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secre's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wolf By Wolf is a strong YA alternate history with a focus on the characters rather than the history. Graudin takes the 'what if' of the Allies losing World War II and Hitler having taken over most of the world. He fills it with enough detail to be plausible and reasonable, without dwelling too much on the 'hows' and 'whys' of the historical campaign. And he adds a slight science fiction note, with their genetic experimentation yielding unforeseen results in Yael, who can shift her features to resemble any other human.
The novel follows two threads; one the present where Yael is a member of a resistance group determined to bring down the Fuhrer's rule through assassination in the most public and splashy fashion, and the other the past where Yael is herded through a concentration camp as a child, part of the obscene experiments done on individuals of all ages and races. This is a novel full of action and intrigue as Yael takes on the biggest challenge of her life so far; masquerading as a known race competitor to win the annual race and have her one and only chance to get close to the Fuhrer. It's also a novel of subtelty and reflection; Yael wears many faces, yet has to come to terms with finding her own identity.
It's a book that doesn't pull it's punches, yet equally doesn't fall into the trap of too vividly imagining the horrors, making it suitable for young adults as well as older readers. The cross country bike race is the main mission, with Yael taking the place of Adele Wolfe. It's full of twists and turns as youngsters from across the world compete in what can be a deadly competition, spanning thousands of miles and multiple countries. Graudin builds the tension throughout as the competitors are challenged by the terrain and by less conventional issues. He balances this with Yael's backstory well, making it both an exciting and heart-breaking experience to read.
I finished it and instantly picked up the second novel in the series. That's how good it is.
The novel follows two threads; one the present where Yael is a member of a resistance group determined to bring down the Fuhrer's rule through assassination in the most public and splashy fashion, and the other the past where Yael is herded through a concentration camp as a child, part of the obscene experiments done on individuals of all ages and races. This is a novel full of action and intrigue as Yael takes on the biggest challenge of her life so far; masquerading as a known race competitor to win the annual race and have her one and only chance to get close to the Fuhrer. It's also a novel of subtelty and reflection; Yael wears many faces, yet has to come to terms with finding her own identity.
It's a book that doesn't pull it's punches, yet equally doesn't fall into the trap of too vividly imagining the horrors, making it suitable for young adults as well as older readers. The cross country bike race is the main mission, with Yael taking the place of Adele Wolfe. It's full of twists and turns as youngsters from across the world compete in what can be a deadly competition, spanning thousands of miles and multiple countries. Graudin builds the tension throughout as the competitors are challenged by the terrain and by less conventional issues. He balances this with Yael's backstory well, making it both an exciting and heart-breaking experience to read.
I finished it and instantly picked up the second novel in the series. That's how good it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Death, Slavery, and Forced institutionalization
cj13's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Antisemitism, Child death, Classism, Death, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Medical content, Racism, Sexism, and Violence
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