What is Raised by Wolves about?
12 year old Olive and her 19 year brother Ben (training to be a police officer), pursue their father who has been on the run from police for five years.
After he appears outside her school, Olive is keen to tell her father what he did to them when he stole thousands of dollars, then fled his family and his crime. Olive won’t give up on her chance to also ask questions that have never gone away.
Plot summary of Raised by Wolves (No Spoilers)
When Olive sees her father outside her school, she can hardly believe it. She hasn’t seen him for 5 years, since she was 7 years old.
Her father pulled his wife and children into a crime, then fled and has been on the run ever since. Olive’s trust in others has been severely damaged since, and her need to know why he did it and did he ever love her at all, still burns hotly inside. She decides she wants and needs answers.
She follows him, then makes a terrible decision that pulls her and her brother back into her father’s destructive orbit.
Olive is tough for a 12 year old, and refuses to give in despite knowing there will be even more fallout in their lives.
My thoughts
Tristan Bancks books are always a cracking good read and Raised By Wolves is no different. The sequel to Two Wolves (2014), this novel is a solid stand alone and is full of action, emotion and danger.
With each chapter heading there is also a time of day, pulling readers even further into the narrative.
While reading, part of me thought, Leave it, let him go. But another part thought, GET HIM! Olive’s emotional journey is a real one as her confusion about her father’s actions throughout her life need answers.
Great read!
Main Characters
Olive – 12 years old. Self sufficient and feisty. Finds it hard to trust anyone besides her mum and big brother. No friends at school. Is full of hurt and anger and grabs her opportunity to get the truth from her father.
Ben – 19 years old. After wanting to be a police officer since young, has nearly achieved his dream. But Olive has always come first, and he leaves his police academy in a heartbeat when he knows Olive is in trouble. He doesn’t agree with a lot of Olive’s decisions, but doesn’t know the whole truth either. Still, he is by her side as she is determined to get to their father.
Ray Silver – A terrible husband and father before he left his family, and no better now. His mind is on the money he stole then lost then rediscovers, but he also has more secrets of his own that his family know nothing about.
Writing Style
Beginning at 3.07 pm one school afternoon, and culminating in an action-packed finale close to midnight the same day, 12 year old Olive pursues her father.
The final chapters are nearly 2 years later.
What age is it for?
Ages 10-14
Where & When is it set?
Australia
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
3rd person / Past tense
Is there Violence?
Yes. Guns also present
What genre is Raised by Wolves?
Middle Grade Action Novel
Themes
Family / Crime / Real Life / Mystery / Action
Is it part of a series?
Yes – The 1st book in the series is called Two Wolves (2014) It won the YABBA and KOALA children’s choice book awards in 2015.
Raised by Wolves can be read on its own
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Author
Tristan Bancks
Publisher
Penguin Australia
(2026, Family, Crime, Action, Conflict, Courage, Mystery, Real Life, Series, Duology, Siblings, On the Run, Violence, Police, Guns, Car chase)