Although this book received a Newbery Honor when it was published, you probably haven’t heard of it. The cover most likely won’t convince you to pick it up. Even the introduction might persuade you that it’s too slow to finish. But once you’ve gotten into the story, you may have a hard time putting it down until you’ve blown all the way through the last page.

Ben is a boy who doesn’t do well with people. This worries his family, especially his father, who simply cannot understand why his youngest son insists on following animals around, mimicking their noises and movements perfectly. When Ben finds himself lost on the prairie near his house, he must make a deep connection with a dangerous predator if he wants to survive. What happens to both of them and how it affects the other characters is almost unbelievable, even to Ben, and will leave a deep impression on you after you close the book.

This is a good choice for readers who like outdoor adventures (think Gary Paulsen) and stories about fathers and sons. It’s also for readers who can stomach detailed descriptions of some of the more gruesome things that happen in nature.

Reviewed for the Emmet O'Neal Library Children's Department