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Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me
KJ Carson lives an outdoor lover's dream. The only daughter of a fishing and wildlife guide, KJ can hold her own on the water or in the mountains near her hometown outside Yellowstone National Park.
But when she meets the shaggy-haired, intensely appealing Virgil, KJ loses all self-possession. And she's not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that they're assigned to work together on a school newspaper article about the famous wolves of Yellowstone.
As KJ spends time with Virgil, she also spends more time getting to know a part of her world that she always took for granted... and she begins to see herself and her town in a whole new light.
But when she meets the shaggy-haired, intensely appealing Virgil, KJ loses all self-possession. And she's not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that they're assigned to work together on a school newspaper article about the famous wolves of Yellowstone.
As KJ spends time with Virgil, she also spends more time getting to know a part of her world that she always took for granted... and she begins to see herself and her town in a whole new light.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2010
50 people are currently reading
2667 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Chandler
4 books173 followersRandom Stuff about Me
Why I Became a Writer: I like cookies. When I was five years old there was a toddler that lived across the street that cried all the time. I remember the little girl’s mother sitting out on front porch, looking exhausted one morning. I walked over and asked her if her daughter would like me to tell her a story. I’m sure this young mom thought I was a strange but her daughter seemed to like my story enough to listen instead of cry. The mom said she would pay me with cookies if I came back the next day. I came back all summer. Stories and cookies. What could be better?
Why I write for people that are younger than I am: I like teenagers. There is something brutal and wonderful about not having a clue who you are.
Do I really fish and row? The first time my dad took me fishing I hooked him in the eyebrow. Several years later he took me again. These days I usually hook more fish than people, but I’m strictly catch and release, either way. I love to get into trouble on my kayak. It’s a great way to sneak up on birds and muskrats.
When I’m not writing, I love to read, run, fish, row, hike, ski, ride horses, and spy on wildlife. There isn’t actually a job that pays me to do these things, so I write about them, and do plenty of research. My kids and I have great Adventures (when we say it with a capital A it means that something went badly and made the trip more interesting). I also love teaching, which I’ve done since I got my MFA in Creative Writing a million and one years ago.
Why I Became a Writer: I like cookies. When I was five years old there was a toddler that lived across the street that cried all the time. I remember the little girl’s mother sitting out on front porch, looking exhausted one morning. I walked over and asked her if her daughter would like me to tell her a story. I’m sure this young mom thought I was a strange but her daughter seemed to like my story enough to listen instead of cry. The mom said she would pay me with cookies if I came back the next day. I came back all summer. Stories and cookies. What could be better?
Why I write for people that are younger than I am: I like teenagers. There is something brutal and wonderful about not having a clue who you are.
Do I really fish and row? The first time my dad took me fishing I hooked him in the eyebrow. Several years later he took me again. These days I usually hook more fish than people, but I’m strictly catch and release, either way. I love to get into trouble on my kayak. It’s a great way to sneak up on birds and muskrats.
When I’m not writing, I love to read, run, fish, row, hike, ski, ride horses, and spy on wildlife. There isn’t actually a job that pays me to do these things, so I write about them, and do plenty of research. My kids and I have great Adventures (when we say it with a capital A it means that something went badly and made the trip more interesting). I also love teaching, which I’ve done since I got my MFA in Creative Writing a million and one years ago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 471 reviews
August 17, 2010
It's so nice to read a YA book about real issues. And I'm not talking about the awkwardness of being a teenage girl, of wearing the wrong outfit, of feeling that everyone else is popular and you're a social leper, of not understanding what boys mean or why they do the things they do, of struggling with an overbearing parent you can't relate to, although the book is about that too. But it's also about a world that's larger than us. In this case, it's about the Wolf Reintroduction Program at Yellowstone National Park. On one hand, you have the environmentalists following the wolves, enthralled by their beauty and social structure, and the benefits to the ecological system as a whole when wolves keep down the elk population which in turn helps vegetation growth. And on the other hand, you have the ranchers who loose numbers when wolves prey on their herd causing them a financial burden, and on top of that, you have the wolf reintroduction coming down as a a federal mandate where the states oppose the measure. It goes to cause a lot of natural tension and devise, and it's all interesting stuff about national politics that might interest kids in real issues in life. That's refreshing in YA lit.
June 5, 2012
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The only thing this book succeeded in doing was making me change my mind about ever visiting Montana.
Everyone in this book was an asshole. Seriously, everyone. There wasn't one likeable character in the entire damn thing, and less than halfway through, I wanted to crawl inside and firebomb everything. Everything.
The interpersonal relationships were just fucking bizarre. Everyone treats everyone else like total shit. It doesn't matter who they are. Like a girl? Treat her like shit. Have a daughter who struggles with certain things, but is still a good person all-around and helps you out a lot? Treat her like shit. Classmate who is a bit different? Be her friend, but treat her like shit. You're a teacher who's been put upon? Treat your students like shit. Neighbors feel differently about something? Treat them like shit. At times, the animosity made no sense whatsoever. KJ falls asleep and a wolf kills a couple of cows, but she somehow "got a couple of cows killed"?????
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Oh, and let's not forget KJ's "disability". No, we couldn't because we were reminded of it about 500 fucking times. Her "awkwardness" being blamed on her dyslexia was just plain ignorant. My husband and son are both dyslexic, and they're not socially retarded. In fact, kids with learning disabilities tend to overcompensate in the social skills department. KJ is an outsider and has no friends because she's klutzy and says weird things and can't spell? Fuckin' A, man, this is how school shootings happen.
Ugh, just...just avoid this if you're sick and tired of reading about people being horrible to each other. It never ends. Never. I thought perhaps there was going to be some big revelation and certain people would be apologizing to other people...nope. Nada. They just continued on their merry way, reveling in their assholery. The title should have been, "Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Want To Kill Me."
The only thing this book succeeded in doing was making me change my mind about ever visiting Montana.
Everyone in this book was an asshole. Seriously, everyone. There wasn't one likeable character in the entire damn thing, and less than halfway through, I wanted to crawl inside and firebomb everything. Everything.
The interpersonal relationships were just fucking bizarre. Everyone treats everyone else like total shit. It doesn't matter who they are. Like a girl? Treat her like shit. Have a daughter who struggles with certain things, but is still a good person all-around and helps you out a lot? Treat her like shit. Classmate who is a bit different? Be her friend, but treat her like shit. You're a teacher who's been put upon? Treat your students like shit. Neighbors feel differently about something? Treat them like shit. At times, the animosity made no sense whatsoever. KJ falls asleep and a wolf kills a couple of cows, but she somehow "got a couple of cows killed"?????
[image error]
Oh, and let's not forget KJ's "disability". No, we couldn't because we were reminded of it about 500 fucking times. Her "awkwardness" being blamed on her dyslexia was just plain ignorant. My husband and son are both dyslexic, and they're not socially retarded. In fact, kids with learning disabilities tend to overcompensate in the social skills department. KJ is an outsider and has no friends because she's klutzy and says weird things and can't spell? Fuckin' A, man, this is how school shootings happen.
Ugh, just...just avoid this if you're sick and tired of reading about people being horrible to each other. It never ends. Never. I thought perhaps there was going to be some big revelation and certain people would be apologizing to other people...nope. Nada. They just continued on their merry way, reveling in their assholery. The title should have been, "Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Want To Kill Me."
August 23, 2011
The first thing that should be mentioned about this book is that it is NOT a paranormal teen book. We're not talking were-wolves here. I think with the cover (which I love!) and the flood of paranormal teen books out that that should be made clear!
KJ who has, in her father's words, "blossomed" over the summer but, unlike many other teen novels where the ugly duckling turns into a beauty, she doesn't miraculously become popular. Love it. I think it's a good lesson for teens (and the rest of us) that being skinnier, taller, shorter, prettier, etc., etc., is NOT going to solve all of our problems. KJ, as it turns out, is still as much of an outsider as she ever was.
I loved the whole pro-wolf/anit-wolf sentiments in the book. At first KJ sees the issue in black and white but when she learns more about the issues on both sides I think she comes to see that, in the end, not everything is black and white, there are a lot of shades of gray. That doesn't just apply to the wolves but to the people in her life as well. I think it's interseting to note that this issue isn't fabricated, it's based on real issues facing wolves, environmentalists, naturalists, ranchers, etc. You can read about "the story behind the story" on the author's website.
This book is ultimately about KJ's relationship with people: her father, Virgil, and the town as a whole. I also loved how there's no tidy HEA for KJ and Virgil like I've seen in many of the other teen books I've read lately (ie. Perfect Chemistry & Rules of Attraction). I think it was Nath who's mentioned several times that she doesn't buy the HEA type ending in YA books. I tend to agree but this one has a very realistic ending for KJ and Virgil. Although I expect some people will have wanted. . . more. But I think it was perfect for this book!
In a nutshell, I LOVED this book. I thought it was smart, extremely well written, and completely refreshing. This is Kristen Chandler's debut title and I will be looking forward to more from this author.
KJ who has, in her father's words, "blossomed" over the summer but, unlike many other teen novels where the ugly duckling turns into a beauty, she doesn't miraculously become popular. Love it. I think it's a good lesson for teens (and the rest of us) that being skinnier, taller, shorter, prettier, etc., etc., is NOT going to solve all of our problems. KJ, as it turns out, is still as much of an outsider as she ever was.
I loved the whole pro-wolf/anit-wolf sentiments in the book. At first KJ sees the issue in black and white but when she learns more about the issues on both sides I think she comes to see that, in the end, not everything is black and white, there are a lot of shades of gray. That doesn't just apply to the wolves but to the people in her life as well. I think it's interseting to note that this issue isn't fabricated, it's based on real issues facing wolves, environmentalists, naturalists, ranchers, etc. You can read about "the story behind the story" on the author's website.
This book is ultimately about KJ's relationship with people: her father, Virgil, and the town as a whole. I also loved how there's no tidy HEA for KJ and Virgil like I've seen in many of the other teen books I've read lately (ie. Perfect Chemistry & Rules of Attraction). I think it was Nath who's mentioned several times that she doesn't buy the HEA type ending in YA books. I tend to agree but this one has a very realistic ending for KJ and Virgil. Although I expect some people will have wanted. . . more. But I think it was perfect for this book!
In a nutshell, I LOVED this book. I thought it was smart, extremely well written, and completely refreshing. This is Kristen Chandler's debut title and I will be looking forward to more from this author.
April 12, 2018
Not my favrouite contemporary, the romance was iffy and the characters were bland.
November 24, 2010
Campaigning for the wolves of Yellowstone National Park was never in sixteen-year-old KJ Carson’s plans. Small town, park life and the outdoors is such an inseparable part of her already, how was writing about the wolves in the school newspaper any different? Growing up in West End, Montana with a wildlife guide and sports shopkeeper for a dad, her daily life has consisted of rowing, fishing, and going wolf watching and elk hunting during tourist season. So why would it be seen as taking sides if she simply recorded her observations of the newly reintroduced wolves with the new guy Virgil and his wolf expert mother Eloise? But with an apparent cause and a cute boy at her side KJ’s never been happier. Until a shotgun blast reminds her that the wolf will always be seen as “the big bad wolf” in West End cattle rancher central. Old KJ would back down, but with more at stake than her life and reputation, she’s prepared to stand up for all she loves, wolf and human alike.
What an unexpected, stand-out-in-a-crowd kind of YA novel Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me (WBOT) turned out to be. Though some may be disappointed in its lack of supernatural wolves, that is precisely why I even gave it a second look. Add that refreshing premise to a cool, snappy title and a beautiful, exceptional cover and I was sold.
I’m happy to say that my expectations held up from the first page until the last. KJ and her dad guiding noisy, ignorant tourists wolf watching in the first chapter had me at “your other left, KJ.” Their relationship is raw, complicated, and one of my favorite parts of the book. Love her or hate her, KJ’s very different life is intriguing and her voice strong. She’s sarcastic, she’s dry-witted, and she has an almost flippant confidence in the obvious lack of care she has for what others think of her. I mean, why would it matter if she only has one friend or people have been noticing lately that she finally needs a grown-up bra and has grown her hair out? Part tomboy KJ doesn’t. She does care however when the shaggy blonde-haired boy from Minnesota notices and she still manages to hilariously screw that up, at least in the beginning. KJ’s quirky teachers like Mrs. Baby (she means Brady) and fellow students like Addie and Kenner grew on me, obnoxious hillbilly sensibilities and caricature personalities aside. You’re not really sure if some of these intitially unforgettably distinct types will have more depth as the story progresses, but their vulnerabilities eventually emerge. There may also be a few rural town, environmental, shotgun stereotypes here but on the whole I found the setting authentic and interesting (Kristen Chandler grew up near Yellowstone herself) and the characterization of WBOT delightful. Recommended for fans of YA contemp with a little romance and a lot of compelling drama on the side.
What an unexpected, stand-out-in-a-crowd kind of YA novel Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me (WBOT) turned out to be. Though some may be disappointed in its lack of supernatural wolves, that is precisely why I even gave it a second look. Add that refreshing premise to a cool, snappy title and a beautiful, exceptional cover and I was sold.
I’m happy to say that my expectations held up from the first page until the last. KJ and her dad guiding noisy, ignorant tourists wolf watching in the first chapter had me at “your other left, KJ.” Their relationship is raw, complicated, and one of my favorite parts of the book. Love her or hate her, KJ’s very different life is intriguing and her voice strong. She’s sarcastic, she’s dry-witted, and she has an almost flippant confidence in the obvious lack of care she has for what others think of her. I mean, why would it matter if she only has one friend or people have been noticing lately that she finally needs a grown-up bra and has grown her hair out? Part tomboy KJ doesn’t. She does care however when the shaggy blonde-haired boy from Minnesota notices and she still manages to hilariously screw that up, at least in the beginning. KJ’s quirky teachers like Mrs. Baby (she means Brady) and fellow students like Addie and Kenner grew on me, obnoxious hillbilly sensibilities and caricature personalities aside. You’re not really sure if some of these intitially unforgettably distinct types will have more depth as the story progresses, but their vulnerabilities eventually emerge. There may also be a few rural town, environmental, shotgun stereotypes here but on the whole I found the setting authentic and interesting (Kristen Chandler grew up near Yellowstone herself) and the characterization of WBOT delightful. Recommended for fans of YA contemp with a little romance and a lot of compelling drama on the side.
August 20, 2011
I LOOOOOVED THIS BOOK.
I know it's a little early in the year to say this,
but it will probably be my favorite of 2011,
it has THAT potencial.
It was amazing. It was one of those times when you just love EVERYTHING about a book. Even though it couldn't be more
alien to me, not even paranormal books are farther from my reality,
yet I loved it. And connect with every character, understood everyone of them.
And if you're like me a don't really care about wolves,
it doesn't matter! the wolf part is not boring at all,
it kind of felt like big metaphor about life, and I liked that.
Also, I learned A LOT from this book. 'Cause being a city kid, I never stopped to think about how the economy problems hit the ranchers, country people, and not just us in the city.
The book setting is West End, Montana, popullation: 900-and-something.
Story's heroine: KJ (Katherine Jean). She's sixteen, and dislexic, and has a complicated relationship with her father. But not in a I-hate-you-we-yell-at-eachother-all-the-time way, it was refreshing to read about a relationship like that, so raw. They both loved eachother but it was just... you have to read it.
I loooooooved KJ. She thinks she's stupid, a redneck (literally), a loser. She couldn't be more wrong. She's brave, and witty, and she doesn't give up. In about 99% of the books I read I end up loving the guy more, 'cause let's face it the guy is usually perfect= cute, romantic, understanding, whatever. Well not here, loooooooved KJ more.
BUT I also loooved Virgil, the guy. He's sooo brave, and understanding, and overall, the boy has guts. He was even shot and he didn't complained or anything, 'cause he knew there might be consecuences when you fight for the things you believe in. And he wasn't afraid.
So, again, I loooooooved EVERYTHING about the book.
I would have liked some more romance, I'm a romantic what can I say?)
but I'm soooooo pleased with it, I just can't complain.
The book's awesome.
Oh! forgot to say that a lot of parts were HILLARIOUS.
I started today at 12:00 am, I lost track of time and realized that my mom had already woken up! at 5:00 am! and I hadn't gone to bed, so now I'm grounded for a week ):
but it doesn't matter, the book was worth it. I'm happy, I'll just re-it.
I know it's a little early in the year to say this,
but it will probably be my favorite of 2011,
it has THAT potencial.
It was amazing. It was one of those times when you just love EVERYTHING about a book. Even though it couldn't be more
alien to me, not even paranormal books are farther from my reality,
yet I loved it. And connect with every character, understood everyone of them.
And if you're like me a don't really care about wolves,
it doesn't matter! the wolf part is not boring at all,
it kind of felt like big metaphor about life, and I liked that.
Also, I learned A LOT from this book. 'Cause being a city kid, I never stopped to think about how the economy problems hit the ranchers, country people, and not just us in the city.
The book setting is West End, Montana, popullation: 900-and-something.
Story's heroine: KJ (Katherine Jean). She's sixteen, and dislexic, and has a complicated relationship with her father. But not in a I-hate-you-we-yell-at-eachother-all-the-time way, it was refreshing to read about a relationship like that, so raw. They both loved eachother but it was just... you have to read it.
I loooooooved KJ. She thinks she's stupid, a redneck (literally), a loser. She couldn't be more wrong. She's brave, and witty, and she doesn't give up. In about 99% of the books I read I end up loving the guy more, 'cause let's face it the guy is usually perfect= cute, romantic, understanding, whatever. Well not here, loooooooved KJ more.
BUT I also loooved Virgil, the guy. He's sooo brave, and understanding, and overall, the boy has guts. He was even shot and he didn't complained or anything, 'cause he knew there might be consecuences when you fight for the things you believe in. And he wasn't afraid.
So, again, I loooooooved EVERYTHING about the book.
I would have liked some more romance, I'm a romantic what can I say?)
but I'm soooooo pleased with it, I just can't complain.
The book's awesome.
Oh! forgot to say that a lot of parts were HILLARIOUS.
I started today at 12:00 am, I lost track of time and realized that my mom had already woken up! at 5:00 am! and I hadn't gone to bed, so now I'm grounded for a week ):
but it doesn't matter, the book was worth it. I'm happy, I'll just re-it.
September 28, 2015
"Probably a werewolf book," I dismissed without pulling it out. And then I paused, "But what if it's not?" Good news: IT'S NOT! It could really use a title makeover, because what it is is a strong, non-fluff-headed story about a small-town Montana girl, the new transfer student from Minnesota, and a year of rural conflict over wolves as beneficial vs. harmful. Just wish it had a proofreader, yikes; I counted at least 4 glaring errors in the type. This is petty only because the rest was so great. I actually read slowly and savored it over multiple days. One of the best debut novels in recent years. A story with animals and no naked times, how much better can it get?
December 18, 2011
3.5. Again: I wish goodreads gave half stars.
Review originally from my book review (wordpress / livejournal)
I’ve been interested in reading Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me ever since I read Holly’s review where she said her “expectations held up from the first page until the last”. Yup, it was grabbed on an impulse at a bookstore when I was in Southern New England, and I settled into it quite happily when I got home.
The Premise: When the wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National park, it was to put the park’s ecosystem back into balance, but for the locals that live around the park, many of them farmers with herds of animals to keep safe, the wolves are a threat to their livelihood. KJ grew up in West End, Montana, and has always been the gawky girl who kept her head down, but lately that has changed. KJ is suddenly getting noticed – both for growing out of her awkwardness, and for speaking out about the wolves. Everyone has an opinion on this hot topic, and not everyone is happy with KJ’s involvement. Even KJ’s taciturn father, and Virgil, the boy she has a crush on, don’t always see eye to eye with her on the wolves. The more KJ tries to make things better, the worse it seems to get.
My Thoughts: Wolves, Boys & Other Things That Might Kill Me is a YA that stands out from the pack. Yes, it is a coming of age story like a lot of YA out there is, but I felt like there was a different air to KJ’s character than your typical teen-aged girl. Maybe it was her upbringing in Montana with a gruff and outdoorsy father, or maybe it’s the many embarrassing experiences already under her belt, but in this story KJ has a quiet assurance that she never seems to lose. For example, when she comes back to school her junior year looking less “like a Peppermint Patty” and gets comments from friends, she may be perturbed at first, but soon moves on. It was so nice NOT to read about a teen girl who sweats over what other people think or want. That’s not to say that KJ doesn’t come across as the young and inexperienced kid she is – she does that plenty. It’s just that being self-sufficient and following her own council are not things she needs to work on.
Instead, for KJ, growing up involves discovering her passion for the wolves reintroduced into Yellowstone. It’s not really KJ’s intention to be associated with the debate, but she has no choice on the matter when she’s assigned to write a column about the wolves for her school’s newspaper. Her innocuous article that doesn’t condemn the wolves’ presence (and may instead romanticize them), creates a stir from the local farmers. As more livestock is killed, the anger and frustration increases. Wolf-friendly overtures are met with violence. It’s easy to paint the farmers as narrow-minded hicks, and that’s something KJ thinks at first, but the more she gets involved the more she has to look at the story from the other side and understand where the anger is coming from. KJ’s straight-talking voice captures the complexity of the whole situation. A cast of characters from Virgil’s wolf researcher mother to the class jerk whose family owns a farm bring perspectives from all sides. There’s even some friction between KJ, Virgil, and her own father over the whole thing
Wolves, Boys & Other Things That Might Kill Me doesn’t have pat and perfect answers. It simply shows the muddle that is human life. Even KJ’s romance with the zen new kid, is not immune. It was nice to see KJ and Virgil’s relationship blossom amongst the wolves and controversy, but they’re also two kids in high school. Like all things in this story, their interactions manage to be special and yet grounded in the real world.
I also have to make a mention of the special relationship KJ had with her dad. I loved all the shades of their relationship. He’s tough on KJ and is difficult to have a conversation with (KJ has learned to read her father based on body language and the occasional monosyllable), but he’s also protective. I adored their unique partnership, and for me one of the strongest father-daughter relationships I’ve read in YA. I actually wished there were more scenes with them alone.
I’d say that this book was one that quietly laid out the situation and left it at that. Much like KJ, it has no big flashy agenda, it just tells it like it is. I liked this, but it is a subtle sort of strength, not one that makes a obvious impression. For that reason, I feel that not everyone is going to be affected by this story. The other minor criticism I had is that KJ read much younger to me than sixteen. I had her pegged as a pretty independent twelve or thirteen until I was corrected by the jacket copy which says she’s a junior in high school. I think I would have liked this book a tad more if KJ felt more like a sixteen-year old to me while I read it.
Overall: You know the saying “still waters run deep”? I feel like if you take that and apply it to a teenage girl, you have KJ, and that is funneled into the story told in Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me. I was charmed by the unassuming style of this one, and I liked that it told a self-discovery story that felt real and nuanced. But I also feel that its strength is subtle, easing back from rather than lingering on the dramatic and emotional scenes.
Review originally from my book review (wordpress / livejournal)
I’ve been interested in reading Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me ever since I read Holly’s review where she said her “expectations held up from the first page until the last”. Yup, it was grabbed on an impulse at a bookstore when I was in Southern New England, and I settled into it quite happily when I got home.
The Premise: When the wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National park, it was to put the park’s ecosystem back into balance, but for the locals that live around the park, many of them farmers with herds of animals to keep safe, the wolves are a threat to their livelihood. KJ grew up in West End, Montana, and has always been the gawky girl who kept her head down, but lately that has changed. KJ is suddenly getting noticed – both for growing out of her awkwardness, and for speaking out about the wolves. Everyone has an opinion on this hot topic, and not everyone is happy with KJ’s involvement. Even KJ’s taciturn father, and Virgil, the boy she has a crush on, don’t always see eye to eye with her on the wolves. The more KJ tries to make things better, the worse it seems to get.
My Thoughts: Wolves, Boys & Other Things That Might Kill Me is a YA that stands out from the pack. Yes, it is a coming of age story like a lot of YA out there is, but I felt like there was a different air to KJ’s character than your typical teen-aged girl. Maybe it was her upbringing in Montana with a gruff and outdoorsy father, or maybe it’s the many embarrassing experiences already under her belt, but in this story KJ has a quiet assurance that she never seems to lose. For example, when she comes back to school her junior year looking less “like a Peppermint Patty” and gets comments from friends, she may be perturbed at first, but soon moves on. It was so nice NOT to read about a teen girl who sweats over what other people think or want. That’s not to say that KJ doesn’t come across as the young and inexperienced kid she is – she does that plenty. It’s just that being self-sufficient and following her own council are not things she needs to work on.
Instead, for KJ, growing up involves discovering her passion for the wolves reintroduced into Yellowstone. It’s not really KJ’s intention to be associated with the debate, but she has no choice on the matter when she’s assigned to write a column about the wolves for her school’s newspaper. Her innocuous article that doesn’t condemn the wolves’ presence (and may instead romanticize them), creates a stir from the local farmers. As more livestock is killed, the anger and frustration increases. Wolf-friendly overtures are met with violence. It’s easy to paint the farmers as narrow-minded hicks, and that’s something KJ thinks at first, but the more she gets involved the more she has to look at the story from the other side and understand where the anger is coming from. KJ’s straight-talking voice captures the complexity of the whole situation. A cast of characters from Virgil’s wolf researcher mother to the class jerk whose family owns a farm bring perspectives from all sides. There’s even some friction between KJ, Virgil, and her own father over the whole thing
Wolves, Boys & Other Things That Might Kill Me doesn’t have pat and perfect answers. It simply shows the muddle that is human life. Even KJ’s romance with the zen new kid, is not immune. It was nice to see KJ and Virgil’s relationship blossom amongst the wolves and controversy, but they’re also two kids in high school. Like all things in this story, their interactions manage to be special and yet grounded in the real world.
I also have to make a mention of the special relationship KJ had with her dad. I loved all the shades of their relationship. He’s tough on KJ and is difficult to have a conversation with (KJ has learned to read her father based on body language and the occasional monosyllable), but he’s also protective. I adored their unique partnership, and for me one of the strongest father-daughter relationships I’ve read in YA. I actually wished there were more scenes with them alone.
I’d say that this book was one that quietly laid out the situation and left it at that. Much like KJ, it has no big flashy agenda, it just tells it like it is. I liked this, but it is a subtle sort of strength, not one that makes a obvious impression. For that reason, I feel that not everyone is going to be affected by this story. The other minor criticism I had is that KJ read much younger to me than sixteen. I had her pegged as a pretty independent twelve or thirteen until I was corrected by the jacket copy which says she’s a junior in high school. I think I would have liked this book a tad more if KJ felt more like a sixteen-year old to me while I read it.
Overall: You know the saying “still waters run deep”? I feel like if you take that and apply it to a teenage girl, you have KJ, and that is funneled into the story told in Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me. I was charmed by the unassuming style of this one, and I liked that it told a self-discovery story that felt real and nuanced. But I also feel that its strength is subtle, easing back from rather than lingering on the dramatic and emotional scenes.
August 4, 2024
The characters are stereotyped caricatures, and the love interest is exceptionally mature and grounded, but it's still an engaging story, and the author gets a lot right about Yellowstone and the differing views about wolves in the area.
April 8, 2013
I decided to read the book, Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me, because of its title. Yes, it is lengthy, but it caught my attention and got me to open the book. The book was an easy read (I finished it in about a day) and definitely a page-turner, but I was disappointed with the book as a whole.
Here are the reasons why:
The book is really not about wolves. It is about KJ, the protagonist, and the relationships she forms with her father, Virgil, and the townspeople. Even the portions of the novel that focus on the wolves are primarily about the people’s response to them. The book can be classified as a coming-of-age and political story, but not a naturalist one. Saying that, I felt like I learned a lot about both sides of the wolves reintroduction issue. I had always thought of wolves in Yellowstone as a good thing, a way to save their species from extinction. I did not think of the negative ramifications of this move, such as how it affected ranchers and other people living in the area. However, I still wish that the wolves themselves had played a bigger part in the plot. The sections that discussed the story behind the Cinderella wolf and Wolf #42 were my favorite parts of the book and I would have liked to be updated on their actions throughout the story.
That brings me to the next issue. Anytime that a reader is more interested in the animals than the people in the novel, you know there is a problem with the characters. I was not a fan of any of the main characters. I thought they were poorly developed. Some of this problem was the dialogue. It was very simplistic and made the characters seem more stereotypical. Instead of relating to KJ, I was annoyed and bored. She reminded me of the classic YA whiny female protagonist, with political issues substituted for the YA focus on supernatural elements. I never connected with Virgil either. His personality seemed to be constantly changing from nonchalant to passionate to funny to serious. I also thought the relationship between KJ and Virgil progressed way too quickly to seem realistic. She tells Vigil she thinks he is gay and a week later, they were kissing. That kind of thing does not happen. The character I did like was the father. I felt like I understood his relationship with KJ and I liked how it developed over the book.
To conclude, I really do think that the book is okay. It was interesting enough that I finished it. But I think it could have been much better with a great focus on the wolves, a more sophisticated writing style, and better character development.
Here are the reasons why:
The book is really not about wolves. It is about KJ, the protagonist, and the relationships she forms with her father, Virgil, and the townspeople. Even the portions of the novel that focus on the wolves are primarily about the people’s response to them. The book can be classified as a coming-of-age and political story, but not a naturalist one. Saying that, I felt like I learned a lot about both sides of the wolves reintroduction issue. I had always thought of wolves in Yellowstone as a good thing, a way to save their species from extinction. I did not think of the negative ramifications of this move, such as how it affected ranchers and other people living in the area. However, I still wish that the wolves themselves had played a bigger part in the plot. The sections that discussed the story behind the Cinderella wolf and Wolf #42 were my favorite parts of the book and I would have liked to be updated on their actions throughout the story.
That brings me to the next issue. Anytime that a reader is more interested in the animals than the people in the novel, you know there is a problem with the characters. I was not a fan of any of the main characters. I thought they were poorly developed. Some of this problem was the dialogue. It was very simplistic and made the characters seem more stereotypical. Instead of relating to KJ, I was annoyed and bored. She reminded me of the classic YA whiny female protagonist, with political issues substituted for the YA focus on supernatural elements. I never connected with Virgil either. His personality seemed to be constantly changing from nonchalant to passionate to funny to serious. I also thought the relationship between KJ and Virgil progressed way too quickly to seem realistic. She tells Vigil she thinks he is gay and a week later, they were kissing. That kind of thing does not happen. The character I did like was the father. I felt like I understood his relationship with KJ and I liked how it developed over the book.
To conclude, I really do think that the book is okay. It was interesting enough that I finished it. But I think it could have been much better with a great focus on the wolves, a more sophisticated writing style, and better character development.
will-not-finish
October 5, 2011I'm not giving this a rating because I did not--and will not--finish it. But I'm definitely including my reasons why. Here's the thing:
The beginning rocked. It started off as something potentially compelling. I even wrote down a few quotes, wanting to remember them. But I was more than half-way through the book when I realized that I just didn't care for it at all. The story felt contrived; all made up to fit around a big environmental message. I don't mind messages (and I donated to the save the wolves fund many times, so don't think I'm against the environment), but this was wasn't even trying to be subtle.
The message was loud and clear...unfortunately, the characters were not as loud. Their conversations were awkward, their jokes not funny at all, and their reactions to heated conversations and even public shootings (yep, you read right) were not normal at all. Even for a small town. Especially for a small town.
I had no idea what the main character's motivations were.
The love interest was a jerk half the time, and an over-adoring stalker-type the rest.
Needless to say, I couldn't finish despite how much I enjoyed it in the beginning.
The beginning rocked. It started off as something potentially compelling. I even wrote down a few quotes, wanting to remember them. But I was more than half-way through the book when I realized that I just didn't care for it at all. The story felt contrived; all made up to fit around a big environmental message. I don't mind messages (and I donated to the save the wolves fund many times, so don't think I'm against the environment), but this was wasn't even trying to be subtle.
The message was loud and clear...unfortunately, the characters were not as loud. Their conversations were awkward, their jokes not funny at all, and their reactions to heated conversations and even public shootings (yep, you read right) were not normal at all. Even for a small town. Especially for a small town.
I had no idea what the main character's motivations were.
The love interest was a jerk half the time, and an over-adoring stalker-type the rest.
Needless to say, I couldn't finish despite how much I enjoyed it in the beginning.
June 14, 2010
I thought this was a great first novel for this author. I found the dialogue to be too sitcom-ish at times, just too many ready replies. But I thought there was a complexity to the plot that was great for a first novel. I liked how there were a number of different focuses that played off each other and carried the story along. I have to say also though, that I've spent a lot of days in the Lamar Valley driving around looking for wolves and anything else and in all those visits combined never saw as much as they seemed to see every time they went out! Maybe I just need a two way radio tuned to the wolf people station.
January 6, 2017
This is going to have to be a DNF.
Between everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) treating everyone else like shit and the awkward way everything was presented, I have ceased to have the ability to deal.
Between everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) treating everyone else like shit and the awkward way everything was presented, I have ceased to have the ability to deal.
January 24, 2019
I set out expecting to love this book. Unfortunately, that's not what happened.
I adored the small town vibes. Since I am also from a small town, Chandler truly captures the essence of one with everyone knowing everyone else's business, waving to each other on the street, etc. Also being a farmer, I could definitely relate to the rancher's perspective of the wolves but also see the wildlife preservation POV. This book explores two sides of a major debate about wolves: should the wolves be allowed to stay in Yellowstone. Chandler makes the argument and readers get to see both sides clearly.
However, I wasn't expecting the book to be so heavy in the wolf debate. I was expecting much more boy drama than there was. And even though Chandler gets us deep in the discussion of protecting the wolves, the characters felt rather flat. The brief romance was also understated and rather strange. If I had read this book in high school, I think I would have liked it much better. Now, I didn't really connect to anyone-- and while the topic was interesting, it wasn't enough for me to really love the book.
I adored the small town vibes. Since I am also from a small town, Chandler truly captures the essence of one with everyone knowing everyone else's business, waving to each other on the street, etc. Also being a farmer, I could definitely relate to the rancher's perspective of the wolves but also see the wildlife preservation POV. This book explores two sides of a major debate about wolves: should the wolves be allowed to stay in Yellowstone. Chandler makes the argument and readers get to see both sides clearly.
However, I wasn't expecting the book to be so heavy in the wolf debate. I was expecting much more boy drama than there was. And even though Chandler gets us deep in the discussion of protecting the wolves, the characters felt rather flat. The brief romance was also understated and rather strange. If I had read this book in high school, I think I would have liked it much better. Now, I didn't really connect to anyone-- and while the topic was interesting, it wasn't enough for me to really love the book.
October 9, 2017
"Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me" by Kristen Chandler is not a book I would expect to be amusing. My friend actually recommended this book and at first I had second thoughts about it. As I read further and further into the chapters, I was engaging with the characters and the scenes as well. This book is about a girl named KJ who didn't care about her life and herself as much as she needed to. After meeting the new kid at school, Virgil, she starts to change by interacting and becoming more comfortable with the people surrounded by her. The book can get a bit deep sometimes but it was deep in a good way which really drawed my attention. Chandler did an excellent job with the descriptions of the wolves and the scenery outside Yellowstone National Park. I liked her style of writing and emotion she had between the characters. I could relate to some of the situations and overall I thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 1, 2021
This book is a great book that I enjoyed reading. It is about a teenage girl—KJ—who moves to a new town and discovers her new self. During the story KJ undergoes a change after a new boy named Virgil, whose mom is studying the controversial wolf packs in nearby Yellowstone Park, moves into town. The book is an adventure for both the readers and the characters as we learn about the wolves in the nearby park. I really enjoyed how the story was written, it was not just a typical love story. In the book you see how the environment can change the way people interact with others, and how your perspective of things can change. You can see this first hand with KJ and Virgil’s relationship and their many interactions with the wolves. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys teen dramas. This is a great book that is unlike any book I have ever read before.
did-not-finish
June 1, 2021The first couple chapters were really cringey and I don’t think I would have enjoyed this book if I stuck with it.
July 15, 2021
This was entertaining to read, but that's about it. The characters aren't well developed or likable. There was a hint of allegory between the main character and the Cinderella wolf, which I wish had more development. There were some good parts where the story came around full circle which was nice. Overall, I think I wanted the characters to be more developed.
September 18, 2011
I don't read a ton of contemporary YA fiction- a lot of times I want the escape that comes with paranormal and fantasy, but every once in a while I will scoop up something more realistic. The quickest way to get me to grab your book? Yellowstone. It's as easy as that. So this book, set just outside the park in Montana and focusing on the controversy that came with the reintroduction of wolves in 1997, was a no brainer. I've done reports on the subject and spent countless hours sitting on the hill in Lamar Valley watching the Druid Peak pack go about their lives. I've sat on a carcass (not really sat on- I've sat in pull offs and watched a carcass) in the hopes that I will glimpse a wolf or grizzly coming in for a meal. I've said it before, and will say it again I'm sure, Yellowstone, for me is home. So any chance to visit I'll take. I live a four DAYS drive away, so a lot of times that visit comes through a book or tv show. Needless to say I was excited to read this one. So how did it do as far as visits go?
Simply put, it was excellent. I could see everything KJ and Virgil saw and was totally invested in their journey as they tried to figure out who they are and what they believe in. KJ, a lifer in her small town has grown up with one point of view, that the wolves are both bad for business (as far as the ranchers are concerned) and good for tourism (as far as her fathers guide business is concerned), but she doesn't feel passionately one way or the other. Other people in town do though, they want the wolves gone, and fast. Virgil on the other hand, blows into town with his mother, who studies wolves for a living and is sqaurely on the opposing side. For her, and by extension Virgil, the wolves are a great thing. When Virgil and KJ and partnered up on a column for the school paper on the wolves they find themselves confronting their own beliefs, the beliefs of the town and trying to find a way for everyone to live together.
I'm going to talk for one quick minute about KJ's come to Jesus moments regarding the wolves. It was good, and for me it was also funny. Here's why. Shortly after the wolves were released from their reintroduction pens in the Lamar Valley my family visited the park (as we did every couple years). Of course we were hoping to catch a glimpse of the wolves. There is a road in valley that goes back to a trailhead, camping area and a nice spot to fish called Slough Creek. We were stopped in there scanning for animals when I looked behind me and saw, up on a huge boulder, a black wolf. I looked at him, he stared at me, and then he backed off away from the ledge and was gone. It was my first connection to the wolves and it really does change you. I had no opinion before that moment besides "it's cool", afterwards I was certain of why the reintroduction was good and why we now had to protect the wolves. KJ's moment seemed to mirror mine. Everything she saw and felt made absolute sense to me. It was pretty awesome.
One thing that I feel the need to mention is that I wonder if people who do not travel to Yellowstone and the area often feel lost in the descriptions of where Virgil and KJ go with Virgil's mom in the park. To me it's as familiar as walking through my house, but I worry that others might not visualize it as I do, and mabye additional descriptions of what the area looks like might help. I'd be interested to know what others thought if they are not at home in the park.
Overall though, this was a phenomenal book. Chandler nailed it as far as I'm concerned. Not only did she bring me back to Yellowstone, but she created believable characters who are dealing with an issue that happens all the time around the park. I thought it was all really well done.
Simply put, it was excellent. I could see everything KJ and Virgil saw and was totally invested in their journey as they tried to figure out who they are and what they believe in. KJ, a lifer in her small town has grown up with one point of view, that the wolves are both bad for business (as far as the ranchers are concerned) and good for tourism (as far as her fathers guide business is concerned), but she doesn't feel passionately one way or the other. Other people in town do though, they want the wolves gone, and fast. Virgil on the other hand, blows into town with his mother, who studies wolves for a living and is sqaurely on the opposing side. For her, and by extension Virgil, the wolves are a great thing. When Virgil and KJ and partnered up on a column for the school paper on the wolves they find themselves confronting their own beliefs, the beliefs of the town and trying to find a way for everyone to live together.
I'm going to talk for one quick minute about KJ's come to Jesus moments regarding the wolves. It was good, and for me it was also funny. Here's why. Shortly after the wolves were released from their reintroduction pens in the Lamar Valley my family visited the park (as we did every couple years). Of course we were hoping to catch a glimpse of the wolves. There is a road in valley that goes back to a trailhead, camping area and a nice spot to fish called Slough Creek. We were stopped in there scanning for animals when I looked behind me and saw, up on a huge boulder, a black wolf. I looked at him, he stared at me, and then he backed off away from the ledge and was gone. It was my first connection to the wolves and it really does change you. I had no opinion before that moment besides "it's cool", afterwards I was certain of why the reintroduction was good and why we now had to protect the wolves. KJ's moment seemed to mirror mine. Everything she saw and felt made absolute sense to me. It was pretty awesome.
One thing that I feel the need to mention is that I wonder if people who do not travel to Yellowstone and the area often feel lost in the descriptions of where Virgil and KJ go with Virgil's mom in the park. To me it's as familiar as walking through my house, but I worry that others might not visualize it as I do, and mabye additional descriptions of what the area looks like might help. I'd be interested to know what others thought if they are not at home in the park.
Overall though, this was a phenomenal book. Chandler nailed it as far as I'm concerned. Not only did she bring me back to Yellowstone, but she created believable characters who are dealing with an issue that happens all the time around the park. I thought it was all really well done.
July 8, 2014
K.J. Carson is drifting through life. Her mom was killed in a car crash when she was three and her father, a lawyer, switched careers, possibly in response to his loss. He's a fishing and hunting guide in West End, Montana, a town bordering Yellowstone National Park and runs a sporting goods store to help make ends meet during the slow times. He expects K.J. To help out, both in the store and as a grunt on wildlife viewing and fishing trips. He's on her case most of the time and he's unable to show her much affection or emotional support
There are 948 people in town, everyone knows everyone else and most of their business. K.J. has friends, but doesn't feel like she really fits in. When a new boy named Virgil appears on the opening day of school in the fall, she notices a couple of things about him. He has an accent she can't place and he's really good looking. When the two of them are paired on the school newspaper staff, they begin to hit it off. Virgil and his mother have come from Minnesota to study the wolf packs that have grown as a result of reintroduction of the species in the park. Virgil takes amazing photos, K.J. writes a column to accompany them. They think their effort is pretty innocuous until all hell breaks loose when ranchers and hunters begin blaming the wolves for the drop in the elk population and livestock lost on nearby ranches.
All K.J. and Virgil want is to complete their assignments, get to know each other and do some wolf watching with his mother, but the issue of whether the wolves are causing major problems takes on a life of its own and before the teens know it, they're at the center of a raging controversy that threatens to tear the town apart.
By the time the story concludes, there have been fires set, a person shot and a couple young people almost drown. Virgil and K.J. have to get very creative, not to mention brave in order to survive and keep a relationship alive that both of them realize is pretty special. This book was given to me by a friend whose daughter bought it and passed it on to her. I started reading it and couldn't stop. It's a great book about growing up when the people who should be guiding you have abdicated their responsibility. It also is a neat love story intertwined with an important environmental issue. The author does a dandy job of letting characters on both sides of the issue bring their opinions to life without getting preachy or showing bias. Teens who like stories with real life issues, drama and a neat teen romance will certainly like this book.
There are 948 people in town, everyone knows everyone else and most of their business. K.J. has friends, but doesn't feel like she really fits in. When a new boy named Virgil appears on the opening day of school in the fall, she notices a couple of things about him. He has an accent she can't place and he's really good looking. When the two of them are paired on the school newspaper staff, they begin to hit it off. Virgil and his mother have come from Minnesota to study the wolf packs that have grown as a result of reintroduction of the species in the park. Virgil takes amazing photos, K.J. writes a column to accompany them. They think their effort is pretty innocuous until all hell breaks loose when ranchers and hunters begin blaming the wolves for the drop in the elk population and livestock lost on nearby ranches.
All K.J. and Virgil want is to complete their assignments, get to know each other and do some wolf watching with his mother, but the issue of whether the wolves are causing major problems takes on a life of its own and before the teens know it, they're at the center of a raging controversy that threatens to tear the town apart.
By the time the story concludes, there have been fires set, a person shot and a couple young people almost drown. Virgil and K.J. have to get very creative, not to mention brave in order to survive and keep a relationship alive that both of them realize is pretty special. This book was given to me by a friend whose daughter bought it and passed it on to her. I started reading it and couldn't stop. It's a great book about growing up when the people who should be guiding you have abdicated their responsibility. It also is a neat love story intertwined with an important environmental issue. The author does a dandy job of letting characters on both sides of the issue bring their opinions to life without getting preachy or showing bias. Teens who like stories with real life issues, drama and a neat teen romance will certainly like this book.
June 3, 2010
When Karen told us her girlhood friend wrote this the title didn't interest me. But after reading the Salt Lake Tribune article this morning, I'm interested in this YA. http://www.sltrib.com/arts/ci_15072145
Maybe its the Yellowstone connection, or the Stegner epigrams, or the "scenes capturing the weather." Maybe its the wolves or another look at youth.
Hope to be at the Kings English Saturday afternoon to hear the author.
Met the author and bought her book for Karen who was a childhood friend of Kristen, even though she probably has a copy--authors should be supported, especially when there is a personal connection.
I was surprised how much I liked not only the story, but as Karen described the dialogue--"snappy and real." I just haven't found that in the few YA books I've read in the past several years. Some lines were truly "laugh aloud." There was no pushing of any view of teen age morality--they just were their evolving and remarkable selves. Kristen said she is looking to write a sequel. I'd be interested. It was nice to return to familiar places of Yellowstone and even the drive to Ennis.
I'm certainly not an editor, but unfortunately, there were so many missed two-letter word edits by Viking that I started to wonder--"Is this a device to reflect dyslexia?" Doesn't distract from the good writing and story--just unfortunate and embarrassing to the editor. I didn't think publishers did that much anymore.
Ha! I guess I own a copy until I give her slightly-used-personally-autographed copy to Karen in August. I hope others take an interest in this first novel.
Maybe its the Yellowstone connection, or the Stegner epigrams, or the "scenes capturing the weather." Maybe its the wolves or another look at youth.
Hope to be at the Kings English Saturday afternoon to hear the author.
Met the author and bought her book for Karen who was a childhood friend of Kristen, even though she probably has a copy--authors should be supported, especially when there is a personal connection.
I was surprised how much I liked not only the story, but as Karen described the dialogue--"snappy and real." I just haven't found that in the few YA books I've read in the past several years. Some lines were truly "laugh aloud." There was no pushing of any view of teen age morality--they just were their evolving and remarkable selves. Kristen said she is looking to write a sequel. I'd be interested. It was nice to return to familiar places of Yellowstone and even the drive to Ennis.
I'm certainly not an editor, but unfortunately, there were so many missed two-letter word edits by Viking that I started to wonder--"Is this a device to reflect dyslexia?" Doesn't distract from the good writing and story--just unfortunate and embarrassing to the editor. I didn't think publishers did that much anymore.
Ha! I guess I own a copy until I give her slightly-used-personally-autographed copy to Karen in August. I hope others take an interest in this first novel.
June 2, 2010
This is the best book I've read in a long time. By far the best book I've read so far this year. I recommend this book to everyone to read at least once. I know I'll probably pick it up again sometime and read it again because yeah, it was totally that good. I bought this one the day it came out because I've been waiting for it for a while and I like any stories about nature and wildlife.
KJ Carson lives with her dad and has a pretty outdoorsy life. She lives in what is practically the middle of nowhere, near Yellowstone park where she watches wolves. Then the new kid comes to town, Virgil, and here's a surprise: they get to know each other in some place other than biology class! They actually meet in journalism, where KJ suggests Virgil uses some of his photography of wildlife for the school paper, and somehow KJ gets sucked into the plan as the reporter.
The story doesn't center just around KJ and Virgil; I'd actually say the opposite. They're romance was just a back story, not really the main thing. The real plot was getting the wolves to stay in the Yellowstone park, so that people don't hunt and kill them, obliterating the species to zero. Which is actually a lot more entertaining than it sounds.
KJ Carson lives with her dad and has a pretty outdoorsy life. She lives in what is practically the middle of nowhere, near Yellowstone park where she watches wolves. Then the new kid comes to town, Virgil, and here's a surprise: they get to know each other in some place other than biology class! They actually meet in journalism, where KJ suggests Virgil uses some of his photography of wildlife for the school paper, and somehow KJ gets sucked into the plan as the reporter.
The story doesn't center just around KJ and Virgil; I'd actually say the opposite. They're romance was just a back story, not really the main thing. The real plot was getting the wolves to stay in the Yellowstone park, so that people don't hunt and kill them, obliterating the species to zero. Which is actually a lot more entertaining than it sounds.
August 29, 2011
I love good surprises and this book definately counts!
I bought this on a whim because it mentioned Yellowstone, which is a major obsession of mine. I figured (wrongly) that because it is YA book with a girl and a wolf on the cover it would be a melodramatic werewolf book about a girl from out of town or something. You know?
But I was totally wrong! This book was great! KJ, the heroine, lives in a slightly fictionalized version of West Yellowstone Montana and works in her father's fishing shop and as a fishing guide when the weather is good...which is rare. Its a small town so things are pretty boooring until, of course, we meet the new kid in town. (Yay!) Things hot up from there and even if you don't really care about wolves, the book is more about KJ's struggles with herself, her father, the town and new kid with some wolfy stuff thrown in for the geeks in the house.
What I loved about this the most was how it really did feel like a small town in that part of the world. The ranchers, the biologists, the kids, the horrible weather, the beauty of the park...it was all exactly right. I can't wait to get back there and this time I might even stop to look for some wolves.
I bought this on a whim because it mentioned Yellowstone, which is a major obsession of mine. I figured (wrongly) that because it is YA book with a girl and a wolf on the cover it would be a melodramatic werewolf book about a girl from out of town or something. You know?
But I was totally wrong! This book was great! KJ, the heroine, lives in a slightly fictionalized version of West Yellowstone Montana and works in her father's fishing shop and as a fishing guide when the weather is good...which is rare. Its a small town so things are pretty boooring until, of course, we meet the new kid in town. (Yay!) Things hot up from there and even if you don't really care about wolves, the book is more about KJ's struggles with herself, her father, the town and new kid with some wolfy stuff thrown in for the geeks in the house.
What I loved about this the most was how it really did feel like a small town in that part of the world. The ranchers, the biologists, the kids, the horrible weather, the beauty of the park...it was all exactly right. I can't wait to get back there and this time I might even stop to look for some wolves.
December 21, 2010
Liked it, didn't love it. I thought the heroine's dad ruined the story a bit. There was something wrong with him....
Anyways, very good story highlighting the controversies of the wolves in Yellowstone. It doesn't hold a candle to The Loop by Nicholas Evans, but as this is aimed at the younger crowd, I thought it did pretty well. It's the angry cow owning rednecks vs the hippy wolf loving tree huggers. LOL. (No offense to anyone. This is how they come across in the book.)
A school newspaper sorta opens a can of worms in town. Things get a bit out of hand, shots are fired, stores are vandalized. Meanwhile, the heroine, KJ has a crush on the new boy, but her dad is just weird about the whole boy and wolf thing. I really didn't like the man. He was always griping and pressuring her. KJ is also making some friends where she didn't expect to make them.
Loved the parts about the wolf "families" and Cinderella Wolf. Good read overall. I probably would've loved it more except for that dad.. Something off about his character.
Anyways, very good story highlighting the controversies of the wolves in Yellowstone. It doesn't hold a candle to The Loop by Nicholas Evans, but as this is aimed at the younger crowd, I thought it did pretty well. It's the angry cow owning rednecks vs the hippy wolf loving tree huggers. LOL. (No offense to anyone. This is how they come across in the book.)
A school newspaper sorta opens a can of worms in town. Things get a bit out of hand, shots are fired, stores are vandalized. Meanwhile, the heroine, KJ has a crush on the new boy, but her dad is just weird about the whole boy and wolf thing. I really didn't like the man. He was always griping and pressuring her. KJ is also making some friends where she didn't expect to make them.
Loved the parts about the wolf "families" and Cinderella Wolf. Good read overall. I probably would've loved it more except for that dad.. Something off about his character.
October 29, 2010
I LOVED this book. Loved, loved, LOVED. And I am not exactly sure why...it's more of a "quiet" book in a way, with complicated characters and problems. There's sadness, and hatred.
But the main characters really do a lot of growing and changing. They're not the same people at the end of the book as they were at the start, and it happens so skillfully that you don't even realize the gradual progress. I like the romantic relationship and I like the fact that this is a CLEAN book really, without a bunch of sex and profanity. I like the foregiveness and the quiet heroism.
My one and only beef with this book is--it had more typos than any book I've read in the last 5 years! I cannot understand where the proofreader was before this went to print. Almost a typo on every page, it seemed like, or at least several a chapter. That kind of thing bothers me, and I don't understand why a publisher would turn out a quality book and not fix things like this.
But the main characters really do a lot of growing and changing. They're not the same people at the end of the book as they were at the start, and it happens so skillfully that you don't even realize the gradual progress. I like the romantic relationship and I like the fact that this is a CLEAN book really, without a bunch of sex and profanity. I like the foregiveness and the quiet heroism.
My one and only beef with this book is--it had more typos than any book I've read in the last 5 years! I cannot understand where the proofreader was before this went to print. Almost a typo on every page, it seemed like, or at least several a chapter. That kind of thing bothers me, and I don't understand why a publisher would turn out a quality book and not fix things like this.
June 2, 2011
Great jacket art and design.
And the story is pretty good, too. A awkwardly clumsy, but ultimately likeable girl feels like an outcast in her small town. Think Bella from Twilight, but with more substance...and likeable. With LOADS of nonfiction info about wolves, it walked the line of sounding like a textbook but never actually crossed it. With the exception of a ridiculously melodramatic moment near the end, the book felt plausible.
My one beef with this book and the reason I bumped it from 4 stars to 3 was the unclear character motivation. More than once something would just sort of...happen. Like an episode of Glee, the characters seemed a tad fickle. Virgil was quiet and uninvolved one week, then super activist the next week, and running for the hills the following week. It was a fine story if taken at face value, but I like to know the whys behind a character.
And the story is pretty good, too. A awkwardly clumsy, but ultimately likeable girl feels like an outcast in her small town. Think Bella from Twilight, but with more substance...and likeable. With LOADS of nonfiction info about wolves, it walked the line of sounding like a textbook but never actually crossed it. With the exception of a ridiculously melodramatic moment near the end, the book felt plausible.
My one beef with this book and the reason I bumped it from 4 stars to 3 was the unclear character motivation. More than once something would just sort of...happen. Like an episode of Glee, the characters seemed a tad fickle. Virgil was quiet and uninvolved one week, then super activist the next week, and running for the hills the following week. It was a fine story if taken at face value, but I like to know the whys behind a character.
July 3, 2010
KJ is the daughter of a widowed Yellowstone guide. She lives in a small town where everyone remembers every embarrassing thing she's ever done...in her whole life. Changes are afoot though. KJ has "blossomed" over the summer and there's a new boy in town. Plus, with the reintroduction of wolves into the park, the town is dividing into pro- and anti-wolf.
To me this book is about friendship, first love, seeing all sides of a situation, being a creative and empathetic problem solver, and the difference that you can make to your family, friends, and the world, even if you're "only" a teenager. :)
To me this book is about friendship, first love, seeing all sides of a situation, being a creative and empathetic problem solver, and the difference that you can make to your family, friends, and the world, even if you're "only" a teenager. :)
February 6, 2011
While I overall enjoyed this book, it was obviously a first novel. I liked KJ's sense of humor, but a lot of her other emotions didn't quite ring true for me. It seems like she spent most of the novel mad at her crush for no apparent reason (he also seemed to not like her most of the time). I also couldn't understand her dad's reactions to her most of the time. At times he seemed like he was demanding to the point of wanting her to be perfect and at other times he didn't even know she existed. I think Kristen Chandler has the ability to be a good author, but she needs to work on her characterizations.
June 2, 2011
so... Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me..i think i was disappointed because i was soo excited to read it.
but i didn't even finish it. i DID NOT like the characters.
the father is an ass hole. the whole town is a bunch of Neanderthals. and the main characters is a really courageous kind of person, but SHE NEVER says anything to her dad! Not in what i read!
and i couldn't get over that.
GROW SOME LADY BALLS.
the whole time she's standing up to the crude people in the town, she never stands up to her dad...
BOO
but i didn't even finish it. i DID NOT like the characters.
the father is an ass hole. the whole town is a bunch of Neanderthals. and the main characters is a really courageous kind of person, but SHE NEVER says anything to her dad! Not in what i read!
and i couldn't get over that.
GROW SOME LADY BALLS.
the whole time she's standing up to the crude people in the town, she never stands up to her dad...
BOO
September 19, 2014
KJ was so fun to read about. Her personality was unique from the many other books I have read where the characters were in highschool. I looked forward to the tidbits that Kristen Chandler would leave at the end of each chapter. Jokes, recipes, poems. This book showed both sides of an issue and how you can "love" and understand someone that you "think" is your enemy. The love story between Virgil and KJ was also unique and fun to watch unfold as well as the changing relationship with her father, and her love of wolves.
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