The Wolf and Me

August 15, 2014
Fifteen-year-old Bunny is no stranger to trouble. In fact, most of his recent trouble can be traced back to his mysterious grandfather David McLean. Following McLean's death, each of his seven grandsons received a challenge. Bunny's was to get a tattoo (Ink Me, 2012). His ink linked him to a gang, and he quickly found himself on the wrong side of the law. Now on leave from his incarceration, Bunny wants nothing more than to spend time with his cousins and ice skate. However, Bunny's plans are once again sidelined by his grandfather's past. This time, he is taken hostage by a group of political radicals determined to bring their government to its knees. Bunny's learning disabilities can make academics challenging, but his unique way of viewing the world might just be the key to his freedom. Written in Bunny's own language, the narrative is filled with misspellings and misunderstandings, which can make comprehension challenging at times. However, Bunny's indomitable spirit makes him a likable, one-of-a-kind narrator. Unlike the other books in this linked series, Bunny's story is more adventure and less mystery. And while the chain of events at times seems unlikely, Bunny is enough to keep the pages turning. Readers will respond to this improbable, deeply sympathetic hero. (Mystery. 10-14)

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September 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-This unusual series features seven books that are connected but can stand alone as individual adventures. Building upon a plot line first laid out in the "Seven" series (Orca, 2012), each entry follows one of David McLean's seven grandsons as he embarks on a dangerous mission in a far flung locale, as per instructions in Grandpa McLean's oddball will. In From the Dead, Rennie is tasked with finding out if their dear grandfather was a Nazi supporter and sympathizer. In Double You, Adam discovers that Grandpa hid a loaded pistol and sets out to prove that the old man was not a traitorous spy. Bunny is kidnapped in The Wolf and Me, and his captors are fixated on what he might know about his deceased granddad. Coda features Spencer, Bunny's brother, on a race to save his sibling. Steve's vacation is nearly ruined when Grandpa McLean's legacy implicates him in an international spy ring. This thrill-a-minute series will hook reluctant readers as well as fans of James Bond and Jason Bourne. (Ed. note: Read the full review of Tin Soldier [the first book in this series], p. 140.)

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