sharp nose can find them. (end of spoiler).

I also feel that it was still rushed for character development and kind of simplistic, like Snow. But other than that, I was far more engaged than the previous book and there was more tension. I also feel another critique is that the villain should've gotten a way steeper comeuppance. After all, he did kill a bunch of Warm's family and made them all suffer for months on end. But then again, that would refute Warm's tendency to be more merciful and kind, aligning more with the wolf he was based on. Overall, better than the first story, but still hope for the final thread to be tired. (a family reunion)
Profile Image for Beth Mendelsohn.
256 reviews
November 15, 2024
Thank you to Greenwillow Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This stand-alone companion to A Wolf Called Wander is based on a real-life wolf in Yellowstone National Park called Wolf 8. Warm is the smallest of his litter. His siblings hone their wrestling skills but Warm watches and learns. As their pack is attacked by the ice wolves, Warm leads his younger pup siblings away to safety. When Warm realizes that his pack is not coming back, he must become the leader and train his younger siblings how to hunt with respect to the land and to hide from the pack that destroyed his family. He was supposed to be the watcher but can he become the leader of the pack?

What a beautifully written story! I am looking forward to seeing the final copy as the digital ARC did not have the artwork. The story itself is not very long but there is a lot of information at the end about the wolves, the land terrain, the original people inhabiting that land, and how climate change is impacting it all. I would recommend this title for grades 3 and up.
#AWolfCalledFire #NetGalley
Profile Image for Pam.
9,815 reviews54 followers
November 7, 2024
I received an electronic ARC from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley.
Parry brings us the story of another wolf who struggles and finds his way to leading a pack. Warm is one of the smallest in his litter. He doesn't have the gifts his brothers and sisters have but his pack believes in him and encourages him. When the pack is attacked, he leads the new pups away and protects them. As they grow, he finds ways to keep them safe. Readers see them become their own pack though Warm continues to have doubts about his abilities. It is only in the final confrontation with another pack and leading his pack through fire to save them that he realizes he is a strong pack leader. His pack gives him the new name of Fire. I appreciate how Parry brings these characters to life. It is based on a true story of one wolf and she includes that information at the end of the book. She offers other informative text and references so readers can learn more. Looking forward to sharing this one with classes.
Profile Image for Rebekah.
155 reviews
August 4, 2025
A Wolf Called Fire is a stand-alone companion novel to A Wolf Called Wander . The younger pack brother from the first novel, Warm, must also learn how to survive in the rough wilderness without a family to protect and teach him.. After the pack is divided by a rival pack, Warm leads younger pups away from danger, but then finds himself with caring for them on his own. He's not the fastest or the fiercest wolf but Warm can take care of his young siblings.
My heart is full of admiration for these wild animals. Warm learns and grows along with the cubs, discovering his own gifts. This lovely novel for middle grades, told from one perspective, is realistic and clear. The author is able to portray these fictional wolfs as if she herself experienced life as a wild animal fighting to survive. However, her ability to portray each of the main characters as individuals with their own personalities, strengths an weaknesses is her gift. Young readers will recognize the wild and the individual and be inspired to use their own individuality to navigate the human world. Bravo.
Profile Image for Milton Public Library.
899 reviews23 followers
February 10, 2025
Another amazing addition to the A Voice of the Wilderness series! I devoured this book in a single day. Despite being a children's book, it was packed with suspense, and once I hit the halfway point, I couldn’t put it down...I had to find out what would happen to the wolf pack. What stood out to me the most was how the wolf who became the pack leader earned his position—not through aggression or dominance, but by showing true gentleness and wisdom. I also loved learning that the wolf character, Warm, was inspired by an actual wolf who led a pack in Yellowstone. It’s always incredible to see how animals demonstrate such intelligence and empathy.

Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!

Jayme A. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
Profile Image for Skip.
3,845 reviews583 followers
March 27, 2025
A fictionalized version of the famous wolf, known as Wolf 8. See the book The Rise of Wolf 8: Witnessing the Triumph of Yellowstone’s Underdogby Rick McIntyre. Warm is the smallest pup in his litter, but becomes a guardian of sorts, learning skills from a wolf named Growl. When a pack of ice wolves attack, Warm’s father and the pack leader is killed, and his mother runs off to draw the enemy wolves away, placing Warm in charge of the new pups. Warm takes the four to safety, becoming responsible to feed them. Growing hunger forces Warm to hunt by himself, when he is trapped by the enemy pack; however, one of the wolves lets him slip away after hearing about how much better another pack treats its members. Eventually, the enemy pack comes for Warm, some converts, and the wizened pups, when nature strikes and Warm is born anew.
Profile Image for Sandra.
14 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2025
No es el primer libro que leo de Rosanne Parry y me fascina la empatía que tiene con los animales que protagonizan sus historias.
En "Un lobo llamado Fire" conocemos a una manada de lobos en la que uno de los lobeznos es más pequeño y vulnerable, lo que normalmente está destinado a perecer o quedarse atrás por naturaleza. Pero seguiremos sus pasos hasta convertirse en un inesperado líder.
El libro está lleno de emoción, ternura, la fuerza de una manada unida en la que todo el mundo aporta su don particular, la importancia de un buen liderazgo justo, recto pero bondadoso. Pero también tiene momentos muy duros y dolorosos.
La historia está inspirada en "Lobo 8", un lobo que existió de verdad en el Parque de Yellowstone, en 1995 y hay un pequeño resumen de su vida al final del libro.
No puedo hacer otra cosa que recomendar con cariño este libro.
Profile Image for Amanda.
479 reviews13 followers
November 30, 2024
Read a free ARC on NetGalley.
A Wolf Called Fire has similarities to the author’s previous book, A Wolf Called Wander. In A Wolf Called Fire, Warm must take care of his Mom’s pups when their pack is attacked by another pack. The adult wolves are killed, Warm’s siblings are captured or run away, and Warm is left with four young wolves to protect and train. They run to a safe place and learn to survive. Eventually Warm and his little pack battle the other pack. They survive the fight and a lighting storm and become their own, larger pack when other wolves join them. Warm’s name is changed to Fire.
The book includes lots of great information about wolves. The ARC did not have illustrations yet so I can’t comment on that aspect.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Johnson.
207 reviews1 follower
June 20, 2025
This was one was intense! A lot of gruesome fighting, wolves hunting and eating elk, etc. There were a lot of wolf names to keep track of, and since I listened to the audio, I did struggle to keep them all straight. That all being said, the MC's transformation is powerful and something that will resonate with any reader. I would recommend this to mid to upper elementary kids who enjoyed the other books in this series or those who liked Wild Robot (though this one is more intense in my opinion).
4 stars for literary skill particularly the wolf perspective which includes different words or phrases that better suit an animal's understanding of the world. 3 stars for my own personal enjoyment.
Profile Image for Byrd.
60 reviews
August 29, 2025
A very lovely companion story to A Wolf Called Wander! I enjoyed both stories and I love that they are both inspired by real wolves.
That being said, much more liberties were taken with Warm's story, such that "inspired" feels much more prominent. The original Wolf 8's pups were adopted, something I found important and much more heartfelt rather than the fictional Warm's pups being his original packmates.
The story is engaging though, I loved seeing more of Swift's pack since we spent so little time with them in the first book, and it's heartwarming that they get a wholly happy ending, even if I liked the more uncertain, realistic ending of A Wolf Called Wander wherein it is left open if any of Swift's family were alive or if they would reunite.
Profile Image for H.R.H. Carpathia.
Author 2 books3 followers
December 20, 2025
It is Warm's turn now, and what a wonderful adventure this is. It was great to see Swift/Wander again as well as learn what happened to his siblings. I think the only pack member whose fate remains unknown is Song. Perhaps we will get a story about her or one of Warm's sisters one day. I really like these books and I am glad I came across the story of this pack. If you like wolves and nature in general you should read these books. Yes, the wolves talk but it also a true to life tale with hunting and death and mentions of blood. To me, is is perfect for a child as these are just facts of life in the wild. Warm/Fire is my favorite in the pack and next are Quiver and Swift. However, I really like the entire family, including Snow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jame_EReader.
1,452 reviews1 follower
March 2, 2025
👦🏻reviews: This is an amazing piece of work that gave importance to the pack of wolves. This is inspired by the real wolves of the American West or the West 8 that was introduced at the Yellowstone National Park. The story is so inspiring because of bravery, determination and leadership. I love animals and when reading books about harem and leader of the pack/alpha, it is so interesting to know animals have hierarchy too. I think you should read this one.
Profile Image for Lauren Z.
243 reviews4 followers
March 17, 2025
This book is so perfect. The pacing is great for middle grade readers. The artwork is literally breathtaking. The message is so great: that impactful leaders are ones who lead with courage and wit, over strength and intimidation. Also the back matter is very interesting with information about Wolf 8 who inspired the story and the animals and land that are featured in this book. Can’t wait to recommend A Wolf Called Fire to kids.
2,275 reviews5 followers
March 23, 2025
Another great story from Rosanne Parry. I always love reading these books because I manage to learn something new each time. I love the pack that Warm was able to create; it was built with love, compassion, and understanding. I hope that Rosanne continues to write these heart-warming animal stories because I will keep reading them.

Kirby Heyborne did a great job narrating this story. I look forward to listening to more of Kirby's work in the future.
Profile Image for Lori.
2,531 reviews54 followers
June 29, 2025
Told from the wolf perspective. At the end. I got a little confused with all the names. A character map would help students keep them straight. And I understood why the wolves may have different names for things, but the names would require some strong inferences at times and they seemed a little cutesy and unnecessary. I loved the message about leadership and loyalty and family, kindness and gentle strength. And there is a lot of factual information in the last tenth of the book.
Profile Image for Carolyn.
90 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2025
I started reading this a year ago with a student in our local "Book Buddies" program, but never finished it. I was able to find it through interlibrary loan and am so glad I did! It was excellent, not just the story, but all the background information the author provided about wolves. In my imagination or hopeful thinking, I may have seen Wolf #8 in Yellowstone NP, who was the model for a wolf called Fire.

Profile Image for Ms. Yingling.
3,928 reviews605 followers
September 16, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Another great title from Parry (A Wolf Called Wander, A Horse Named Sky) for readers who liked Erin Hunter's Warriors books or series like Lasky's Wolves of the Beyond. There seem to be even more illustrations, which will delight readers who like books from animals' point of view.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews

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