The Wolf, the Woman, the Wilderness: A True Story of Returning Home

by Teresa Tsimmu Martino

This is at once a heartfelt reflection and an exciting adventure tale, well told and with a happy ending. The author tells her fascinating true story of returning a wolf to the wilderness and, in the process, discovering her own roots. Promotion in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Society.

Genres: Wolves

152 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 1996

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by Martino. I ordered it after reading Horse Nation: True Stories About Horses and People. Now i want to look for more of her work, especially her poetry. This author is so talented, has such deep thoughts and shares them so gracefully. I need more!

In the late 80's Martino adopted a wolf pup, raised her, taught her how to hunt and be her own wild self, and then set her free. In the process she set herself free as well.

Although she was already quite a bit of a free spirit, working with the wolf helped Martino realize more about herself and her heritage than she had suspected before. The book is lyrical, pretty, intimate, and moving. In these pages, Martino becomes a friend. That wild one that you always wanted to be more like but never quite had the courage for.

I loved her and her story. It is good to know that such people are in the world.

[Teresa Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly amazing and deeply moving autobiography of a woman who must return to nature in order to raise a wolf pup and return it to the wild. A MUST READ!

[rissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time I was ever so worried about a character in a book who I knew would end up safe...

Godspeed, little wolf, whatever your name may be now.

[Roma Giannina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly couldn’t finish it. I mistakenly thought this would be more nature writing but this was a lot of florid language (IMO) and a bit too poetic for me—plus I was really turned off by her generalizations of how running with wolves ran in her blood and was inherited by her distant relatives being native. The description on the back of the book fits, but I guess I was hoping for more facts of raising the wolf (and other critters) instead of the deep humanizing of the animals. My mistake, not the author’s. I may come back to this with fresh eyes— I should have gone into this with the idea that the story is rooted (or perhaps wants to be rooted) in native myth.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was enthralled reading Teresa’s book Dance on the Grass, even though I am not a horse lover. I liked The Wolf, the Woman, the Wilderness very much, too. I think a true dog or wolf lover would enjoy it even more. Teresa’s books and poems are for the soul. She writes from her soul and the soul of animals and nature.

[Todd McQueen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story of a Native American woman trying to connect with her roots while returning a wolf to the wild. C

[Elizabeth Humphreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Roxy Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been many years since I read this, but it made a greater impression than most things I've read since. I'll be reading it again and again throughout my life.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

a touching story like born free like any tale where the hero has to let their good friend leave them forever. She writes well, poetic , I had to take notes because I kept forgetting her choice words. She made me laugh out loud sometimes with her descriptions of the wolf or the fox or the dog doing something, expressing a human feeling - sometimes with poop. I hope I get to see Wolftown before I leave this Puget Sound. It sounds like a great place.

[... · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly moving story of a woman who released a she-wolf back into the wild.

Martino's poetry is deep, touching, personal, and so are her sketches - I will be returning to it time and again, for sure.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martino tells the story of releasing her wolf, McKenzie, to the wilderness.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthwhile read. Unique.