Emily Fridlund's A History of Wolves

There are books that draw you in reluctantly. There is something about the protagonist, or the setting, or the conflict that has a gravitational force you cannot resist. This was my experience reading this book. I asked NetGalley for an ARC because, ever since reading Jodi Picoult's Lone Wolf, I have been fascinated by the complex societal bonds these creatures create. What I found was a story in which no wolves appeared.

When I began reading the novel I thought Fridlund had created an unlikable narrator, but that is not exactly right. Linda is just an unusual one. She lives with her parents in the remains of an old commune in the Minnesota woods. She is very knowledgeable of the outdoors and has to hike miles to get to the nearest town and, therefore, to school. When she is fourteen, she becomes obsessed with two things: the alleged affair her teacher Mr. Grierson had with her enigmatic classmate Lily and Patra, her new neighbor across the lake and mother to four-year-old Paul.

Patra hires Linda as an occasional babysitter. The two form a strong bond. However, as Linda spends more time with Paul she begins to sense that there is something unusual about him. In fact, there is something unusual about Patra as well. This feeling heightens when Leo, Patra's husband comes into the picture.

The novel switches back and forth between the adult Linda's life and her youthful relationships with these individuals. As the plot progresses it is easy to guess that something sinister will happen. It is this that compels the reader to continue reading and become wrapped up in the story. The gripping tale can be finished in one sitting if one has enough time. Luckily for me, I did!