First published 1992
Robbie Trent discovers an abandoned wolf cub in the dense Wisconsin forests near his family's home. Against his parents' warnings about the dangers of wild animals, he decides to raise the young wolf himself. Robbie names his new companion and begins the challenging work of caring for a creature torn between domestic life and its wild instincts. As the wolf grows larger and stronger, neighbors grow increasingly worried about having a predator living among them. The bond between boy and wolf deepens even as the community pressure mounts. Robbie must wrestle with an impossible choice between his love for his four-legged friend and the safety concerns of those around him. The story explores the complex relationship between humans and wild creatures, and the painful reality that love sometimes means letting go.
Genres: animals, 20th-century, adventure, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, man-vs-nature
Setting: Wisconsin
Period: 20th-century
223 pages · Hardcover · E.P. Dutton & Co.