Lumi and the Wolf

by Lottie Saahko

A lonely autistic girl befriends a white wolf - but to save his life, she must first learn to trust her own strengths. A heart-warming, epic adventure across the snowy wilderness and cosy settings of Lapland by a new and truly inspiring storyteller. Beautifully illustrated by award-winning Jason Cockroft. Perfect for readers 8+, and fans of Hannah Gold, Elle McNicoll, and Michael Morpurgo.

Lumi is far from thrilled when her parents send her to stay in Lapland with her aunt and uncle - especially because being autistic makes it hard for her to adjust to a new place. But everything changes when she befriends a lone white wolf. So when hunters threaten his life, Lumi makes a brave she will save him by leading him to a national park.

Scouting a trail through the frozen wilderness, making camp in cosy hiking cabins, and even trying saunas and ice-swimming, Lumi begins to open up to Lapland and even accepts the help of local boy Oskár. But with danger at their heels, can they find safety in time - and a place to belong?

An unforgettable story about discovering your strengths and finding your place in the world, written by a Finnish neurodivergent author.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 24, 2026

About the author

Lottie Saahko is originally from Finland, was raised in various countries and now lives in London. She is an award-winning author and speaker, TV presenter, and content creator, with eleven books published in Finnish under the name Lotta-Sofia Saahko.

Lumi and the Wolf is her first English novel. Lottie enjoys writing on themes of neurodivergence, third culture kids, identity and nature. You can find Lottie and her 30k+ followers on Instagram at @lottiesaahko.

You can find out more about Lottie at www.lottiesaahko.com

Reviews

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Animals are not the enemy, just as trees and plants aren't. We are. We are the enemy, unless we do our best to save them."

Lumi and the Wolf is one of the best children's books of 2026 without a doubt.

This is the story of Lumi who finds herself staying with her aunt and uncle in Lapland. Lumi's mum is Finnish but Lumi hasn't been to Finland since she was a baby and is certainly unhappy about the visit.

Being autistic Lumi cannot settle into the new surroundings until she befriends an injured wolf. But when she discovers that the wolf could be killed by local hunters, she makes the decision to help the wolf by leading him to the protection of a National Park- but this is over 100 km away and will mean a journey through snowy wintery conditions and unknown experiences.

This is an adventure story of survival but also a tale that captures the beauty of the landscape and the environment in which Sami people live. Lumi is supported through part of the journey by a boy called Oskár. As time passes, As Lumi embraces a new world and friendship , she finds that what others in the past have considered curious behaviours are actually her super strengths and skills that now prove to be life-saving..

Along the journey, Lumi keeps a notebook of illustrations and observations which add to the charm and wonder of this superb book.

This is a fast -paced ,exciting and magical story for 9-12 year olds readers and certainly a book for a great class read or topic focus in upper KS2.

If you enjoyed Hannah Gold's books, The Last bear and The Lost Whale, then Lumi and the Wolf will certainly be a book to enjoy.

Lottie Saahko has written a winning storybook - top children's read for Autumn 2026. ( and there will be a sequel in 2027!!)

Highly recommended .

Thank you to Hachette Children's group publishing and Netgalley for an advance copy and an honest review

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all thank you to the author Lottie for sending me an advanced copy of this book and I had the pleasure to meet her back in 2024 at an event and spoke to her about publishing a book in English as she is already published in Finnish. I was so happy to see her journey writing this book and then to receive a copy. 

What a fab journey in this book where you feel you're on it with Lumi and her wolf friend. 
I love that this has autism representation in a middle grade book and how it affects Lumi. I also found the book informative about Lapland and also about the culture and language. 
A lovely easy book to read and I think people of all ages would enjoy this read. 
Definitely get this book on your shelves

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story about a young girl who is sent from London to Lapland, for an unexpected visit to her mother's family that she is unhappy about. Until she encounters and develops an uncanny bond with a large white wolf, which is at risk from hunters.

Lumi decides that she will find a way to get the wolf to safety in the north. Their eventful and perilous journey - with an additional companion - makes for an absorbing and exciting story. It also has marvelous illustrations and is one of the most intelligent and relatable stories about neurodiversity I have come across in children's fiction. Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Rebecca Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Delightful And Engaging Story That Follows Lumi Who Is Staying With Her Aunt Iris And Uncle Niko For A Month In Lapland. Lumi Encounters A White Wolf And Embarks On A Thrilling Adventure To Bring Wolf To A National Park, To Keep Him Safe From Hunters, With Help From Her New Friend Oskár Along The Way. The Writing Is Free Flowing And Lyrical Which Makes It Easy To Read And Consists Of Small Chapters Which My ADHD Brain Loved. Lumi Is Autistic And I Could Really Relate To Her Experiences In The Story Especially Around Food As A Fellow Autistic, Which I Think Was Helped By The Fact That The Author Is Also Neurodivergent. The Story Is Full Of Beautiful And Detailed Illustrations Of Nature And Wildlife. Kids And Adults Alike Will Devour This Charming Story.

Thank You To NetGalley And The Publisher For The ARC.

[Alex T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good autism representation, we love to see it. A very enjoyable book about a girl bringing her best friend (who happens to be a wild wolf) to a nature reserve, where he'll be safe from hunters and among other wolves.

Predictable, sure, but the two leads as well as Wolf himself are very engaging characters and the journey was pretty interesting to read, with plenty of obstacles along the way. It also has a bit of an educative edge to it, teaching the younger readers about neurodivergency, Sámi culture, climate change and nature in general.

My main gripes are that the main wolf hunter antagonist is pretty unengaging, and I hate how lazy Wolf's name is. Why not give him a proper name? He deserves that much.

[Leelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of a tenacious girl called Lumi. When she sets her heart on something, she sees it through. The adventure begins after she's sent to Lapland to stay with her relatives. There is a wolf involved, of course, a lot of snow, reindeers, the Sami, danger etc. Is it implausible at times? Yes. But it's also adventurous, there is fearlessness, friendship, finding one's place, being true to oneself. Whereas the Lapland setting may seem very exotic to many audiences, it feels rather homelike to an Estonian. Kid-me would have loved it. Adult-me loves it, too. [And yes, I avoid mentioning the two central matters in order not to ruin anyone's reading experience.]

[Cups and Thoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

tender, loving, wholesome, and oh so cozy! lumi was such a delight — ever so curious, kind, and full of color. i love how creative and clever she is. i think this is my first book that referenced finnish culture and it was beautiful. the traditions they partook, the food they eat, the wooly sock winter lifestyle — all of it was wonderful to read about 🩵 obviously lumi was the star of the show. the exploration of friendship, self-identity, autism — all done in a careful, thoughtful, and loving way.

beautifully soft and at times moving. thank you lottie for allowing me to read your book early. it was an absolute honor 🫶🏼

[Aku Korhonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟The most breathtaking descriptions of nature, and such an incredible story. The beauty of Lapland truly shines through! The story is absolutely beautiful and utterly captivating.

Lottie, you are the brightest star in the sky, and from the bottom of my heart, I hope this book finds its way into the hands of readers all over the world. You have earned it with this truly wonderful story!❤️❤️

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated, adventurous yet touching story about an autistic girl who helps a wild wolf, set in the north of Lapland.

I loved the important themes woven into this tale and the sense of belonging was very prevalent throughout.

An absolute joy to read and I think this will be enjoyed by an older and younger audience alike.

[Hannah Rials Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent adventure story full of heart. What a romantic idea to be a child who befriends a wolf in the wild winterland of Finland. It’s got survival, friendship, nature, neurodivergence. A great read

[Lottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could rate this book higher! An absolute cabin-in-a-blizzard of a book. Lumi is so completely brilliant and her journey through Lapland showed her tenacity through and through. I will be heavily recommending this book through winter (and forever after that).

[Amy Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection. Raw, emotive, beautiful story. Full review coming soon...

[Taina Saahko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down! Lumi and the Wulf is a beautifully written, unforgettable story that deserves nothing less than full marks (5/5 stars).