There are books out there that don’t so much entertain the reader as hit the reader over the head. THE CHILDREN AND THE WOLVES is one of these books. Told in multiple perspectives, it’s the story of three troubled teens and the little girl that they’ve kidnapped.
Candlewick Press, February 2012.
Yes, you read that right. Teenage kidnappers. Most of the characters in this novel are middle school age.
And yet, you feel for these kids. You want them to grow, to do the right thing, to get what they want in life. You want Bounce to maybe not be a sociopath and to find a way to deal with her wealthy, neglectful parents. You want Orange to find a way to help his dad or at the very least help himself. And you want Wiggins to overcome his situation at home, stand up to his friends, and to let the little girl go. He takes care of her, he brings her food, lets her play her video game. But he knows it’s not right. Wiggins is the hero of this book as well as one of the villains. And with Adam Rapp‘s lyric style, his voice is so honest, so real. As are his cohorts. And, hauntingly, the voice of The Frog — as they’ve dubbed the little girl — is just as distinct.
THE CHILDREN AND THE WOLVES is a beautiful book about horrible things. It’s a story that maybe shouldn’t work, but Adam Rapp makes it happen. I hope you’re intrigued enough to check the book out for yourself.
