Hear the Wolves by Victoria Scott Pages: 240
Published by Scholastic Press on March 28, 2017
Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, contemporary
Source: Paperback ARC from Publisher
It’s survival of the strongest in a contemporary, girl-versus-wild middle-grade debut from Fire & Flood author Victoria Scott!
Sloan is a hunter.So she shouldn’t be afraid of anything. But ever since her mom left the family and she lost hearing in one ear in a blizzard, it’s been hard to talk to people, and near-impossible to go anywhere or do anything without her dad or big sister within eyesight — it makes her too scared to be on her own.
When they leave her home alone for what should only be two nights, she’s already panicked. Then the snow starts falling and doesn’t stop. One of her neighbors is hurt in an accident. And the few people still left in Rusic need to make it to the river and the boat that’s tied there — their only way to get to a doctor from their isolated Alaska town.
But the woods are icy cold, and the wolves are hungry. Sloan and her group are running out of food, out of energy, and out of time. That’s when the wolves start hunting them . . .
Hear the Wolves is a middle grad/young adult crossover by Victoria Scott. I have read each and every one of Victoria’s books and I have loved them all. Hear the Wolves is so different than all of her previous books. I loved this one too, but I think what I loved most about it was how different it was. Victoria has a way with words. I love how she tells a story, whether it is a romance, a paranormal or something totally creepy and eerily realistic, she pulls the reader in, in a way few authors have managed to consistently do. I just love her books.
Sloan, her father, and her sister live in a tiny and remote Alaskan town. Think one step ahead of those Alaskan bush people. There is a town and store, but just barely. And the wolves outnumber the people in the town. By a lot. Sloan suffered a terrible accident when she was younger and it has left deep emotional scars. She is terrified to do anything alone. So when a storm hits and her father and sister are out of town, she panics a bit. But what I liked most about Sloan is that even through her fierce fear, she manages to stand up and take charge. She is just a young teenager and she rally’s a group of people to try and help an injured woman. This leads them on a journey outside in the storm, where the wolves are.
The story was just so cool. Fast paced and creepy as heck, I will not look at wolves the same way. I mean, I had a healthy appreciation and fear of them before but I am certainly not going to be hanging out with anytime soon. (Also, if you are reading Hear the Wolves, you have to check out Victoria’s story at the back because I loved hearing about her visiting the wolves sanctuary and how her experience shaped this novel.) Victoria holds no punches with this story. Don’t get too attached to any of the characters because the wolves…they are a hunting. But it was a read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Since the main character is young, this is a middle grade novel, but I can easily see fans of young adult loving this one.
Bottom line: Victoria Scott is one of my favorite authors. She always writes stories that captivate me from beginning to end. If you are a fan of survival stories, you will love Hear the Wolves. If you are a fan of Alaska reality shows, you will love this book. I found this to be a thrilling read. One I am recommending to fans of middle grade and young adult alike.
Hear the Wolves by @AuthorVScott is a fantastic read. See why! @BookBriefs #Review & #Giveaway @Scholastic Click To Tweet
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Tour Schedule:
Week One:
3/20/2017- YA Books Central– Interview
3/21/2017- Just Commonly– Review
3/22/2017- Falling For YA– Guest Post
3/23/2017- MEREADALOT– Review
3/24/2017- BookHounds YA– Interview
Week Two:
3/27/2017- A Backwards Story– Review
3/28/2017- A Gingerly Review– Excerpt
3/29/2017- Book Briefs– Review
3/30/2017- Mundie Moms– Interview
3/31/2017- Library of a Book Witch– Review
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Alyssa
This sounds fantastic! I love reading stories where characters are pushed to find their own strength. Definitely going to pick this one up at some point. Thanks for sharing your review and for giving us a chance to win!
Victoria
Thanks for sharing your review, I read the blurb and was definitely interested in checking this one out. 🙂
Margaret Appel
Victoria Scott is a new author to me but not anymore! Hear the Wolves sounds like a great read, if not a bit scary. As so often is the case, when the chips are down, one steps up irregardless of the cost to themselves. I love wolves, but I would not be hanging out with them either. Looking forward to this book, Thanks for reviewing!
Rhi
This sounds really interesting. Your review has placed this on my tbr list. thanks!
Darlene Owen
All my love Victoria, pick me, pick me.
Dan Denman
Sloan sounds like such a good character. I want to read her story.