Product Description

Things have been strange for Jamie Park since the death of his mother a few months ago. He doesn’t fit in at school, and it is difficult to talk to his father, a well-known Korean scientist. Now things are getting stranger: His aunt Louise has written him a letter. The trouble is, he never knew he had an aunt, let alone an aunt Louise. But when she shows up at the door and invites him to leave Seattle and spend the summer with her, he impulsively accepts.

Her isolated cabin, somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, lacks both electricity and running water. But Jamie soon learns to appreciate the near-wild existence he shares with his unusual aunt. He spends his mornings gathering food and chopping wood and his afternoons running. His happy routine is disturbed, however, by the unexpected arrival of two strangers, the shadowy presence of wolves, and the disappearance of Louise. A finely carved bone flute that she has taught him to play seems to be the key to these strange occurrences. Gradually he realizes that there is a purpose to his visit, and as he exposes the truth, Jamie risks his own safety and faces a life-transforming decision.

In an extraordinary debut novel, Catherine Creedon skillfully blends a touching coming-of-age story with the wonders of a natural world filled with inexplicable mystery.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1200060 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-28
• Released on: 2005-06-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Jamie, a 14-year-old rock hound and cross-country runner, remains clueless for three-fourths of this generally pleasing book, despite the presence of many clues that he is part of an extended family of shape-changers that transform to and from wolves in response to tunes played on ancient stone flutes. Bothered by the apparent ease with which his widowed Korean-American professor father agrees to have him stay with his mysterious "Aunt Louise" for the summer at her primitive mountainside cabin somewhere north of Seattle, the teen nevertheless learns to enjoy many aspects of her back-to-basics lifestyle. She's an odd one, answering few questions until Jamie forces the issue to find out more about his Uncle Ji-Min and Cicely, Louise's goddaughter who, though the same age as Jamie, has spent more time with the pack than with people. There are minor errors of fact about log splitting, bees, breaking car windows, and cross-country, but the details of Louise's rural homestead and Jamie's gradual realization of his part in the strained relationships among the adults are well integrated and interestingly portrayed. The climactic confrontation between Jamie's father and uncle, whose views of the boy's future differ significantly, provides a satisfying and somewhat open-ended resolution. Recommend this to readers who appreciate T. A. Barron's The Ancient One (Philomel, 1992) and the mix of human interest and ecological elements in the works of Jean Craighead George and Madeleine L'Engle.
Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Junior High School, Iowa City, IA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-8. Since his mother's death and his father's withdrawal, 14-year-old Jamie Park has found solace as a runner, often experiencing an eerie sense of wolves nipping at his ankles as he runs. When a letter arrives from a stranger who calls herself Aunt Louise, Jamie's dad encourages him to head to Washington State to spend time in the wilds with the mysterious woman. There Jamie discovers some shocking secrets about Louise, his parents, and even himself. Although for the most part the plot is straightforward and realistic, occasional odd clues hint that the story's conflict will be resolved by something bizarre and supernatural. And, indeed, Creedon's meld of music, philosophy, science, and ancient lore will satisfy readers willing to stretch their imaginations. Intriguing and well written, if occasionally weird, this will draw readers looking for fiction on the fringe of fantasy. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Catherine Creedon is a storyteller, archivist, librarian, and award-winning essayist. She has worked in a prison library, museum library, a bookmobile, a library shaped like a castle, and another that looked like a ship. She grew up in Minnesota, and now lives on the eastern end of Long Island with her husband, Scott Sandell, and their two sons. Blue Wolf, part one in a trilogy of fantasy novels for children, is her first book.

Customer Reviews

Ms. Creedon- Sandell's first book.
Amazing book.....and about the lovliest author you can find...she was my school librarian in 7th grade and i got to read and edit the book sometimes. The suspense is perfect and the predictibality (is that a word?) is at the right level. You don't know whats gonna happen next, but she doesnt confuse you with too many surprises. great, cant wait to read the next two in the trilogy!

Be sure to read BLUE WOLF.
Life has been difficult for Jamie Park since his mother died. While he finds some level of comfort running on his track team, the absence of his workaholic scientist father only makes life more complicated. Then one day Aunt Louise, a relative whom Jamie has never heard of, invites him to spend the entire summer with her in her isolated mountain home in the Pacific Northwest. Jamie accepts the offer, and his adventure of a lifetime officially begins.

Upon his arrival, he quickly finds out that life is going to be quite different. Louise's dwelling place is a one-room cabin with no plumbing or electricity. Despite this, Jamie excitedly listens to his aunt's nature and survival lessons. A number of peculiar events soon transpire, causing Jamie to be conscientious of an alliance he feels with a neighboring wolf pack. He then learns the truth behind the visit and a major secret about his family. Will Jamie return home, or will he stay with his aunt?

If I were Jamie, I would have decided to come home because I would have missed my family and friends. If you enjoy reading books with animals and a plot containing elements of mystery, be sure to read BLUE WOLF to find out what happens to Jamie and his family.

--- Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub

Best Blue Wolf
The newest great book is blue wolf. It is an interesting story of magic and mystery. This may be one of Catherine Creedon's best books yet.

By Jake