Book one in the Chronicles of the Yellowstone Wolves Series tells of Wolf 8 and his rise from a diminutive pup to alpha wolf during Yellowstone National Park’s Wolf Reintroduction Project. Biologist and wolf expert McIntyre, with award-winning co-author Poulsen, presents his observations and research as wolf interpreter during the time of the project in a condensed narrative nonfiction version for younger readers. Wolf 8’s life is the conduit for sharing information about wolves’ attributes and behaviours, pack and family social structure, communication, relationships between wolves and other animals, and means of adaptation and survival. Unique personalities of wolves are revealed through descriptions of play, parenting, and conflict.

Additional facts about Yellowstone National Park, other wolves, and various animals that shared the park with Wolf 8, are inserted into the main text, distinguished by inset, bold font. This new series by McIntyre is reflective of his award-winning narrative nonfiction series for adults, Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone.

Cautions / Content Warnings: Some explicit description of wolves’ methods of hunting and killing prey and fights between wolves
Other End Matter: Acknowledgements
Images: None
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Evaluator: Jennifer W., Literacy Educator And Administrator, BC Books for Schools

Rick McIntyre has spent more than forty-four years watching wolves in America’s national parks, twenty-eight of those years in Yellowstone, and has written several books about the wolves for adult readers. To learn more visit rickmcintyrebooks.com.

Rick McIntyre's profile page

David A. Poulsen has been a broadcaster, teacher, professional cowboy, football coach, stage and film actor and—most of all—writer. His writing career began in earnest when his story The Welcomin’ won the 1984 Alberta Culture Short Story Competition. Now the author of 27 books, many for middle readers and young adults, David spends 60 to 80 days a year in classrooms and libraries across Canada (and beyond) as a visiting author/presenter. The UBC Creative Writing alumnus and former Writer in Residence at the Saskatoon Public Library recently made his inaugural foray into the world of adult crime fiction with Serpents Rising, the best-selling first book in the Cullen and Cobb Mystery series. There are now four titles in the series and the fourth—None So Deadly—hit bookstores in the spring of 2019. The Man Called Teacher, coming in 2019, is his first adult western. David lives on a small ranch in Alberta’s foothills where he and his wife Barb raise and train running-bred quarter horses for barrel racing competitions.

David A. Poulsen's profile page

"The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8 is the gripping and true story of a small and scrappy young wolf who became the patriarch of the most powerful pack in Yellowstone National Park. … An inspiring read for any child who loves the natural world."
—Rosanne Parry, New York Times Bestselling Author of A Wolf Called Wander

“Harrowing and heartwarming…. narrated in approachable, engrossing prose and interspersed with first-person reminiscences, offers an in-depth look into the life of one of Yellowstone's most famous wolves…..educates readers on the dangers wolves face, but they also tell an underdog story, setting out to prove that 'even the smallest individual can be a big hero.'"
—Cade Williams, Shelf Awareness

“Lets readers see inside the animals’ minds and feel their experiences.”
—Youth Services Book Review

“Readers will feel as if they’re watching the games, hunts and other incidents from within the pack….Notable."
—Kirkus

“The first in an exciting new series….insightful and moving.”
—Booklist STARRED Review