Children of the Wolf

by Jane Yolen

Two young girls who have been raised by wolves are brought to Mohandas's orphanage, and Mohandas tries to teach them the ways of humans. By the author of The Devil's Arithmetic. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Todd Strader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read. Jane Yolen relates the events of a true life story through the mind and heart of a boy who was not, but might have been,a part of it. In Children of the Wolf we meet a child becoming a man who's only care seems to a preoccupation with himself, a girl, motivated by jealousy, who encapsulates the cruelty for which we are all capable, Mr. Wells, the missionary, who while knowledgeable and well intention-ed is more focused on the usefulness of souls in garnering attention and funding than on truly knowing them and then there is the narrator, the a fore mentioned young boy, the voice of reason and heart who, in living this tale, finds his voice.

The book is well paced with short chapters. I could not put it down. The language is laced with a deep knowledge of turn of the century India (not this last one, the one prior)that absolutely places you in place and time with out being obtrusive. The story is engrossing and the characters well developed and engaging. In addition to those already mentioned, there are, of course, the two girls, the children of the wolf, from the title. Yolen does not hold back. Her descriptions are gritty and authentic. Their ordeal evokes hope and sorrow. I wish this were a heart warming tale but it cannot be. It is, after all, based on a real episode that simply does not end well. It is more heart rending than heart warming and, in as much, it is very trans-formative for our young narrator.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

rating: 3.5 stars

Tales of children raised under harsh and unusual circumstances are always headline news, and I invariably read the articles. I'm intrigued by the nature-nurture debates, and these stories portray the most extreme environmental conditions possible.

Yolan explains that two girls living in a wolf's den were reportedly 'captured' by Rev. Singh, an Indian missionary in 1920. This served as the basis for the book. In captivity, the girls are ridiculed, tormented, and feared (which I suspect would have been true). Yolan describes how the girls may have been 'tamed,' and we learn that they were considered 'slow.'

I hope young readers will do a little research so they realize that after extreme deprivation, a child may never be able to catch up developmentally.

[Kieran Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first truly amazing book I've read since moving. An account of 2 children in India who were raised by wolves, and based on a true story. The way they express their emotions, and the way they evolved into a slightly different-than-human shape, seems to challenge the way we think about how humanly we act, and how people change and think. It speaks of deeper human nature and really pulls at your emotion. I wish this was a movie.

[Emma P · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good, it kept getting suspicious because it started with 2, then went to 1, and then it got interesting. It really hits you at the end when you realize what of the story is true. Some of it was really odd, but real. It was a good book.

[Adia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up this book to read it, I hadn't been sure what to expect. Much to my surprise, it is a very good, quick little read, and I found myself hopeful for the main character, Mohandas, more than once.

I also loved Jane Yolen's writing skill. Her sentences were often short and to the point, something I found to be very impactful. I'm glad I took the time to read her story about the wolf-girls.

[Moonshadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read about this when I was a kid in a Smithsonian magazine. I wished I had saved it because I was fascinated and continuously read and reread the
story. This is Yolen’s account of that very article.

I would recommend this book for adults as well as children.

[Cheryl]

Hope it has illustrations, at least cover, by Charles Mikolaycak.

[David Macpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smart, sad fictionalized retelling of the wolf girls of India. It is well written, of course. It does a nice job displaying the issues of civilization and colonolization.

[Deborah Canaday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, I could not put the book down. The characters drew me into their world from the first page to the last.

[Althea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hammer. Well written interesting story of 2 children raised by wolves, then taken in by a missionary and his orphans. Read in Santa Fe the night before the wedding.

[Mel Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is based VERY loosely on a true account of girls discovered with wolves in India in 1920. Yolen explores the many issues such children might have encountered in trying to adjust to human society, and along the way satirizes Christian missions and colonial British social, linguistic, and even racial attitudes. Yolen has a knack for developing characters in all their irrational human reality. This book is recommended by Puffin for age 12 and up, and I agree that it is not appropriate for younger audiences. Yolen's choice to create a fictional male teen to be the girls' only real advocate heightens the sexual tension of the story, though there are no graphic events. Yolen's biting critique of the missionaries' motives and priorities and the Lamarckain description of the girls'--"wolf-vision," "elongated canines," elongated noses, etc, as well as the death scene of one of the girls all seem to be building a theme that these girls are neither human nor animal. A thought-provoking read, despite the fact that I disagree with some of her narrative implications.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

gr 4-6 ? 133 pgs


1920s, India. When two young girls are discovered living with wolves, they are taken in by a Christian minister who runs an orphanage. Unlike the other orphans, 14 year old Mohandas is not afraid of them and is determined to help them. But that proves to be a difficult task. The girls remember nothing of their lives before living with wolves and are unable to speak. Mohandas is sure he can teach them, but he wonders if one day they really will be able to tell everyone about their lives in the jungle as the minister insists they will.

Loosely based on a true story.

[Clynton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story that has a post-modern feel towards the end, of what makes up truth and reality. I liked the struggle that Mohandas has with trying to come to grasps of what he feels. Content is mild, with a little violence.

[Rosalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story that has a whole other ending that I expected; and, I see that it was based on some actual stories.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on true events.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite unusual.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing! It made number 3 on my Top Ten.

[Elise Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It needs more action of the kids and what they are doing.