This Is Not a Werewolf Story

Gr 4–6—On a small island off the coast of Seattle, Raul attends an alternative boarding school and guards a precious secret. He shape-shifts into a wolf every weekend. His abilities have been unlocked by the magic of the woods, where an abandoned lighthouse serves as the apex of his power. When a threatening cougar shatters the isolated safety of the woods, Raul must hurry to unravel the mystery of his mother's past, the magic of the woods, and the identity of the predator. Told in Raul's voice, the mystery will quickly consume readers as the confused and increasingly anxious narrator navigates the normal social pressures of school while working to uncover the truth without involving untrustworthy teachers and friends. From the cruel gym teacher to the absentminded principal, the adult characters transcend mere cliché as their secrets reveal intense pasts and powers. This is ultimately a story of belonging, and readers will feel for Raul as he tries to find his place among peers and build himself a family. Heartfelt, enigmatic, and ethereal, Evans's excellent debut novel takes readers on a roller coaster of emotion and keeps them guessing the whole way through. Based in part on the 12th-century French work Bisclarvet, this is a modern story with a fairy-tale atmosphere.