Faelen is a wolf. But not like any other wolf. His wolf clan can’t understand why he doesn’t like running with the pack, or hunting prey large and small, let alone making friends with a skunk instead of eating her.

Ever since his mum died, Faelen has lived apart from his clan in a house he’s made from scraps of wood and other stuff he’s found. But it is way too much like a human house for the other wolves. He does have some friends, but even they have never been inside his home.

There is another wolf pack nearby, ruled by a vicious wolf named Varg. He has always been angry at a boundary between them, thinking that his pack has the worst hunting grounds. He’s keen to take more but has been beaten before by the cleverness of Faelen’s wolf pack leader Bardolph Lupus.

But Bardolph is now old and sick and his daughter Tala is worried for her father and their pack. Her brother however, is eagerly waiting to take his father’s place as leader. He has vowed the first thing he will do is rid them of Faelen and his strange ways.

Gentle Faelen is worried for his skunk friend Flora and himself, not only because of Weylin’s threats. Tala has told him something disturbing about his father, and it has Faelen’s heart racing. He thought his father was long gone, but he just might be closer than he could’ve imagined.

When Tala asks him to go on a dangerous mission, he is torn between safety or finding out more about his past. Can he finally be the wolf his pack wants him to be?

Odd Wolf Out is the first in a series, and also the first middle-grade novel by award winning NZ picture book author-illustrator Juliette MacIver.

Main character Faelen is easy to love with his kindness for others smaller than himself, even at the cost of being excluded from much of his wolf pack’s daily lives. This peace-loving, tea drinking and harp playing wolf’s differences are accepted by few as others avoid him all together. He faces bullies and name calling and just  tries to fit in. 

This scenario is easily relatable to many in schools and playgrounds, even as we encourage children to be their true selves. 

Odd Wolf Out has many characters to wrangle, but the more you read the more you get to know Faelen’s pack. There is the bully and his two henchmen (wolves). There is a brave and wise wolf who is not destined to be leader but should be, and my favourite is a skunk called Flora who has an incredibly funny way of speaking.

Action, intrigue, danger and humour definitely make this series one to follow. Perfect for readers ready to move onto from junior novels to middle-grade/tween. Book 2 is out in October 23.

Author – Juliette MacIver

Illustrator – Chapter headings / Cover Illustration – Kieran Rynhart

Age – 7+

Teacher’s Notes Here

More books by Juliette MacIver:

Winner of the Picture Book Award – 2023 NZ Children’s & Young Adults Book Awards (Click on the Cover to learn more)

Read a review of this picture book by Juliette MacIver (Click on the Cover)

(2023, Scholastic NZ, Series, NZ, Aotearoa, New Zealand Author, NZ Illustrator, Animals, Action, Friendship, Bullies, Secret, Family, Adventure, Action, Humour, Skunk, Wolf Pack, Wolves, Howling at the moon, Chickens, Bravery, Kindness, True self, Differences)