Waer

Gr 9 Up—This believable fantasy/adventure has a great setting with a strong female character readers will love. Lowell has taken his little brother Kemp out to frolic in the family's sheep pastures, helping him get comfortable changing into waer. The first few times transforming into a werewolf are more difficult and painful, and someone needs to be sure the new little wolf can control himself and not eat the family's sheep or the village's flocks. Kemp and Lowell smell blood, waer blood, and lots of it. They find a wounded foreigner and bring her home to heal. Lycaea awakens in a strange place, remembering the dive into the river far below that brought her here, damaged and bloody. Thus begins an epic quest with Lowell and Lycaea trying to reach a city where friends and help can be found. The story is told from different characters' points of view, and readers will appreciate that the chapter headings make it clear which character is narrating. Teens will enjoy the adept prose and dialogue, and the plot twists and turns will keep them absorbed. The blurred lines between good and evil will draw young people in as the book weaves its way to a stunning conclusion.