by Sarah Adams
First published 2014
At a zoo, a child locks eyes with an old wolf who has lost one eye. They stare at each other in silent communication. The wolf's remaining eye reveals his entire history. He once lived wild in Alaska before humans threatened his species with extinction. The child's eyes tell a different story. This young African has traveled across the entire continent simply to stay alive. During his journey, he discovered a special gift. He can tell stories that make people laugh and dream. Two beings from different worlds meet through the bars of a cage. Each carries memories of survival and loss. The wolf remembers the frozen wilderness he called home. The child remembers the long roads that brought him to safety. Their wordless exchange becomes something deeper than conversation.
Genres: fiction, animals, adventure, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, silent-communication
Setting: Alaska, Africa
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
114 pages · Paperback · Pearson