This Is Not a Werewolf Story

June 13, 2016
"What would you do to see your mom if you had lost her?" For Raul, that means keeping some pretty big secrets. Each weekend, Raul sneaks off from boarding school to White Deer Woods and changes into a wolf so he can reunite with his mother, a white wolf. (Raul is careful to note that he's not a werewolf: "I'm not some knuckle-dragging, hairy-faced monster who eats people.") The "woods magic" has brought Raul and his mother back together, but their happiness is threatened by the arrival of a cougar that is stalking White Wolf. Who can Raul trust with his secrets to ask for help? Any of his teachers? Perhaps his crush, Mary Anne? Or new friend Vincent? Mystery and suspense abound in Evans's debut novel, which draws inspiration and depth from Pacific Northwest folklore. Raul is an insightful, introspective youth, and Evans weaves a compelling story from his point of view, bolstered by a strong supporting cast. An open ending hints at the possibility of future installments. Ages 9â12. Agent: Minju Chang, Bookstop Literary.

April 15, 2016
Evans combines spirit animals, shape-shifting magic, and the scientific method in this sequel-primed, middle-grade debut.After the disappearance of his mother and the growing absence of his father, Raul has gotten used to being a loner. With few friends and even fewer words, Raul spends his time at boarding school looking after the younger students, trying to catch the attention of his crush, and avoiding the vicious phys ed teacher, Mr. Tuffman. But Raul also has a secret--when the rest of the kids at school go home on Fridays, Raul slips away to the White Deer Woods, where he transforms into a wolf ("not a werewolf, don't say a werewolf"), and, just for the weekend, he isn't alone. But when a far more dangerous predator begins stalking the woods and friends quickly become enemies, Raul must scramble to save what is closest to his heart and discovers he is not the only one hiding secrets. Evans' whirlwind retelling of the medieval Breton tale "Bisclavret" unspools in Raul's scattered and emotionally embroiling narration. Though it's conveniently resolved, it also leaves more questions than answers in a plot clearly eager for a sequel. Though an author's note cites its original European inspiration, there is no specific sourcing of the indigenous folklore (mostly Pacific Northwest Indian) she plaits with it, nor is Raul's heritage explored.A fast-paced if culturally questionable novel for readers who enjoy magic, science, or a little bit of both. (Fantasy. 9-13)

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July 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-On a small island off the coast of Seattle, Raul attends an alternative boarding school and guards a precious secret. He shape-shifts into a wolf every weekend. His abilities have been unlocked by the magic of the woods, where an abandoned lighthouse serves as the apex of his power. When a threatening cougar shatters the isolated safety of the woods, Raul must hurry to unravel the mystery of his mother's past, the magic of the woods, and the identity of the predator. Told in Raul's voice, the mystery will quickly consume readers as the confused and increasingly anxious narrator navigates the normal social pressures of school while working to uncover the truth without involving untrustworthy teachers and friends. From the cruel gym teacher to the absentminded principal, the adult characters transcend mere cliche as their secrets reveal intense pasts and powers. This is ultimately a story of belonging, and readers will feel for Raul as he tries to find his place among peers and build himself a family. Heartfelt, enigmatic, and ethereal, Evans's excellent debut novel takes readers on a roller coaster of emotion and keeps them guessing the whole way through. Based in part on the 12th-century French work Bisclarvet, this is a modern story with a fairy-tale atmosphere. VERDICT Fans of mystery and fantasy will enjoy this unique yet familiar selection.-Mariah Manley, Salt Lake City Public Library

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Starred review from June 1, 2016
Grades 4-8 *Starred Review* Raul doesn't talk much. He's more of an observer: ever since his mom disappeared and his dad stopped picking him up from boarding school, Raul watchesand watches out foreveryone from Mary Anne, his crush, to Sparrow, the young student who idolizes him. When new boy Vincent shows up and immediately gets on the wrong side of Tuffman, the bullish gym teacher, Raul wonders if it might be time to speak up. But Raul is keeping a secret: every weekend, when the other kids go home, he sneaks out to the forest and becomes a wolf. He's adamant that he's not a werewolf ( It's a monster that's half man and half wolf at the same time. Me, when I'm a wolf, I'm a wolf. When I'm a boy, I'm a boy ) and keeps his dual lives separate. But as strange things begin to happen at school and secrets about Raul's mother come to light, he might not be able to sustain that much longer. Evans draws from a variety of folklore and mythology, and fitting them all together is a delicate, and culturally fraught, endeavor. Thankfully, Raul's wry, likable voice elevates this debut, and Evans' depictions of the shifting natures of tween friendship remain firmly grounded even as the narrative becomes more fantastical. A cut above.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)