Stonewolf

Stonewolf: At the Orphanage, all Nicholas ever knew was fear, silence, and hunger. He lay in wait in the bone-rattling cold, trembling, wanting nothing but to avoid Matron and the daily beatings. Nicholas didn't know how long he'd been there, how old he was when he came, or even where he had come from. Nobody spoke his language. One day a stranger named Ranik arrives to whisk him away to a secluded castle. But Nicholas quickly learns that he can't trust his new captors any more than the people at the Orphanage. He is a prisoner and is being kept for a purpose: to unlock secrets buried in his mind. Only years later, with the arrival of a prickly and unusual girl named Larka, do Nicholas's memories start to resurface, and he begins to discover the secrets of his captors, secrets darker than he could have ever imagined. Now, nothing but escape will save him and a legacy he never knew he had. But will the two ophans be able to make it to safety before it's too late? Rated for ages 10 & up.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Nicholas is whisked away from the miserable orphanage to a castle where he is poked, prodded, and carefully observed by men belonging to an organization called "The Synod." Despite the luxury of grand surroundings, he is clueless about his reason for being there and suspicious of his new guardians. Finding refuge in the castle gardens, he teaches himself to read by sneaking children's books from the library. Pretending not to understand their language, Nicholas learns that the Synod plans to pick his brain for repressed memories of his parents' secret experiment formula. Recollections about a dog named "Wuffy" seem useless to his exploitive wardens and they bring in a spiky-haired runaway, Larka, to befriend and snitch on Nicholas. He becomes fond of her despite her deception and suspects they are both destined for disposal. The duo escape across the moat into the surrounding hills and a helicopter chase ensues. The action is fast paced and becomes even more suspenseful when Nicholas discovers the secret formula is in his backpack, hidden in an illustration of a stonewolf in a coveted children's book. Nicholas and Larka's wilderness-survival adventure is realistically portrayed and more developed than the convenient rescue and unsatisfying ending. The secret formula and the Synods are never explained and the protagonists' future is unresolved. The book has a great start and interesting characters, but it falls apart at the end.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. If Seabrooke's intriguing story were the first in a series, there would be much to like. Fourteen-year-old Nicholas is an appealing character with a bizarre history; the villains have truly evil intentions; the tension mounts steadily; and the fast-paced story unfolds neatly. And then, abruptly, it just ends. There's no indication that a sequel is forthcoming, and that's too bad because readers accustomed to satisfyingly resolved stories from Seabrooke will feel cheated. Too many questions are left unanswered, and the sketchy hints provided will drive some readers nuts: What really happened to Nicholas' parents? Why was English-speaking Nicholas dumped in a foreign orphanage? What kind of organization is the Synod? What's so important about the formula that Nicholas has been kept prisoner for seven years? And that's only for starters! Aaaargh! Kids will enjoy much of what's here, though, and Seabrooke's popularity will attract an audience. For large collections. Chris ShermanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Brenda Seabrooke's most recent book, Cemetery Street (Holiday House), was a nominee for the Edgar Award and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Award for best young adult book. She lives on an island in Englewood, Florida. Visit her website at www.childrensbookguild.org/seabrooke.htm.

Reviews

News