Wolf Journal

Wolf journal is a fantastic book for all ages. Brian Connolly really put his heart and his love of wolves into this novel. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Connolly kept me going with emotional hights and lows with my smiles and tears. I highly recommend getting this book - even the cover photo makes this good enough to be a coffee table book. We so hope there will be another book by Mr. Connolly.

Whether you are just learning about wolves or a devoted follower, I predict you will greatly enjoy Wolf Journal. The author's first novel serves both as an accurate and fascinating primer on the traits and rituals of this magnificent creature, and also as a captivating and moving story of a young boy's reverence and emotional bonding with the beautiful mates he names Romeo and Juliet. Set in the Pennsylvania hills, Mr. Connolly incorporates references to the area surrounding Port Allegany, where he spent his youth and clearly developed a love for the mountains and the many legends that echo through the valleys. Given an English assignment to keep a weekly journal on a subject of personal fascination, ninth-grader Jimmy naturally quickly settles on wolves. He has already spent a great deal of time researching the habits of wolves, supplemented by the knowledge and lore of his good friend Hawk, a Susquehannock Indian. I picked this book up and did not set it down until I reached the end, many tears later. I have passed the great divide of middle age, and found the story gripping. I am convinced that Wolf Journal would have similar impact on readers from 5th grade up. There is enough school interaction and coming-of-age content to hook the younger readers and teenagers, and plenty of action, suspense, adventure, legend, information and powerful emotion to grab the rest of us. Many years ago I read Farley Mowat's Never Cry Wolf and came away fascinated and very respectful of this noble animal. Time and distraction caused me to neglect my interest in the subject. Wolf Journal has rekindled the passion and led me to explore further current threats to wolves in the United States, and to ponder my personal responsibility to become involved and speak in their defense. (If you wish to pursue more about wolves, the book includes reference to numerous excellent sources for further information.) Whether you choose to become active or not, I believe you will very much enjoy this book!