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Winter of the Wolf
A tragic mystery blending sleuthing and spirituality
An exploration in grief, suicide, spiritualism, and Inuit culture, Winter of the Wolf follows Bean, an empathic and spiritually evolved fifteen-year-old, who is determined to unravel the mystery of her brother Sam’s death. Though all evidence points to a suicide, her heart and intuition compel her to dig deeper. With help from her friend Julie, they retrace Sam’s steps, delve into his Inuit beliefs, and reconnect with their spiritual beliefs to uncover clues beyond material understanding.
Both tragic and heartwarming, this twisting novel draws you into Bean's world as she struggles with grief, navigates high school dramas, and learns to open her heart in order to see the true nature of the people around her. Winter of the Wolf is about seeking the truth—no matter how painful—in order to see the full picture.
In this novel, environmentalist and award-winning author, Martha Handler, brings together two important pieces of her life—the death of her best friend’s son and her work as president of the Wolf Conservation Center—to tell an empathetic and powerful story with undeniable messages.
An exploration in grief, suicide, spiritualism, and Inuit culture, Winter of the Wolf follows Bean, an empathic and spiritually evolved fifteen-year-old, who is determined to unravel the mystery of her brother Sam’s death. Though all evidence points to a suicide, her heart and intuition compel her to dig deeper. With help from her friend Julie, they retrace Sam’s steps, delve into his Inuit beliefs, and reconnect with their spiritual beliefs to uncover clues beyond material understanding.
Both tragic and heartwarming, this twisting novel draws you into Bean's world as she struggles with grief, navigates high school dramas, and learns to open her heart in order to see the true nature of the people around her. Winter of the Wolf is about seeking the truth—no matter how painful—in order to see the full picture.
In this novel, environmentalist and award-winning author, Martha Handler, brings together two important pieces of her life—the death of her best friend’s son and her work as president of the Wolf Conservation Center—to tell an empathetic and powerful story with undeniable messages.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2020
22 people are currently reading
3856 people want to read
About the author
Martha Hunt Handler
1 book71 followersMartha Hunt Handler grew up dreaming of wolves and has always understood that her role in this lifetime is to tell stories and be a voice for nature. She has been an environmental consultant, a magazine columnist, an actress, and a polar explorer, among other occupations. When she and her four children relocated from Los Angeles to New York more than twenty years ago she began to literally hear the howls of wolves. This marked the beginning of her work advocating on behalf of wolves at the Wolf Conservation Center (nywolf.org). Winter of the Wolf is Martha's debut novel.
You can learn more about her at https://marthahunthandler.com/ or follow her on facebook at Martha Hunt Handler or on Instagram at @marthahunthandler.
You can learn more about her at https://marthahunthandler.com/ or follow her on facebook at Martha Hunt Handler or on Instagram at @marthahunthandler.
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November 17, 2025
*Deeeeeep Breath*
So, this is a book that follows the apparent suicide of Bean's (yes that's her real name) older brother (Sam) and how the whole family grieves, processes and comes to terms with his death.
This book delves into love and loss, promises tragedy and heartwarming moments...but most of all...I felt annoyed.
And I felt annoyed that I felt annoyed.
It's not that it's a terrible book (ok, it's kinda terrible)...but this is definitely one of those books where I'm mildly peeved throughout and by the end of it, I'm left holding the book and going, "That's it? That's really how it all went down? Seriously??"
Ultimately there are a few things that really pulled me out of the book and affected my rating.
Bean's Attitude
So, the book begins with Bean (aside: apparently Sam (2 yrs older) thought she was a bean when their mom was pregnant and the parents just...rolled with it? They literally were like "omg so cute. Slap "Bean" on the birth certificate. lol." AND Bean never has a second thought about it?? She's all "omg. so cute. my 2 yr old bro thought i was a bean. And now i'm named bean." am I the only one thinking that being saddled with "Bean" would cause some issue?).
Bean's a typical me-teenager (the kind which interprets the world as how it relates to them)...which in and of itself wasn't too bad...but after a while it really grated on me.
Her mom is numb from grief? LIFE FREAKING SUCKS CAUSE MOM IS TOO WEAK TO MAKE BREAKFAST. MOM USED TO BE STRONG BUT NOW SHE DOESN'T DO THE LAUNDRY.
Her dad asks her to help with chores? LET ME COMPLAIN BUT NEVER CONFRONT THE ISSUE SO THERE'S A RESOLUTION. STUPID LAUNDRY. IF ONLY MOM WASN'T SO PATHETIC.
And so on. Bean just constantly dumped on her mom for not cooking, cleaning and caring for their family.
I get that it would be nice for the mom to snap right out of things and whip up a four-course meal and bleach the socks every week for the family...but Bean is fifteen, has an older brother still living at home plus her dad.
All of whom (to my knowledge) have working arms and legs. And are completely capable of nuking a bowl of soup or adding soap to the washing machine.
So that annoyed me. Plus she had a slightly...odd fixation with her other brother.
Bean's Fixation
The book begins with Bean going on and on about how wonderful her brother is, how kind, how caring, how he's the only one in the family she loves that much...and idk...it felt a little weird.
To be honest, I would say that my sister and I are pretty dang close but I never got near this level of obsession.
We couldn't go one page without Bean talking about how fantastic her brother was - and I get that grief causes fixations but this was also pre-dead-Sam era too.
There was this whole birthday-card-scene where Sam writes about how he noticed how much she's "grown" and realizes that all of his friends are going to be looking at her different and he's just so happy to see her like that. It was kinda weird.
And later, when Bean begins her sleuthing...she just had to know as much as she could about his sex life. She interrogated her brother's ex-girlfriend and demanded to know if he was a virgin when he died (cause it would be so tragic to die without sex) and the sheer amount of relief she felt when she learned that he wasn't...idk. It was a bit weird to me.
Bean and Sam's appreciation-appropriation?
Maybe it's just me, but I did feel like there should have been more sensitivity readers for this one.
Throughout this book there's a running theme of Inuit people and how Sam was obsessed with their culture...which in and of itself isn't the worst I read.
It kinda hit like when kids are first getting into anime and Japanese culture - where it's all they talk about and they start adopting all these customs that are pretty far from their own culture.
For example, the book mentioned the mom wanting a totem pole for the family to honor Sam's death and that he wanted a natural burial just like the Inuit - both of those were just kinda mentioned and dropped.
They weren't followed through nor were they really discussed. Which made me wonder why they were brought up at all.
After the car crash that killed a deer, Sam just bursts into the house with a knife wound down his chest (apparently Inuit culture demands a self-inflicted blood wound if you kill an animal?) and his family just shrugs it off?
Like what family looks at their kid and go, "Yup. Two foot knife wound. He's stumbling through the living room. Wow. He just loves the Inuit culture." and lets him carry on?
Why in the world wasn't there any concern for this kid's mental well-being when he first began cutting himself when he went fishing (and killed the fish)?
The Actual Cause of Death
Overall, there were elements that worked but it didn't for me.
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December 22, 2022
Winter of the Wolf is the first audiobook I listened to on NetGalleys new audio review addition! I was super psyched to get this. And the cover is just beautiful! I am a huge animal lover, this includes pig’s and possums..lol. But there is something just so regal like about a wolf.
Bean, who is extremely close to her older brother Sam, has just lost him. Everything points perfectly to suicide from the way he died and some incidents that lead up to his death. But something inside Beans gut tells her this is not the case. So with the help of her friend Julie they start to sift through his life looking into his strong beliefs in Inuit Culture, his relationship with his recent ex girlfriend and his close friendship with his best friend Skip, who has seemed to pull a disappearing act the day after Sam died. She’s hoping something will provide her with answers to what really happened to Adam and if he did take his own life what was the cause?
This was a very interesting and deeply sad book.
Firstly the grief that the entire family was going through was so well written it was palpable. I caught myself sniffling through the book on more then one occasion. Especially in regards to Bean and her mom, it was heartbreaking. Beans mom was just so sad and lost, Martha Hunt Handler wrote about her depression very convincingly. And as a reader I truly felt how much the family loved each other even though they were going through their own desperate struggles.
It was truly a mystery what happened to Sam. By the looks of everything it clearly pointed to suicide but there were facts brought up about Sams personality and the way he lived his life that I was thinking no way, something sinister MUST have happened that night. So I was hoping Bean would get some real answers and the mystery would be solved. Which it does btw.
It was also interesting to learn about the Inuit culture, which I had never heard of. They have a very strong connection to nature and especially with animals. Sam accidentally kills a deer the night he dies in a car accident and to show respect he mingles his blood with the doe’s. The Inuit never kill animals for sport only to sustain life.
The only problem I had with this book is the way Sam dies when we finally find out. There was all this build up and I just couldn’t believe he would go out like that. There is an author note at the end that explains why and some personal sentiments are attached to this, but the way the story starts out it just didn’t flow well. I guess real life doesn’t either all the time.
Narration:
Kelley Pruner did a good job as the narrator, I easily believed the different characters she slipped into. The one thing I didn’t enjoy was her tone when Bean spoke aloud, it was a bit whiny.
Overall Winter Wolf was an extremely interesting and sentimental read of a family trying to get over the grief of a loved one that I highly recommend.
Bean, who is extremely close to her older brother Sam, has just lost him. Everything points perfectly to suicide from the way he died and some incidents that lead up to his death. But something inside Beans gut tells her this is not the case. So with the help of her friend Julie they start to sift through his life looking into his strong beliefs in Inuit Culture, his relationship with his recent ex girlfriend and his close friendship with his best friend Skip, who has seemed to pull a disappearing act the day after Sam died. She’s hoping something will provide her with answers to what really happened to Adam and if he did take his own life what was the cause?
This was a very interesting and deeply sad book.
Firstly the grief that the entire family was going through was so well written it was palpable. I caught myself sniffling through the book on more then one occasion. Especially in regards to Bean and her mom, it was heartbreaking. Beans mom was just so sad and lost, Martha Hunt Handler wrote about her depression very convincingly. And as a reader I truly felt how much the family loved each other even though they were going through their own desperate struggles.
It was truly a mystery what happened to Sam. By the looks of everything it clearly pointed to suicide but there were facts brought up about Sams personality and the way he lived his life that I was thinking no way, something sinister MUST have happened that night. So I was hoping Bean would get some real answers and the mystery would be solved. Which it does btw.
It was also interesting to learn about the Inuit culture, which I had never heard of. They have a very strong connection to nature and especially with animals. Sam accidentally kills a deer the night he dies in a car accident and to show respect he mingles his blood with the doe’s. The Inuit never kill animals for sport only to sustain life.
The only problem I had with this book is the way Sam dies when we finally find out. There was all this build up and I just couldn’t believe he would go out like that. There is an author note at the end that explains why and some personal sentiments are attached to this, but the way the story starts out it just didn’t flow well. I guess real life doesn’t either all the time.
Narration:
Kelley Pruner did a good job as the narrator, I easily believed the different characters she slipped into. The one thing I didn’t enjoy was her tone when Bean spoke aloud, it was a bit whiny.
Overall Winter Wolf was an extremely interesting and sentimental read of a family trying to get over the grief of a loved one that I highly recommend.
June 25, 2020
Sometimes the end is only the beginning.....
Martha Hunt Handler presents a storyline that will give you pause. Perhaps you have been touched profoundly by the passing of someone whose death leaves more questions than answers.
Handler introduces us to the Hanes family living in northern Minnesota. Frigid is on the weather meter most of the year. We come to know Bean, a fifteen year old, surrounded by three brothers of differing ages and personalities. But her favorite is her kindred spirit, Sam. She and Sam almost finish each other's sentences and are pretty much on the same wave length. No sibling rivalry here in the least.
But it is the character of Sam who will set the course for this story. Handler will bring us through a day's worth of events that will eventually lead us to Sam's untimely death. If you have ever experienced the loss of someone through suicide or even were touched on the outskirts of its aftermath, then you will feel this one deeply. Handler extends the reality of such an act and doesn't turn away from it.
Winter of the Wolf actually is a journey into the arms of healing and hope. Handler gifts Bean with open and honest dialogue as she tries to sort out her feelings with her best friend, Julie. There is nothing like the clear outpouring of emotion from the young. Nothing is abbreviated with these two. They speak to a truth that is cleansing and uplifting while adults "deal" in their isolation and in their confinement. "If he took his own life, then I never really knew him." But what they truly knew about Sam in his completeness is what will bring them to a far higher level of understanding.
Please note that this is not a maudlin novel because the initial subject matter is heavily set before us. In fact, the honesty is what propels us throughout. Handler weaves Sam's deep respect for the Inuit people in his daily livestyle and his lifelong honoring of all things in Nature. Savor the beauty of that book cover. It is through Bean that we come to appreciate her newly found focus on the expanse of Sam's life in its entirety rather than solely focusing on the tragic moment of that day. Perhaps it is a life lesson for us all. We are far more than any single, standalone moment of our lives. Chosen or not. Bravo, Martha Hunt Handler.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and to Martha Hunt Handler for the opportunity.
Martha Hunt Handler presents a storyline that will give you pause. Perhaps you have been touched profoundly by the passing of someone whose death leaves more questions than answers.
Handler introduces us to the Hanes family living in northern Minnesota. Frigid is on the weather meter most of the year. We come to know Bean, a fifteen year old, surrounded by three brothers of differing ages and personalities. But her favorite is her kindred spirit, Sam. She and Sam almost finish each other's sentences and are pretty much on the same wave length. No sibling rivalry here in the least.
But it is the character of Sam who will set the course for this story. Handler will bring us through a day's worth of events that will eventually lead us to Sam's untimely death. If you have ever experienced the loss of someone through suicide or even were touched on the outskirts of its aftermath, then you will feel this one deeply. Handler extends the reality of such an act and doesn't turn away from it.
Winter of the Wolf actually is a journey into the arms of healing and hope. Handler gifts Bean with open and honest dialogue as she tries to sort out her feelings with her best friend, Julie. There is nothing like the clear outpouring of emotion from the young. Nothing is abbreviated with these two. They speak to a truth that is cleansing and uplifting while adults "deal" in their isolation and in their confinement. "If he took his own life, then I never really knew him." But what they truly knew about Sam in his completeness is what will bring them to a far higher level of understanding.
Please note that this is not a maudlin novel because the initial subject matter is heavily set before us. In fact, the honesty is what propels us throughout. Handler weaves Sam's deep respect for the Inuit people in his daily livestyle and his lifelong honoring of all things in Nature. Savor the beauty of that book cover. It is through Bean that we come to appreciate her newly found focus on the expanse of Sam's life in its entirety rather than solely focusing on the tragic moment of that day. Perhaps it is a life lesson for us all. We are far more than any single, standalone moment of our lives. Chosen or not. Bravo, Martha Hunt Handler.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and to Martha Hunt Handler for the opportunity.
August 29, 2020
Winter of the Wolf by Martha Hunt Handler and narrated by Kelly Pruner is a unique book.
Bean’s brother, Sam dies. Everyone believes it is suicide except Bean who tries to find out what actually happened. Sam was very interesting in Inuit culture, and I enjoyed learning a little about Inuit culture.
Winter of the Wolf is a very emotional and tragic story. I enjoyed hearing about Bean interacting with her family and friends and how that changes throughout the book. Bean makes a lot of assumptions about others relationship with Sam and discovers she her opinions are not always correct. I really liked Bean.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed Martha Hunt Handler’s narration.
Thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for Winter of the Wolf.
Bean’s brother, Sam dies. Everyone believes it is suicide except Bean who tries to find out what actually happened. Sam was very interesting in Inuit culture, and I enjoyed learning a little about Inuit culture.
Winter of the Wolf is a very emotional and tragic story. I enjoyed hearing about Bean interacting with her family and friends and how that changes throughout the book. Bean makes a lot of assumptions about others relationship with Sam and discovers she her opinions are not always correct. I really liked Bean.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed Martha Hunt Handler’s narration.
Thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for Winter of the Wolf.
August 28, 2020
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Greenleaf Book Group and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Very recently a popular actor in Indian cinema passed away and a case of suspected suicide was registered. The uproar that erupted is still creating a media storm. There are some claiming friendship milking the tragedy for what it’s worth, there are some for no fault of theirs paying a hefty price as fans have gone berserk, then there are the politicians making hay amidst the mayhem, then there are the genuine fans who are left bereft losing a talented actor who feel that as each day a new allegation arises, he’s being killed again and again. Well, in this age of painstaking scrutiny, no peace for the dead too. But the fact that emerges out of this pandemonium is very simple, it is the need to understand why the suicide happened and if at all, if it really was one?
This is what reverberated in my mind as I read this touching and emotional story about a teenager who loses her soulmate brother to death. The chapters that captures the misery of the family was devastating that I did take a break from reading and shed a few tears.
Bean is the youngest of four siblings, but it is Sam that she’s closest to in more ways than one. The love that binds them together is beyond words that can ever be described. His loss is therefore insurmountable but when her mother collapses completely and refuses to emerge out of the fog and care for her other children, Bean takes over the task as caretaker and glues the family together.
The journey she undertakes with her best friend Julie to understand Sam was necessary for her survival and I loved how the author has shown the deep friendship between the 2 girls caring for each other and sharing the pain and heartache.
Every part of the story in dealing with the sorrow and the spiritual journey that Bean and her mother believes in were wonderfully done. The author serves as an advocate for wolves and she has clearly used her experience in blending a mystery with the natural elements using the forests and Innuit beliefs beautifully for this tragic tale of loss and overcoming grief.
For all readers who have had to endure grief, this book is definitely gonna melt your hearts! Brilliant.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Very recently a popular actor in Indian cinema passed away and a case of suspected suicide was registered. The uproar that erupted is still creating a media storm. There are some claiming friendship milking the tragedy for what it’s worth, there are some for no fault of theirs paying a hefty price as fans have gone berserk, then there are the politicians making hay amidst the mayhem, then there are the genuine fans who are left bereft losing a talented actor who feel that as each day a new allegation arises, he’s being killed again and again. Well, in this age of painstaking scrutiny, no peace for the dead too. But the fact that emerges out of this pandemonium is very simple, it is the need to understand why the suicide happened and if at all, if it really was one?
This is what reverberated in my mind as I read this touching and emotional story about a teenager who loses her soulmate brother to death. The chapters that captures the misery of the family was devastating that I did take a break from reading and shed a few tears.
Bean is the youngest of four siblings, but it is Sam that she’s closest to in more ways than one. The love that binds them together is beyond words that can ever be described. His loss is therefore insurmountable but when her mother collapses completely and refuses to emerge out of the fog and care for her other children, Bean takes over the task as caretaker and glues the family together.
The journey she undertakes with her best friend Julie to understand Sam was necessary for her survival and I loved how the author has shown the deep friendship between the 2 girls caring for each other and sharing the pain and heartache.
Every part of the story in dealing with the sorrow and the spiritual journey that Bean and her mother believes in were wonderfully done. The author serves as an advocate for wolves and she has clearly used her experience in blending a mystery with the natural elements using the forests and Innuit beliefs beautifully for this tragic tale of loss and overcoming grief.
For all readers who have had to endure grief, this book is definitely gonna melt your hearts! Brilliant.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
August 3, 2020
Winter of the Wolf is about a tragic loss, and how a family copes with it. Bean and her brother Sam are close, and share more with each other than they do anyone else in the family. When Sam dies of apparent suicide, Bean, her parents, and her remaining brothers struggle to cope. Bean cannot accept that Sam would kill himself, so she starts an investigation. What she finds is a deeper understanding of her own family, and eventually the truth.
What I loved about this book is the true way it deals with an apparent suicide and the family's reaction to it. Unfortunately I have experience with this situation. Each member blames themselves, which is very true to life, and each individual grieves in different ways. The person or person who finds the family member is haunted forever because they cannot unsee that image. Everyone in the family cannot help to think of how they might have been able to stop it. The author describes this so realistically. Some family members break and retreat, some try to act as if everything is normal, and some reach out to others. In this book, Bean's mother falls into depression and retreats to her room. Sometimes when a parent retreats in grief, a child takes over as parent, and that happens in this book in some ways.
There are some things I felt were not completed and left hanging in this book. Sam admired, studied, and emulated the Inuit people, and this was brought up often in the book, but was not fully realized. There were no Inuit characters and no communication with Inuit characters other than Bean reading some books. Towards the last third of the book, I began to wonder why the Inuit people were brought up at all. In addition, Sam's wishes for a green burial were raised, but not honored. A totem pole was brought up, but not fully realized. And most importantly, when Sam's parents learned the exact reason for his death, which was autoerotic asphyxiation, their response was pretty underwhelming and unrealistic for the situation.
Although this book was told from the perspective of a 15 - 17 year old girl, this is not a YA book. There are adult themes that need adult supervision such as suicide, sex, autoerotic asphyxiation, drugs, and the occult.
The audiobook is read by Kelly Pruner, who does a good job as the grieving teenage girl, Bean.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publishers and Netgalley. My review is optional.
What I loved about this book is the true way it deals with an apparent suicide and the family's reaction to it. Unfortunately I have experience with this situation. Each member blames themselves, which is very true to life, and each individual grieves in different ways. The person or person who finds the family member is haunted forever because they cannot unsee that image. Everyone in the family cannot help to think of how they might have been able to stop it. The author describes this so realistically. Some family members break and retreat, some try to act as if everything is normal, and some reach out to others. In this book, Bean's mother falls into depression and retreats to her room. Sometimes when a parent retreats in grief, a child takes over as parent, and that happens in this book in some ways.
There are some things I felt were not completed and left hanging in this book. Sam admired, studied, and emulated the Inuit people, and this was brought up often in the book, but was not fully realized. There were no Inuit characters and no communication with Inuit characters other than Bean reading some books. Towards the last third of the book, I began to wonder why the Inuit people were brought up at all. In addition, Sam's wishes for a green burial were raised, but not honored. A totem pole was brought up, but not fully realized. And most importantly, when Sam's parents learned the exact reason for his death, which was autoerotic asphyxiation, their response was pretty underwhelming and unrealistic for the situation.
Although this book was told from the perspective of a 15 - 17 year old girl, this is not a YA book. There are adult themes that need adult supervision such as suicide, sex, autoerotic asphyxiation, drugs, and the occult.
The audiobook is read by Kelly Pruner, who does a good job as the grieving teenage girl, Bean.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publishers and Netgalley. My review is optional.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
The Winter of the Wolf is a story about the tragic and untimely death of a teenage boy and how his family and friends work towards grieving and eventually accepting his loss.
17 year old Sam Kane's body is found in his room by his mother in an apparent suicide. Sam loved and had a strong belief in the Inuit culture and customs and lived his life according to those beliefs. He was a strong, fearless, intelligent, kind, spiritual person with a deep understanding, love and appreciation for Nature and everything that inhabited it. He loved life and wanted to experience everything that life and the world had to offer. He was in no way a depressed soul, hence, his apparent suicide comes as a shock to his family but they eventually learn to accept it. All except his 14 year old sister and soul mate Bean, whose intuition and heart refuses to believe that Sam could have killed himself. She is also upset that her father and two older brothers, seem to have easily moved on from this tragedy, while her mother has become a shell of her personality. So on her 15th birthday, Bean and her best friend Julie make a pact and decide to dig deeper. Using Sam's Inuit beliefs as a main guidance, they question family and friends, go through his belongings and even perform a Shamanic ritual to find out what exactly happened. Along with the closure she eventually gets, Bean also comes to accept as a certainty (something that she has constantly and intuitively felt) that even though Sam's physical journey in this world has come to an end, his spirit is still very much alive and thriving. She also realises that she has been unfair in her assessment of her family's reaction to this tragedy--every person has his/her own personal way of coping with tragedies. Through dialogue, they learn to appreciate and celebrate Sam's life and his achievements in its entirety, and appreciate each other, with the result that by the end of the book, the Kane family are much closer and happier as a family than they have ever been.
For me, the character that stood out was Sam. Even though he is alive for only a few pages, his strong, intense personality shines through which only gets stronger as each character reminisces about him later on. The writing and language is simple but very emotional and my favourite parts are definitely the chapters describing the Inuit's culture, Shamanism and the Shamanic ritual that Bean and Julie perform at the end to get in touch with Sam's spirit. Even though it's not my belief system, it was still very interesting to read about and the author manages to explain complex ideas about this native Indian culture in a manner that is easy to understand.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Greenleaf Book Group and Greenleaf Audio and the author Martha Hunt Handler for both an e-ARC and audio-ARC of this book. I both read and listened to the book. The audio is narrated by Kelly Pruner and she has done a fine job. There is both crispness and clarity in her voice and pronunciation and I didn't have any problems with the new audio format that NetGalley has introduced.
P. S.: I am not sure if my review does any justice to the book but it is worth a read.
17 year old Sam Kane's body is found in his room by his mother in an apparent suicide. Sam loved and had a strong belief in the Inuit culture and customs and lived his life according to those beliefs. He was a strong, fearless, intelligent, kind, spiritual person with a deep understanding, love and appreciation for Nature and everything that inhabited it. He loved life and wanted to experience everything that life and the world had to offer. He was in no way a depressed soul, hence, his apparent suicide comes as a shock to his family but they eventually learn to accept it. All except his 14 year old sister and soul mate Bean, whose intuition and heart refuses to believe that Sam could have killed himself. She is also upset that her father and two older brothers, seem to have easily moved on from this tragedy, while her mother has become a shell of her personality. So on her 15th birthday, Bean and her best friend Julie make a pact and decide to dig deeper. Using Sam's Inuit beliefs as a main guidance, they question family and friends, go through his belongings and even perform a Shamanic ritual to find out what exactly happened. Along with the closure she eventually gets, Bean also comes to accept as a certainty (something that she has constantly and intuitively felt) that even though Sam's physical journey in this world has come to an end, his spirit is still very much alive and thriving. She also realises that she has been unfair in her assessment of her family's reaction to this tragedy--every person has his/her own personal way of coping with tragedies. Through dialogue, they learn to appreciate and celebrate Sam's life and his achievements in its entirety, and appreciate each other, with the result that by the end of the book, the Kane family are much closer and happier as a family than they have ever been.
For me, the character that stood out was Sam. Even though he is alive for only a few pages, his strong, intense personality shines through which only gets stronger as each character reminisces about him later on. The writing and language is simple but very emotional and my favourite parts are definitely the chapters describing the Inuit's culture, Shamanism and the Shamanic ritual that Bean and Julie perform at the end to get in touch with Sam's spirit. Even though it's not my belief system, it was still very interesting to read about and the author manages to explain complex ideas about this native Indian culture in a manner that is easy to understand.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Greenleaf Book Group and Greenleaf Audio and the author Martha Hunt Handler for both an e-ARC and audio-ARC of this book. I both read and listened to the book. The audio is narrated by Kelly Pruner and she has done a fine job. There is both crispness and clarity in her voice and pronunciation and I didn't have any problems with the new audio format that NetGalley has introduced.
P. S.: I am not sure if my review does any justice to the book but it is worth a read.
July 5, 2020
Winter of the Wolf by Martha Hunt Handler is a very well written story that was agonizing, emotional, and compelling read that struck me from the very first pages of the book. Handler’s writing was beautiful and deep that explored deep themes on grief, loss while weaving the spirituality of the Inuit culture.
From the voice of a young fifteen year old girl named Bean, who is grieving the loss of her brother Sam to an apparent suicide, while following her instincts to uncover the truth.
Overall I enjoyed the writing despite the deep themes that include loss of a sibling, grief, and mental health.
Thank you for the gifted copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
From the voice of a young fifteen year old girl named Bean, who is grieving the loss of her brother Sam to an apparent suicide, while following her instincts to uncover the truth.
Overall I enjoyed the writing despite the deep themes that include loss of a sibling, grief, and mental health.
Thank you for the gifted copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
January 22, 2022
My preferred genre is fictional history/family drama because I love the opportunity to learn something new.
Winter of the Wolf kept me turning pages all night with interest, fascination & a racing heartbeat! The issues introduced to me in this courageous unique important novel were a major ‘heads up’ as I’m a grandmother of nine ages 37 down to 5 years.
Read it, everyone! Brava, amazing author, Martha Hunt Handler! Thank you for my own personalized copy which I shall share widely.
Winter of the Wolf kept me turning pages all night with interest, fascination & a racing heartbeat! The issues introduced to me in this courageous unique important novel were a major ‘heads up’ as I’m a grandmother of nine ages 37 down to 5 years.
Read it, everyone! Brava, amazing author, Martha Hunt Handler! Thank you for my own personalized copy which I shall share widely.
December 17, 2020
I usually don't review books I truly do not like at all, because I don't like giving out entirely negative feedback. I feel like most books have at least something good about them, and it's more just that there are some not-so-good elements, but that was not the case with this one and since this was from Netgalley I feel compelled to give feedback on this book.
First off, I have to say I was so so so so excited to finally see some inuit rep in a book. But... it was awful. Not the writing, but the strange love affair the MC had with her brother Sam, the way she talked about him, her love for him, how she felt about him. It's all a little incestuous-feeling and eww. For a while I thought Bean (the MC) was in love with Sam and just called him her brother because they were such close friends, but nope. He's her actual brother. I still maintain that she was in love with him.
Pretty early on in the book we have the inclusion of inuit rituals and practices, from white characters, who read about them in books and decided that this was a good idea. Sam had apparently fallen in love with native cultures and especially inuit culture, and had requested to be buried according to inuit customs. As a indigenous woman myself, it makes me incredibly angry to see a white author playing it off like it's okay for a non-native character to take part in inuit burial rituals and communication with spirits. It feels like these details were included to make the book more diverse, but the exclusion of an actual inuit character in the book is upsetting to see. Sam is not inuit and even if by some chance the author recognized that and knew that it wasn't okay for Sam to take from inuit culture the way he did and this was supposed to be a flaw in character, the MC DID THE SAME THING, which makes it extra frustrating and seemingly clear to me that the author doesn't care about appropriating native cultures.
I was entirely unable to connect with either of the main characters this book was about (bean OR sam) because I was so angry to see that they were just willy nilly appropriating native cultures. I myself am not inuit, but I am indigenous, and if I saw or heard that someone had written a book like this including my culture I would be very angry. It feels like the author didn't hire any sensitivity readers or consult with natives about this at all.
Because of these reasons, I can't recommend this book.
First off, I have to say I was so so so so excited to finally see some inuit rep in a book. But... it was awful. Not the writing, but the strange love affair the MC had with her brother Sam, the way she talked about him, her love for him, how she felt about him. It's all a little incestuous-feeling and eww. For a while I thought Bean (the MC) was in love with Sam and just called him her brother because they were such close friends, but nope. He's her actual brother. I still maintain that she was in love with him.
Pretty early on in the book we have the inclusion of inuit rituals and practices, from white characters, who read about them in books and decided that this was a good idea. Sam had apparently fallen in love with native cultures and especially inuit culture, and had requested to be buried according to inuit customs. As a indigenous woman myself, it makes me incredibly angry to see a white author playing it off like it's okay for a non-native character to take part in inuit burial rituals and communication with spirits. It feels like these details were included to make the book more diverse, but the exclusion of an actual inuit character in the book is upsetting to see. Sam is not inuit and even if by some chance the author recognized that and knew that it wasn't okay for Sam to take from inuit culture the way he did and this was supposed to be a flaw in character, the MC DID THE SAME THING, which makes it extra frustrating and seemingly clear to me that the author doesn't care about appropriating native cultures.
I was entirely unable to connect with either of the main characters this book was about (bean OR sam) because I was so angry to see that they were just willy nilly appropriating native cultures. I myself am not inuit, but I am indigenous, and if I saw or heard that someone had written a book like this including my culture I would be very angry. It feels like the author didn't hire any sensitivity readers or consult with natives about this at all.
Because of these reasons, I can't recommend this book.
July 2, 2020
In this book, a selfish, unlikeable, psychic girl in love with her brother--who was so fascinated by Inuit culture that he appropriated significant aspects of it--tries to prove that he didn't deliberately hang himself. She appropriates an Inuit ritual herself to contact his spirit, but decides only that he is at peace. At the very end of the book, his best friend tells her that he gave her brother information on autoerotic asphyxiation, and that's how her brother died.
This is a good example of why we need sensitivity readers for books. While the author sites a few books on the Inuit in a note at the end of the book, the appropriation is very problematic and potentially very offensive. And while the author was inspired to write this after her friend's son died of auto asphyxiation, this element enters into the narrative so late that it's an afterthought. The friend tells the dead boy's family about it, they thank him for the information, and go on with the rest of their day. The final issue with this novel is the narrator. She complains that her grieving mother doesn't cook for her or do her laundry. She's deliberately not close with her other brothers, because fo her the only one that mattered was the one who died. She's jealous and possessive. She takes without giving and without thanks. I can't recommend this mess to anyone, and if the publishers didn't consult with Inuit readers prior to going to press, they need to do so now.
This is a good example of why we need sensitivity readers for books. While the author sites a few books on the Inuit in a note at the end of the book, the appropriation is very problematic and potentially very offensive. And while the author was inspired to write this after her friend's son died of auto asphyxiation, this element enters into the narrative so late that it's an afterthought. The friend tells the dead boy's family about it, they thank him for the information, and go on with the rest of their day. The final issue with this novel is the narrator. She complains that her grieving mother doesn't cook for her or do her laundry. She's deliberately not close with her other brothers, because fo her the only one that mattered was the one who died. She's jealous and possessive. She takes without giving and without thanks. I can't recommend this mess to anyone, and if the publishers didn't consult with Inuit readers prior to going to press, they need to do so now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2020
Won this via goodreads giveaways, all my opinions are my own:)
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3.25 stars 🌟
Writing was a little clunky in the start but I quickly fell into the flow of the story. The journey of Bean to find out what happened to get some understanding and peace was beautiful.
The spiritual stuff hit home.. most of it I agree with and also believe in. I've gotten signs in the past from loved ones and its been a huge comfort for me.
The stuff near the end, on one hand it was a beautiful concept but it also felt rushed and not quite real. It was a bit jarring with the previous tones of the story.
It wasn't bad by any means but it took me out of the story a bit and had me side-eyeing the characters.
Still enjoyed the book, just not as much as I wanted to.
----
3.25 stars 🌟
Writing was a little clunky in the start but I quickly fell into the flow of the story. The journey of Bean to find out what happened to get some understanding and peace was beautiful.
The spiritual stuff hit home.. most of it I agree with and also believe in. I've gotten signs in the past from loved ones and its been a huge comfort for me.
The stuff near the end, on one hand it was a beautiful concept but it also felt rushed and not quite real. It was a bit jarring with the previous tones of the story.
It wasn't bad by any means but it took me out of the story a bit and had me side-eyeing the characters.
Still enjoyed the book, just not as much as I wanted to.
July 3, 2020
I went into this book with no expectations. I can tell you however that if I had any expectations that they were blown away. The way that the author intertwined the spirituality of reincarnation with wolves and death was nice. I have read other books with this type of concept and some were good and others were too far out there on the concept.
Bean is the main voice of this book. Her strong need to learn the truth about her brother's death was felt. While, I did not know much about Sam, it is as if I had known him all my life. Therefore, the emotions that Bean felt were like my feelings. The wolf was a symbol in this book.
I could not stop reading this book. I had become so invested in the story and the characters. When the truth did come out; my heart broke. A sad ending but an educating one that people that help to prevent. Winter of the Wolf is in my top ten books as one of the best of the year!
Bean is the main voice of this book. Her strong need to learn the truth about her brother's death was felt. While, I did not know much about Sam, it is as if I had known him all my life. Therefore, the emotions that Bean felt were like my feelings. The wolf was a symbol in this book.
I could not stop reading this book. I had become so invested in the story and the characters. When the truth did come out; my heart broke. A sad ending but an educating one that people that help to prevent. Winter of the Wolf is in my top ten books as one of the best of the year!
August 12, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley, Martha Hunt Handler, Greenleaf Book Group Press, and Greenleaf Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen to Winter of the Wolf in exchange for an honest review.
Initially, I requested this audiobook for two reasons:
1) I love Inuit culture. I did a report on it in 5th grade after visiting Alaska and I currently incorporate Inuit mythology and language into my own writing.
2) I wanted to try out NetGalley’s new app, NetGalley Shelf. Reading on there seems okay, but I wanted to see how this whole audiobook thing worked (not well).
I enjoy listening to audiobooks in the car, while playing games, or while grading papers. I listened to the majority of this one while playing Minecraft. I had a lot of trouble with the app in terms of getting the book to download properly, having it lose my place, having to re-download because the download failed so many times …it was a bit of a mess. But hey, it’s a new thing, and it will improve! (The publisher sent me the e-book version as well so I could cross-reference and go back and see if I missed anything or just to reread a certain part).
Regardless, I found the talents of narrator Kelly Pruner to be absolutely fantastic. She has a great reading voice and really added to Bean’s character. Bean is a fifteen-year-old girl living in the states. After her brother’s supposed suicide, Bean and her friend dig a bit deeper, as that was just not the way Sam was at all. Her older brother, Sam, loved Inuit culture and wanted to have a burial in the way of that tribe. One of my draws to this book was the Inuit culture. While there were some interesting elements laced in, it felt like the cultural aspect fell a little flat and wasn’t quite fulfilled for Sam’s character the way it could have been.
Bean and her family deal with this loss, among the daily high school life of drama and friendship. I felt like the book ended in the wrong place, that it needed just a few more chapters. It is rather short, less than three hundred pages and about a six-hour listen. I enjoy the voice and writing style. When I look at the cover, I lean more towards children’s rather than young adult, but the tone and feel are definitely in the young adult category, addressing serious issues that many young adults face, such as dealing with the loss of a loved one, suicide, and family.
I enjoyed this book, but would caution who I recommend it to, as the wrong reader might struggle with some of the presented topics. I would certainly buy this book for myself or a friend, though I am not so sure about using NetGalley’s audiobook app again…^_^’
Initially, I requested this audiobook for two reasons:
1) I love Inuit culture. I did a report on it in 5th grade after visiting Alaska and I currently incorporate Inuit mythology and language into my own writing.
2) I wanted to try out NetGalley’s new app, NetGalley Shelf. Reading on there seems okay, but I wanted to see how this whole audiobook thing worked (not well).
I enjoy listening to audiobooks in the car, while playing games, or while grading papers. I listened to the majority of this one while playing Minecraft. I had a lot of trouble with the app in terms of getting the book to download properly, having it lose my place, having to re-download because the download failed so many times …it was a bit of a mess. But hey, it’s a new thing, and it will improve! (The publisher sent me the e-book version as well so I could cross-reference and go back and see if I missed anything or just to reread a certain part).
Regardless, I found the talents of narrator Kelly Pruner to be absolutely fantastic. She has a great reading voice and really added to Bean’s character. Bean is a fifteen-year-old girl living in the states. After her brother’s supposed suicide, Bean and her friend dig a bit deeper, as that was just not the way Sam was at all. Her older brother, Sam, loved Inuit culture and wanted to have a burial in the way of that tribe. One of my draws to this book was the Inuit culture. While there were some interesting elements laced in, it felt like the cultural aspect fell a little flat and wasn’t quite fulfilled for Sam’s character the way it could have been.
Bean and her family deal with this loss, among the daily high school life of drama and friendship. I felt like the book ended in the wrong place, that it needed just a few more chapters. It is rather short, less than three hundred pages and about a six-hour listen. I enjoy the voice and writing style. When I look at the cover, I lean more towards children’s rather than young adult, but the tone and feel are definitely in the young adult category, addressing serious issues that many young adults face, such as dealing with the loss of a loved one, suicide, and family.
I enjoyed this book, but would caution who I recommend it to, as the wrong reader might struggle with some of the presented topics. I would certainly buy this book for myself or a friend, though I am not so sure about using NetGalley’s audiobook app again…^_^’
May 21, 2020
I’m so frustrated with this book! Winter of the Wolf was beautifully written and had me believing this would be a 4.5 star book for me. The writing starts out deep and thoughtful. The subject matter was beautifully handled and as someone who has suffered the loss of a loved one through suicide I appreciated that fact immensely. But then I hit the 85% complete mark and the book was close to ruined for me. It was as if the book was all of a sudden written by a different author and if not that then it just seemed like the author gave up and wanted a quick end. The depth felt like it was gone and I felt they almost made light of Sams death. Once the family got some answers it seemed like they didn't care about the information they received. As a reader I became attached to these characters and felt their loss! That’s how well the first 85% was written but the last 15% made me feel I didn't know these characters at all. I’m so disappointed. I will say I am sure my personal experiences with suicide caused my reaction to the end of this novel. I have spent years wondering what happened to my loved one and I bonded with Bean for her drive to try to find some answers because I can relate to that desire. I give this book a 2.5 because it had so much potential, however, with the casual acceptance of his death and the complete confusion of the last 15%, I can't bare to give it a higher rating.
August 29, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Winter of the Wolf was an okay book. It will take you on an emotional ride and you will definitely learn some interesting things alone the way. In it, you will meet Bean and you will also find out that her brother Sam has died. No one knows what exactly happened but all signs lead to suicide at the moment. Of course, Bean doesn't think that's the truth and she is very determined to find out what really happened to her brother.
I will admit, learning about Sam along the way was pretty interesting. He was into a lot of things and hearing about how his family and friends could potentially feel or see his presence in an animal. It also made me pretty happy that they were talking about making him a totem pole just to honor him.
Then I got to the ending, and honestly - wow. I didn't know that whatever he was doing was a real thing. I'm also shocked with how many people have died doing this as well. I wasn't expecting this kind of ending at all but I am happy that they found out the truth.
Winter of the Wolf was an okay book. It will take you on an emotional ride and you will definitely learn some interesting things alone the way. In it, you will meet Bean and you will also find out that her brother Sam has died. No one knows what exactly happened but all signs lead to suicide at the moment. Of course, Bean doesn't think that's the truth and she is very determined to find out what really happened to her brother.
I will admit, learning about Sam along the way was pretty interesting. He was into a lot of things and hearing about how his family and friends could potentially feel or see his presence in an animal. It also made me pretty happy that they were talking about making him a totem pole just to honor him.
Then I got to the ending, and honestly - wow. I didn't know that whatever he was doing was a real thing. I'm also shocked with how many people have died doing this as well. I wasn't expecting this kind of ending at all but I am happy that they found out the truth.
July 24, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Jeanette Zhukov
“If I tried to remember the nitty-gritty details of any other day in my life, I’d likely fail miserably. But each moment of the day Sam died seems to have been permanently etched into the folds of my brain.”
A teenaged girl, struggling over the loss of her brother’s possible suicide, goes on her own search for answers in this coming-of-age novel about overcoming grief. Brimming with spirituality and a heart-breaking mystery at its centre, Martha Hunt Handler’s debut novel, Winter of the Wolf, takes the reader on an emotionally unforgettable journey.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
“If I tried to remember the nitty-gritty details of any other day in my life, I’d likely fail miserably. But each moment of the day Sam died seems to have been permanently etched into the folds of my brain.”
A teenaged girl, struggling over the loss of her brother’s possible suicide, goes on her own search for answers in this coming-of-age novel about overcoming grief. Brimming with spirituality and a heart-breaking mystery at its centre, Martha Hunt Handler’s debut novel, Winter of the Wolf, takes the reader on an emotionally unforgettable journey.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
November 30, 2020
Winter of the Wolf is a story about the apparent suicide of a teenager, Sam and his sister Bean, who loves and idolises him so much that she refuses to believe he would ever kill himself. She decides to take it upon herself to research into his death and try to find out what else could possibly be the reason for his death other than suicide.
The narrator was easy to listen to, she brought the story to life and I always appreciate a good narrator. The author does a very good job of letting the reader get to know each of the characters in the story. This helps keep it interesting. Sam was into the intuit culture and practiced all of their spiritual beliefs. He was also very into nature and animals, and he often spoke and taught his sister and friends about his beliefs and culture. After his death, Bean and her friend used this knowledge to seek into his death, and perform rituals that might possibly help her learn more information.
This book deals with death, grief and coming to terms, and acceptance, coming of age, and moving on with life after experiencing a death in the family. It is treated well in my opinion and it was a good read.
I particularly enjoyed the way the book ended. Bean and the rest of the friends and family were finally able to discover what exactly had happened to Sam. Bean and her family were in a good place at the end and the book ended on a happy note.
I also loved the tie in with wolves, since I am a huge fan of wolves, and I am glad to hear that some of the proceeds of the book sales are donated to wolf sanctuaries. ♡
I would like to thank #NetGalley and #WinteroftheWolf along with the publisher Greenleaf Audiobooks for my audioARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The narrator was easy to listen to, she brought the story to life and I always appreciate a good narrator. The author does a very good job of letting the reader get to know each of the characters in the story. This helps keep it interesting. Sam was into the intuit culture and practiced all of their spiritual beliefs. He was also very into nature and animals, and he often spoke and taught his sister and friends about his beliefs and culture. After his death, Bean and her friend used this knowledge to seek into his death, and perform rituals that might possibly help her learn more information.
This book deals with death, grief and coming to terms, and acceptance, coming of age, and moving on with life after experiencing a death in the family. It is treated well in my opinion and it was a good read.
I particularly enjoyed the way the book ended. Bean and the rest of the friends and family were finally able to discover what exactly had happened to Sam. Bean and her family were in a good place at the end and the book ended on a happy note.
I also loved the tie in with wolves, since I am a huge fan of wolves, and I am glad to hear that some of the proceeds of the book sales are donated to wolf sanctuaries. ♡
I would like to thank #NetGalley and #WinteroftheWolf along with the publisher Greenleaf Audiobooks for my audioARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 5, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Mournful book as a grieving sister remembers the day that led to her favorite brother's death. Definitely not something to read on a rainy Monday.
Mournful book as a grieving sister remembers the day that led to her favorite brother's death. Definitely not something to read on a rainy Monday.
June 19, 2020
This book was read as an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book surprised me in a number of ways - for some reason, I expected it to fall more into the realms of fantasy, where Bean discovers that her brother has somehow been reincarnated into a wolf, but discovered that it was a very realistic, moving journey through loss, grief, and recovery. I don’t know what the author has experienced in life, but I expect that she has gone through the loss of someone very dear to her in order to write about this family so realistically.
I liked that the book dealt with Sam’s apparent suicide in a manner that a real family would and didn’t shy away from some of the darker aspects of it, like feeling so full of despair that you can’t function, as we see when Bean’s mother hides in the dark and ceases to do anything. Bean’s grief manifests in her abandoning her best friend and the anger she feels toward her family when she feels that they are not behaving in the way she thinks they ought. The author normalizes these feelings and validates them. She also does an excellent job of showing the healing process which is painful and not a steady line upward back to normalcy, but one that dips and rises again and again as the family slowly comes back together, confronts the painful memories, and is eventually able to begin to remember Sam with happiness rather than grief.
The ending did feel very abrupt, though the more I thought about it, the more true to life it felt. Sometimes we are presented with a mystery, and though Bean is determined to prove that Sam did not commit suicide, her efforts do not lead to a neat, satisfactory answer. Her search for answers is not fruitless, however, and gives her a path toward healing. Ultimately, time provides the answer, dropping it into her lap, and isn’t that just how life is sometimes? We can search and search, but in reality, we aren’t detectives, and we don’t get our answers in the way we expect because our life isn’t a novel, neatly packaged.
I do have some criticism about the inclusion of Inuit culture in this book. Admittedly, I don’t really know much about their lifestyle, but I felt that it was rather romanticized (possibly based on the docudrama “Nanook of the North,” which is not a true documentary, but was mentioned as the source of Sam’s interest) and portrayed Inuit more as who they were (or how westerners saw them 150 years ago), rather than who they are today. Were their traditional burial practices a part of becoming a part of nature, or simply a product of being unable to bury people in permafrost?
At one point, Bean says that she doesn’t know much about them, not sharing her brother’s interest, but she also states that she thinks they would never even commit suicide. This could be a valid thought, coming from her point of view, though I think it's a bit tricky making these assertions when the general public doesn't know otherwise. Though the book amends this to a small degree later (though I don’t know the degree of truth in those statements), Inuit people today are facing a number of different challenges today compared to what they have dealt with in the past, one of which is a mental health crisis leading to some of the highest suicide rates in the world.
Anyway, it just reminded me to some degree of how Native Americans were portrayed in children’s books that I read in the 80s. Even if an author of that era intended only the best, it wasn’t accurate and treated them as people of days gone by, rather than a living culture that has modernized with the rest of the world.
I think that Sam’s spirituality and deep connection with nature could have been easily expressed without referencing other cultures. I, too, feel that burial is a total waste of money and resources, and is harmful to the environment, but that stems from reading Stiff by Mary Roach (a great book if you get the chance to read it). I did like Sam’s connection to nature, especially animals - he was a kid I would have really connected with at that age, and I loved him for it.
At any rate, I think this book was beautifully written and could possibly be helpful to someone outside of a family dealing with a difficult loss, to better understand what they’re experiencing and how friends can support them. The characters were rich and well developed, and surprisingly, Sam was too even though his death occurs at the start of the book. He is present beyond death, just as anyone's loved one lives on in their heart and mind.
This genre may not appeal to the general YA crowd or anyone looking for escapist reading, but there's something beautiful in it that is worth experiencing.
This book surprised me in a number of ways - for some reason, I expected it to fall more into the realms of fantasy, where Bean discovers that her brother has somehow been reincarnated into a wolf, but discovered that it was a very realistic, moving journey through loss, grief, and recovery. I don’t know what the author has experienced in life, but I expect that she has gone through the loss of someone very dear to her in order to write about this family so realistically.
I liked that the book dealt with Sam’s apparent suicide in a manner that a real family would and didn’t shy away from some of the darker aspects of it, like feeling so full of despair that you can’t function, as we see when Bean’s mother hides in the dark and ceases to do anything. Bean’s grief manifests in her abandoning her best friend and the anger she feels toward her family when she feels that they are not behaving in the way she thinks they ought. The author normalizes these feelings and validates them. She also does an excellent job of showing the healing process which is painful and not a steady line upward back to normalcy, but one that dips and rises again and again as the family slowly comes back together, confronts the painful memories, and is eventually able to begin to remember Sam with happiness rather than grief.
The ending did feel very abrupt, though the more I thought about it, the more true to life it felt. Sometimes we are presented with a mystery, and though Bean is determined to prove that Sam did not commit suicide, her efforts do not lead to a neat, satisfactory answer. Her search for answers is not fruitless, however, and gives her a path toward healing. Ultimately, time provides the answer, dropping it into her lap, and isn’t that just how life is sometimes? We can search and search, but in reality, we aren’t detectives, and we don’t get our answers in the way we expect because our life isn’t a novel, neatly packaged.
I do have some criticism about the inclusion of Inuit culture in this book. Admittedly, I don’t really know much about their lifestyle, but I felt that it was rather romanticized (possibly based on the docudrama “Nanook of the North,” which is not a true documentary, but was mentioned as the source of Sam’s interest) and portrayed Inuit more as who they were (or how westerners saw them 150 years ago), rather than who they are today. Were their traditional burial practices a part of becoming a part of nature, or simply a product of being unable to bury people in permafrost?
At one point, Bean says that she doesn’t know much about them, not sharing her brother’s interest, but she also states that she thinks they would never even commit suicide. This could be a valid thought, coming from her point of view, though I think it's a bit tricky making these assertions when the general public doesn't know otherwise. Though the book amends this to a small degree later (though I don’t know the degree of truth in those statements), Inuit people today are facing a number of different challenges today compared to what they have dealt with in the past, one of which is a mental health crisis leading to some of the highest suicide rates in the world.
Anyway, it just reminded me to some degree of how Native Americans were portrayed in children’s books that I read in the 80s. Even if an author of that era intended only the best, it wasn’t accurate and treated them as people of days gone by, rather than a living culture that has modernized with the rest of the world.
I think that Sam’s spirituality and deep connection with nature could have been easily expressed without referencing other cultures. I, too, feel that burial is a total waste of money and resources, and is harmful to the environment, but that stems from reading Stiff by Mary Roach (a great book if you get the chance to read it). I did like Sam’s connection to nature, especially animals - he was a kid I would have really connected with at that age, and I loved him for it.
At any rate, I think this book was beautifully written and could possibly be helpful to someone outside of a family dealing with a difficult loss, to better understand what they’re experiencing and how friends can support them. The characters were rich and well developed, and surprisingly, Sam was too even though his death occurs at the start of the book. He is present beyond death, just as anyone's loved one lives on in their heart and mind.
This genre may not appeal to the general YA crowd or anyone looking for escapist reading, but there's something beautiful in it that is worth experiencing.
March 26, 2021
Read the full review
here
.
August 2, 2020
This book was not what I was expecting. When I read the description of this book I decided I wanted to read it because I was interested in the reference to Inuit culture. A few years ago I read Confessions of an Igloo Dweller: Memories of the Old Arctic which is a non-fiction book by a man who lived with the Inuit people for an extended period of time. Because I enjoyed that book so much I decided to give a fiction book about Inuit culture a go. I really did enjoy this book, the spiritualism is so interesting. But it must be mentioned that this is a very somber read. Since it's not a spoiler, the whole of this book focuses around Sam's apparent suicide as experienced by his little sister and her inability to accept it as a suicide. The book has a sort of magical realism feel to it. All in all I thought it was well written, a good book but it's not something to read if you are looking for a light book or a particularly happy one. There are some feel good moments but they are few and far between in this book.
December 16, 2020
I really liked this story about a teenager that is found dead in his bedroom. The authorities say it's a suicide but his sister doesn't believe it. Through soul searching and questioning people around her, she realizes she can't find the answer. But her family goes through the grief process, deals with mental health issues, and in the end, they eventually find the answer. Great storytelling for a really sad subject.
October 3, 2021
TRIGGER WARNING: this book is fairly graphic and though the MC is the age of many characters in middle grade novels, I would not recommend anyone under the age of sixteen or without a certain level of maturity should read it. Specific triggers under spoiler.
Generally, for me, a book needs to have both strong characters and plot to be intriguing. If a book lacks one of these, I'd prefer it to be plot, because the characters are what really makes the story. But usually if a book is lacking either, I won't rate it higher than three stars.
For some reason, Winter of the Wolf bypasses this, and completely makes up for what it lacks in plot through the use of characters. I guess it's not that I think this didn't have a plot, just that the pacing on this was very confusing, and it was one of those books where nothing really happens until everything does. Unlike a lot of books like this, though, it wasn't hard to get started with. We are given such strong characters in Bean, her best friend Julie, and her family; characters that definitely have room to grow but that pull the reader into their story from the beginning, and more and more as the novel progresses.
I can't exactly say what it was about the plot that I didn't like, except that there just wasn't much of one. I hope that in future rereads I find more of this, but I just didn't see it.
One thing I find interesting is how this novel connects very closely to topics we discussed in my Intro to Special Ed course just yesterday, before I started the book. It's almost like when you learn a new word and then start to see it everywhere, except that this was a lot more immediate. I am not a very spiritual person, but reading a book like this makes me wonder if there is some connection I'm missing.
Still, I hope to reread this and find things I missed the first time, because it is definitely a story where I believe there are hidden messages you don't notice the first time around. I definitely enjoyed this more than I expected to, and look forward to returning to it in the future.
Disclaimer:
Generally, for me, a book needs to have both strong characters and plot to be intriguing. If a book lacks one of these, I'd prefer it to be plot, because the characters are what really makes the story. But usually if a book is lacking either, I won't rate it higher than three stars.
For some reason, Winter of the Wolf bypasses this, and completely makes up for what it lacks in plot through the use of characters. I guess it's not that I think this didn't have a plot, just that the pacing on this was very confusing, and it was one of those books where nothing really happens until everything does. Unlike a lot of books like this, though, it wasn't hard to get started with. We are given such strong characters in Bean, her best friend Julie, and her family; characters that definitely have room to grow but that pull the reader into their story from the beginning, and more and more as the novel progresses.
I can't exactly say what it was about the plot that I didn't like, except that there just wasn't much of one. I hope that in future rereads I find more of this, but I just didn't see it.
One thing I find interesting is how this novel connects very closely to topics we discussed in my Intro to Special Ed course just yesterday, before I started the book. It's almost like when you learn a new word and then start to see it everywhere, except that this was a lot more immediate. I am not a very spiritual person, but reading a book like this makes me wonder if there is some connection I'm missing.
Still, I hope to reread this and find things I missed the first time, because it is definitely a story where I believe there are hidden messages you don't notice the first time around. I definitely enjoyed this more than I expected to, and look forward to returning to it in the future.
Disclaimer:
June 23, 2020
Meh.
I entered the giveaway for Winter of the Wolf because I was hoping the purported Inuit tradition and mystery combo would be reminiscent of a James Doss or Wind River mystery. No such luck. Instead it’s a YA novel about a girl’s struggle with grief and spirituality after her brother dies and she refuses to accept his death as a suicide. There is very little discussion of Inuit culture, and I’d argue very little sleuthing. The book isn’t awful, but not at all what I want to read.
I entered the giveaway for Winter of the Wolf because I was hoping the purported Inuit tradition and mystery combo would be reminiscent of a James Doss or Wind River mystery. No such luck. Instead it’s a YA novel about a girl’s struggle with grief and spirituality after her brother dies and she refuses to accept his death as a suicide. There is very little discussion of Inuit culture, and I’d argue very little sleuthing. The book isn’t awful, but not at all what I want to read.
May 16, 2020
Thank you so much to Greenleaf Book Group Press for reaching out to me about this whirlwind of a mystery. It felt incredibly kismet, even before reading the synopsis of the book, that this ARC came my way. I have always felt extremely drawn to wolves, and not only does the symbolism of the gorgeous creatures serve as a running through-line in Winter of the Wolf, but after some research on the author herself, I noticed that she has devoted her life to helping them. I immediately felt close to her and to this story, so when I received the copy in the mail; I tore through it like a rabid animal. Bean's story is a hard one, but we meet her as she is beginning to put herself back together, so there is a lot of growth and hope within these pages. She makes it a point to not only preserve the memory of Sam, the brother she knew, loved, and lost, but also mend her family and their friends in the process.
I was instantly drawn in by Bean, even from the first couple of pages. She is such a strong protagonist, and even though she has been in a depression since her brother died, she has been taking care of her loved ones through it all. Her mom has barely left her room, her dad blames himself for the events of that fatal night, and her remaining brothers feel uncertain if Sam even knew how much they loved him. Bean herself had gotten to the point where sleeping was better than her waking moments, because her brother still lived in her dreams. This accurate depiction of grief packs a huge punch, and it is a relief when the body of a doe calls her to attention. It settles things into place about her brother's death, and with the help of her best friend, Julie, Bean sets on a path to prove Sam did not take his own life.
The mystery surrounded Sam's death is a heavy one, and the cast of characters that Bean has to weave herself around in order to dig out the truth are so incredibly fragile that you can feel the splinters in their psyches as Bean prods into their memories. Sam's ex-girlfriend, best friend, and other acquaintances are only so helpful, however. When Bean takes all she can get from them, she and Julie turn to more uncommon approaches. These practices are some of my favorite bits in the book. Martha makes it very clear from the very first chapter that Sam, Bean, and their mom are incredibly spiritual in different ways, but all supportive of one another. It is incredible, from the standpoint of someone who has lived in the Bible Belt her entire life, to see such an open relationship with beliefs like this. Sam followed the way of the Inuits, their mother was on a constant search for enlightenment, and Bean had her faith in her brother and the magic all around her. Through sightings of a black wolf in broad daylight, a shamanic ritual, and totems of great importance, Bean was able to see that maybe the people who leave us aren't really gone. She uses this to her advantage and ultimately finds the peace she desires.
I am all in all head over heels for this succinct telling of a family's journey through trauma. I have never faced anything like this in my young life, and I sincerely hope I never have to. In any case, Bean's tale gives hope for those suffering from loss. It opens your eyes to the raw power of nature, and that there is magic awaiting anyone brave enough to ask. Most of all, it assures you that those who leave your life are never truly gone. I think this would be a really powerful read for anyone who has lost someone, but also just for those who are still figuring out their walk in life. It reminds us that it's okay to keep looking for answers, no matter what the question may be. Don't ever lose that curiosity, because it's what makes us human. Stay hungry like the wolf and never give up hope. Your winter will end, and the spring will be all the more beautiful for it.
I was instantly drawn in by Bean, even from the first couple of pages. She is such a strong protagonist, and even though she has been in a depression since her brother died, she has been taking care of her loved ones through it all. Her mom has barely left her room, her dad blames himself for the events of that fatal night, and her remaining brothers feel uncertain if Sam even knew how much they loved him. Bean herself had gotten to the point where sleeping was better than her waking moments, because her brother still lived in her dreams. This accurate depiction of grief packs a huge punch, and it is a relief when the body of a doe calls her to attention. It settles things into place about her brother's death, and with the help of her best friend, Julie, Bean sets on a path to prove Sam did not take his own life.
The mystery surrounded Sam's death is a heavy one, and the cast of characters that Bean has to weave herself around in order to dig out the truth are so incredibly fragile that you can feel the splinters in their psyches as Bean prods into their memories. Sam's ex-girlfriend, best friend, and other acquaintances are only so helpful, however. When Bean takes all she can get from them, she and Julie turn to more uncommon approaches. These practices are some of my favorite bits in the book. Martha makes it very clear from the very first chapter that Sam, Bean, and their mom are incredibly spiritual in different ways, but all supportive of one another. It is incredible, from the standpoint of someone who has lived in the Bible Belt her entire life, to see such an open relationship with beliefs like this. Sam followed the way of the Inuits, their mother was on a constant search for enlightenment, and Bean had her faith in her brother and the magic all around her. Through sightings of a black wolf in broad daylight, a shamanic ritual, and totems of great importance, Bean was able to see that maybe the people who leave us aren't really gone. She uses this to her advantage and ultimately finds the peace she desires.
I am all in all head over heels for this succinct telling of a family's journey through trauma. I have never faced anything like this in my young life, and I sincerely hope I never have to. In any case, Bean's tale gives hope for those suffering from loss. It opens your eyes to the raw power of nature, and that there is magic awaiting anyone brave enough to ask. Most of all, it assures you that those who leave your life are never truly gone. I think this would be a really powerful read for anyone who has lost someone, but also just for those who are still figuring out their walk in life. It reminds us that it's okay to keep looking for answers, no matter what the question may be. Don't ever lose that curiosity, because it's what makes us human. Stay hungry like the wolf and never give up hope. Your winter will end, and the spring will be all the more beautiful for it.
September 7, 2020
I was pleasently surprised at how good this book was!!! So thank you very much to netgalley for supplying us with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
This book dealt with grief in the most truest of ways. The story was about a young woman (Bean) who is processing the reported suicide of her brother (Sam). However, she is determined, through grief, to prove that her brother wasn't one to die by suicide and that there had to be more to the story of his death. With the help of her best friend, they uncover the sad truth behind her brother's death.
Things I loved about this book:
1. I loved how the wolf that Bean would see represented the spirit of her brother. It was so beautifully done and I actually learned a lot of the amazing animal that is The Wolf!
2. I also loved how the ending of this book turned out to be one really well done PSA about the dangers of a cause of death that many people SHOULD know about--especially parents with sexually active teens who hear and see things online that they don't understand the dangers of. I don't want to notate here what the cause of death was because that would ruin the book, but just know, it's so honest and real, and the author does such a great job with providing enough information about this cause of death, and still blending it in with making the story effective, but satisfying (in terms of storytelling).
3. As someone who recently lost a sibling, the way Bean experiences grief is legit. I felt like I was able to relate to Bean SO MUCH because of what she was going through, thinking, doing, and even saying. The way her friendship with her best friend was affected was so right on and the fact that the two of them worked it out in order to investigate Sam's death together was so inspirational. Grief is a mental state of mind and it affects not only the person who lost someone, but also everyone around them. Some people don't know how to help their grieving friend and that's okay. It's just so important to KEEP TRYING as much as you can, which is what Bean's best friend did. I loved it!
4. I also really just enjoyed the writing style of this novel and the narrator for the audiobook was PERFECT! Love the narration!
Reasons I didn't give it a complete 5 star--I found the story to take a little longer than I'd like to get to the main point. I felt like there were a lot of repetive moments and thoughts coming from Bean. There was a moment I was like, "okay, Bean, we get it. You don't think Sam killed himself intentionally. Let's figure it out and stop talking about it!"
Overall, I think you NEED to try this book, especially the audiobook. I think you'll be pleasently surprised as well!
This book dealt with grief in the most truest of ways. The story was about a young woman (Bean) who is processing the reported suicide of her brother (Sam). However, she is determined, through grief, to prove that her brother wasn't one to die by suicide and that there had to be more to the story of his death. With the help of her best friend, they uncover the sad truth behind her brother's death.
Things I loved about this book:
1. I loved how the wolf that Bean would see represented the spirit of her brother. It was so beautifully done and I actually learned a lot of the amazing animal that is The Wolf!
2. I also loved how the ending of this book turned out to be one really well done PSA about the dangers of a cause of death that many people SHOULD know about--especially parents with sexually active teens who hear and see things online that they don't understand the dangers of. I don't want to notate here what the cause of death was because that would ruin the book, but just know, it's so honest and real, and the author does such a great job with providing enough information about this cause of death, and still blending it in with making the story effective, but satisfying (in terms of storytelling).
3. As someone who recently lost a sibling, the way Bean experiences grief is legit. I felt like I was able to relate to Bean SO MUCH because of what she was going through, thinking, doing, and even saying. The way her friendship with her best friend was affected was so right on and the fact that the two of them worked it out in order to investigate Sam's death together was so inspirational. Grief is a mental state of mind and it affects not only the person who lost someone, but also everyone around them. Some people don't know how to help their grieving friend and that's okay. It's just so important to KEEP TRYING as much as you can, which is what Bean's best friend did. I loved it!
4. I also really just enjoyed the writing style of this novel and the narrator for the audiobook was PERFECT! Love the narration!
Reasons I didn't give it a complete 5 star--I found the story to take a little longer than I'd like to get to the main point. I felt like there were a lot of repetive moments and thoughts coming from Bean. There was a moment I was like, "okay, Bean, we get it. You don't think Sam killed himself intentionally. Let's figure it out and stop talking about it!"
Overall, I think you NEED to try this book, especially the audiobook. I think you'll be pleasently surprised as well!
May 23, 2020
My heart is broken, but I'm smiling...
Winter of the Wolf is a harrowing yet alluring depiction of grief and the pain and questioning that follows after an unexpected loss of a loved one.
Bean has recently lost her brother, Sam, to an apparent suicide. Questioning the cause of Sam’s death, Bean embarks on a journey of spirituality and grief in order to find out the truth.
I’d like to start off by stating that this book made me cry twice and that despite its heaviness, it has made me feel lighter. Combining elements of nature, death of a loved one and reincarnation, Winter of the Wolf portrays the painful process of grief and the questioning of a believer. It is a heartbreaking story of a sister so close to her brother she considered him her soulmate, and how his beliefs came to shape her, even after his passing.
Following Bean and her family through this difficult time, we witness how each member of the family has been affected by Sam’s death and just how special he truly was.
Handler writes and develops these characters incredibly well and makes you truly care for them and their well-being. Especially Sam, a character that is physically absent but ever present behind every action.
It is impossible not to connect with this story and its characters. I guarantee you every reader will undoubtedly take something away from Winter of the Wolf. I walk away with an even bigger admiration for the indigenous beliefs mentioned, a deeper interest of the afterlife and our connection to nature. I also applaud the author for donating all book sales proceeds to the Wolf Conservation Center. PROTECT OUR WOLVES.
4.5
Winter of the Wolf is a harrowing yet alluring depiction of grief and the pain and questioning that follows after an unexpected loss of a loved one.
Bean has recently lost her brother, Sam, to an apparent suicide. Questioning the cause of Sam’s death, Bean embarks on a journey of spirituality and grief in order to find out the truth.
I’d like to start off by stating that this book made me cry twice and that despite its heaviness, it has made me feel lighter. Combining elements of nature, death of a loved one and reincarnation, Winter of the Wolf portrays the painful process of grief and the questioning of a believer. It is a heartbreaking story of a sister so close to her brother she considered him her soulmate, and how his beliefs came to shape her, even after his passing.
Following Bean and her family through this difficult time, we witness how each member of the family has been affected by Sam’s death and just how special he truly was.
Handler writes and develops these characters incredibly well and makes you truly care for them and their well-being. Especially Sam, a character that is physically absent but ever present behind every action.
It is impossible not to connect with this story and its characters. I guarantee you every reader will undoubtedly take something away from Winter of the Wolf. I walk away with an even bigger admiration for the indigenous beliefs mentioned, a deeper interest of the afterlife and our connection to nature. I also applaud the author for donating all book sales proceeds to the Wolf Conservation Center. PROTECT OUR WOLVES.
4.5
January 10, 2021
Martha Hunt Handler's Winter of the Wolf narrates a very emotional journey of a teenage girl Bean in turning her grief into gratitude.
Sam, her dear brother, is the one who first pronounced her existence at age two when even their mother did not know that she was pregnant with Bean. He is the one who gave her the name, Bean. Sam’s unexpected death comes as a big shock and she is more shattered when it is pronounced that he has killed himself.
Bean is not willing to accept that he is gone. She sees him in her dream world, which is the only soothing moment she has now. She says, ‘My dream world and real world are light years apart’.
She feels like an empty vessel devoid of compassion. She is the special sister in the whole world (for Sam). He used to write wonderful Birthday letters every year for her. And no birthday notes from Sam on her 15th Birthday which goes unnoticed by her grieving family.
Bean is not convinced that Sam, who believes in Inuit customs and celebrates life can kill himself. Sam’s death is making her doubt her soul wisdom that she gained through his conversations on the Inuit People and their customs.
She attempts to defeat her depression and focus on finding the truth about Sam’s death. Bean takes her best friend Julie into confidence and starts investigating (with her help) to find out what happened on that fatal night.
Scenes like Julie’s reconnecting to Bean as BFF on her 15th birthday and her father taking the family for Thanksgiving dinner at a (ugly cold corrugated) Diner are heart-wrenching.
Bean’s bonding with her mother and intent to protect her are well described as “I want to believe that I am okay so that she should be okay”.
Bean who has thought” We were no longer a whole family”, comes to realize that each one of them is suffering the loss in one’s own way. She finds solace in learning that her elder brothers Adam and Chase loved Sam dearly and they love and want to protect their little sister as well.
She sees her dad evolving into a different person when he says, ‘We all see the world through our unique lenses…. choose to accept our differences’ and does not object her venturing out on a winter night to perform Shamanic ritual.
Julie’s first fishing venture with Sam and Bean and her killing the fish, Sam’s Inuit theory about mingling her blood with that of fish to make peace is an interesting episode.
Bean and Julie performing Shamanic Ritual hoping to connect with Sam, feel his presence and find answers turns out to be triumphant. And finally, truth unfolds exactly when it is supposed to.
You will also learn about several Inuit theories such as ‘Souls are pure vibrational energies’ and they do not die, they transform’; trees are guardian spirits; all animals equally powered.
There is a big reveal at the end which is very important and element of education especially for parents with young and teenage kids.
Sam, her dear brother, is the one who first pronounced her existence at age two when even their mother did not know that she was pregnant with Bean. He is the one who gave her the name, Bean. Sam’s unexpected death comes as a big shock and she is more shattered when it is pronounced that he has killed himself.
Bean is not willing to accept that he is gone. She sees him in her dream world, which is the only soothing moment she has now. She says, ‘My dream world and real world are light years apart’.
She feels like an empty vessel devoid of compassion. She is the special sister in the whole world (for Sam). He used to write wonderful Birthday letters every year for her. And no birthday notes from Sam on her 15th Birthday which goes unnoticed by her grieving family.
Bean is not convinced that Sam, who believes in Inuit customs and celebrates life can kill himself. Sam’s death is making her doubt her soul wisdom that she gained through his conversations on the Inuit People and their customs.
She attempts to defeat her depression and focus on finding the truth about Sam’s death. Bean takes her best friend Julie into confidence and starts investigating (with her help) to find out what happened on that fatal night.
Scenes like Julie’s reconnecting to Bean as BFF on her 15th birthday and her father taking the family for Thanksgiving dinner at a (ugly cold corrugated) Diner are heart-wrenching.
Bean’s bonding with her mother and intent to protect her are well described as “I want to believe that I am okay so that she should be okay”.
Bean who has thought” We were no longer a whole family”, comes to realize that each one of them is suffering the loss in one’s own way. She finds solace in learning that her elder brothers Adam and Chase loved Sam dearly and they love and want to protect their little sister as well.
She sees her dad evolving into a different person when he says, ‘We all see the world through our unique lenses…. choose to accept our differences’ and does not object her venturing out on a winter night to perform Shamanic ritual.
Julie’s first fishing venture with Sam and Bean and her killing the fish, Sam’s Inuit theory about mingling her blood with that of fish to make peace is an interesting episode.
Bean and Julie performing Shamanic Ritual hoping to connect with Sam, feel his presence and find answers turns out to be triumphant. And finally, truth unfolds exactly when it is supposed to.
You will also learn about several Inuit theories such as ‘Souls are pure vibrational energies’ and they do not die, they transform’; trees are guardian spirits; all animals equally powered.
There is a big reveal at the end which is very important and element of education especially for parents with young and teenage kids.
September 8, 2020
I enjoyed this novel so much, and considering my somewhat shaky relationship with YA fiction, I was quite surprised from the get-go how much I didn’t want to put this novel down. It had everything: a compelling story, well fleshed out characters, depth and meaning, along with a sensitivity regarding what can only be considered as ‘big ticket’ issues. This might be marketed as a YA novel, but it’s really one that suits all ages, in my opinion.
Bean was a beautiful narrator, so honest and loyal. I enjoyed her family interactions and especially her relationship with her best friend Julie. This novel has a spiritual underpinning that appealed to me greatly. It raised a question that I hadn’t thought much about, to be honest, that of whether we need to be born into a culture in order to live by its rules. Bean’s brother Sam had decided from a young age that the Inuit life and beliefs were what he wanted to live by, even though he wasn’t Inuit himself. It’s like he chose it as his religion. I found that really interesting and quite thought provoking.
There are some heavy themes in this novel but they are handled with sensitivity and intelligence. This is one of those rare novels that walks the line between education and entertainment with perfect grace. Despite the grave beginnings, it soars to a hopeful finish that left me feeling fulfilled and inspired.
Thanks is extended to Greenleaf Book Group for providing me with a copy of Winter of the Wolf for review.
Bean was a beautiful narrator, so honest and loyal. I enjoyed her family interactions and especially her relationship with her best friend Julie. This novel has a spiritual underpinning that appealed to me greatly. It raised a question that I hadn’t thought much about, to be honest, that of whether we need to be born into a culture in order to live by its rules. Bean’s brother Sam had decided from a young age that the Inuit life and beliefs were what he wanted to live by, even though he wasn’t Inuit himself. It’s like he chose it as his religion. I found that really interesting and quite thought provoking.
There are some heavy themes in this novel but they are handled with sensitivity and intelligence. This is one of those rare novels that walks the line between education and entertainment with perfect grace. Despite the grave beginnings, it soars to a hopeful finish that left me feeling fulfilled and inspired.
Thanks is extended to Greenleaf Book Group for providing me with a copy of Winter of the Wolf for review.
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