Old Wolf

Old Wolf by Avi, 146 pages

Nashoba is the leader of the wolf pack but a younger wolf has started challenging him for leadership.  Nashoba believes he can still lead but he is injured in the challenge.  It's winter and food is hard to come by.  When a raven, Merla, tries to help Nashoba find food, he isn't happy to accept her help but reluctantly agrees.  Casey is a boy who fascinated with bow hunting.  He plays a video game constantly.  He is just turning thirteen and hopes to get a bow for his birthday.  But Casey and Nashoba's worlds are about to collide and it could end up badly for one or both of them.  This book was realistic, except that we don't know how wolves actually communicate.  I didn't like it very much.  The whole book left me unsettled and I like my messages to be a little more subtle.  However it's well written and an elementary reluctant reader might like it for its length.