Liesl Wolf never imagined she would ever be left alone with her little brother Otto and toddler sister Mia, with no home, no parents and desperately hungry.

After the German Army ordered her limping father to join the army, along with boys as young as 14 and old men who had fought past wars, the Wolf family’s life changed forever.

Liesl doesn’t want to believe the telegram that reports her father “Missing In Action.” She doesn’t want to believe that Hitler is losing the war, and his desperate attempts to keep fighting cost her her father. The final straw is news that the Red Army is marching across East Prussia and they have to leave their home.

Thousands flee the approaching Russians. Many carry their possessions, small children or help their elderly. Many are lost to exhaustion, crumpling on the side of the road, unable to take another step. Soon Liesl’s Oma succumbs to the endless trek to nowhere and they have to leave loved ones behind.

Onward Liesl, her mother, brother, and sister travel in hope of ships to whisk them to freedom. Soon it’s only the Wolf children left, doing everything they can to survive. At first the thought of taking something from an empty, bombed farmhouse seems like stealing. But needs must, and Liesl promised their Mama she would look after her younger siblings.

They learn to hunt, fish and live in the forests of East Prussia. They encounter Russian soldiers on their journey, and are surprised to find some are kind and protective of them, but others are mean, destructive and bitter.

Liesl has to finally accept that being German is too dangerous. Only new names, a new language and a new life will help her keep her promise to her Mama and help them survive.

Based on the real Wolfskinder (Wolf Children) of WWII, who lost their families and had to learn to survive alone in the wild. We are Wolves gives another perspective of the 2nd World War through the eyes of a brave, determined young girl, responsible for her siblings.

There is the pointless destruction by the Red Army, the realisation that the Germany propaganda machine was wrong, and so ultimately was their beloved leader Hitler.

There is kindness, selfishness, courage, laughter and hope. Loved the ending.

Author – Katrina Nannestad

Age – 10+

Family, Courage, Historical, Action, War, Love, Poverty, Survival, Promise, Lies, Russian Army, Soldiers, Stealing, Burglars, Fear, Snow, East Prussia, Lithuania, Hunger, Starvation, Hope)