Wolf on the Fold

by Judith Clarke

Kenny is fourteen. His dad has just died, and to keep the family together, Kenny must find work. "Be careful going through the flatlands," his mother warns him. "Don't stop for anyone." But Kenny does stop, and what happens next will define the man he becomes. This collection of six stories set in Australia spans seventy years. Defining moments in each character's story exhibit the human will to press on even during vulnerable times. With supple, evocative prose and compelling characters, Wolf on the Fold examines those critical moments of collision between adolescence and the adult world. Judith Clarke captures the essence of people's lives, whatever their time in history or their social background.

Genres: Young Adult, School, Short Stories, Read For School

148 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

Judith Clarke was born in Sydney and educated at the University of New South Wales and the Australian National University in Canberra. She has worked as a teacher and librarian, and in Adult Education in Victoria and New South Wales.

A major force in YA fiction both in Australia and internationally, Judith Clarke's novels include the multi-award-winning Wolf on the Fold, as well as Friend of my Heart, Night Train, Starry Nights, One Whole and Perfect Day, and the very popular and funny Al Capsella series. She is unsurpassed in her ability to convey complex emotional states with acute understanding and compassion.

Reviews

[Jennifer Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about life basically ,what people go through its very inspiring to me it helped me understand a lot of things . one of the reasons why i liked this book was because it speaks about how people have trouble in there family and how they came out of it or how they hold it in , how they deal with it .one of the stories is when Kenny father died he had to find a job which i thought was a good thing for a kid to try to work and support his family is really amazing. Another amazing story was about a family Kanti ,Raj ,Rehka and there mother and father were involved in a racism action there Indian and Indians weren't wanted in the country at the time, so all Indians had to leave and they were on a train were a solider grabs rehka and throws her out the window ,i believe, so raj is the bad one fighting in class because some boy said something raj hates the color red, he hates red because when the solider killed his sister she was wearing a red dress with a red ribbon , ever since then he hated that color everybody thought that raj was to young to remember his sister but he didn't it was a hard time for them.This story is my favorite this part because you really don't understand what kids go though and some have a way to show it in there actions or some just walk with a smile. This is an very sad story but they all connect to real life situations which the reader can really connect to which is amazing , this book has changed the way i look at things know and how to be grateful for life and family.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a re-read while I was waiting to buy Circe. It was really nice to revisit it as an adult - I didn’t realise until now how much I didn’t understand what was being suggested in this story when I read it as a child. It’s an easy read, I would do it in one sitting when I was 12 and I did it in one sitting now. I’d recommend it. It’s a pleasant, interesting and inoffensive commentary.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's one to challenge people who like a view of childhood as "innocent" and straightforward. Children in this book must confront poverty, separation, privilege, racism, dispossession, injustice, hatred, death of a family member and dementia. Frequently for various reasons adults are unable to adequately protect them. The tone of the book (cosy, domesticated, family-oriented) adds to how harrowing the things that happen are, it's the sort of book where we expect a happy ending but the most we can rely on is survival (by some).

At first I thought the book was over-relying on the usual cosy heterosexualities and stereotypes about siblings, but I noticed actually that anything that worked in a relationship in one part of the book was undermined in the other, it also broke its own boundaries being a book about the many generations of one family, but then also sensitively following one chapter about their refugee neighbours. It's a see-saw of a book, anything shown in one chapter comes out differently in another, there are no certainties except perhaps (in a broad and not very reassuring way) love as a motivator...the strongest love in the book is between son and mother or perhaps between sisters (Clighty and Frances have a complicated relationship which I think keeps resolving into love). Xenophobia and despair are always the enemies to be overcome, they are both shown to spring from fear but the book calls for courage.

I have to give this five stars; not just because it made me think, not just because it undermined it's own certainties, but because when I (as usual) had insomnia I was tempted to sit up reading it and these days fewer books offer a real temptation that way. If some sections irritated me, then I accept that irritation as part of a complex relationship.

(please note it's a kids book but I am an overthinker)

[Miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It shows us a lot of things in the society and the pain and trails we may face. We look at 3 distinct stories that all share this one big message. It is a masterpiece of the century! I chose this book for my book report at school and wasn't expecting too much or too little I was curious as I don't generally read books of that particular genre. This I can say personally was a book that I learned something from and how people are so quick to misunderstand us and don't know what we feel or come from. It displays a lot of things actually, but that is just one of them. Judith Clarke you brought a work of art to life!

[Annette Heslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of six short stories based on Kenny Sinclair's family. Spanning five generations it describes a particular moment in time that a family remember vividly. Kenny leaving school and starting work at fourteen during the Depression years as his father had died. His daughter Frances married and living in Israel during the 'Gulf War', just to name a few.

Very well written, that the memories were brought to life literally on the pages.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interlinking stories show not only the impact that the past can have on the future, but also the ways in which our smallest interactions can have profound effects on others. Beauty and heartbreak in equal measure. An undercurrent of hope feels genuine, supported by the straightforward style of the writing.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct story full of pathos about the trials and tribulations of four generations of a family. I just finished it with a tear in my eye and my thought was, "that was bloody beautiful!" Thank you Judith Clarke.

[meka ౨ৎ˖° · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐

[SBC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very well written but quite depressing. I only read the first part. Kenny is 14, his Dad has died, and he has to get a job, even though it is the Depression and probably none around. Otherwise his family will get all split up and never see each other again, and he is the eldest. Just got new teeth which he hates as they slide around and make talking hard and have made him shy and unconfident and ashamed and embarrassed, esp to be seen with them out. Going through the flatlands, he encounters the crazy man who has killed some boys recently, and defeats him by staring him down while he recites Byron's Assyrians poem (hence the title). After this he is strong and gets the first job he goes for and never tells anyone what happened in the flatlands (which was a bit irresponsible I thought as the police were trying to catch that guy!). Afterwards though he told kids to learn their homework as never knew when it might save their lives. The rest of the book apparently goes through key moments in lives of descendants as well.

[Miss_otis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book extremely unsatisfying, and I can't really put my finger on why. Helpful, no?

[Shanice Lunniss]

it is a touching book

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolf on the fold is very inspirational and heart warming.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid little text. Not sure how engaging it would be for Year 8 boys, but some clear themes to discuss and interesting character relationships to unpack. At times a little naff.