Malu's Wolf

by Ruth Craig

Malu is permitted to raise a wolf pup which eventually is instrumental in bringing about significant changes to the lives and traditions of the young girl's Stone Age clan

Genres: Historical Fiction, Wolves, Historical, Young Adult

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[WolfLover · Rating 1 out of 5]

This seems to me like a children’s rip-off of the Earth’s Children series by Jean M. Auel. It is about a young Stone Age woman, Malu, who tames a wolf. She also defies the rigid conventions of her tribe – women aren’t allowed to hunt, but she learns to do so and is eventually accepted as “the Woman Who Hunts.” Ayla, the heroine of Earth’s Children, is a young Stone Age woman who tames a wolf, defies convention and learns to hunt, and comes to be known as “the Woman Who Hunts.” Coincidence?

The characters talk incessantly about the terrible hardships they experience, and how “we must endure.” They seem to consider life nothing more than a series of struggles that must be suffered through. Whilst their lives would, indeed, seem hard to us as modern people, for those living at the time their “terrible hardships” were simply normal, everyday life. It’s like a contemporary person saying: “I’ve got to go to the supermarket to buy food. Woe is me! My life is so hard! But I must endure.”

Don’t read this if you’re older than ten.

[Elizabeth Emily Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really loved his book. It's about a young girl called Malu who rescues a young orphaned cub called Kono. But if Kono ever hurts any one of the tribe even by accident she must die. But there are some of the clan that of not like Kono and want Malu out of the clan. Eventually Malu must choose between her wolf and her clan. I love this heartwarming story of a girl and her wolf. I love the friendship and how they overcome things:)<3

[Kelly Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great YA novel about a young girl Malu living in a clan during the Stone Age. She adopts a wolf pup and the story follows the relationship between her and the wolf. Easy and engaging read, similar to Gary Paulsen’s novels of survival in the woods/elements but with a different setting in the Stone Age.

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A sweet book and I can see why it’s liked but it is incredibly dated. And quite a few things in the book have been disproven or believed to be inaccurate now so while I the book I’d worry about people believing it.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I read this, so it was nice to reread. It's a simple book, but there's a good storyline. A good read.

[micah ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

not as good as it was when i was 10 lmao

[Elleth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite book as a kid and I just reread it on a whim today. Still as charming as ever.

[C. B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malu is a young girl in a hunter-gather Stone Age clan. She is bound by strict traditions and is not allowed to hunt. As such, she teaches herself how to hunt in secret with some help from others and keeps track of a wolf pack at the same time. Someone kills the pack, save one. Malu raises Kono, the only surviving wolf pup. After Kono defends himself and Malu against a jealous hunter, Kono is sentenced to death. Malu and Kono run away into the winter darkness and they survive together as faithful companions. After they find the elusive Wooly Mammoth herd that they know that the clan needs to survive, they return to the clan and are forgiven. It is a great story about not pigeonholing a person based on gender (ultimately). Let the person be the best that they can be by letting them do what they do best.

[Endira77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't give it five stars only because it is on a lower reading level so I was unfulfilled in terms of complexity. It seems like Ruth Craig read the Children of the Earth Series by Jean Auel, removed anything not PG rated and condensed it into one book. It was enjoyable to re-visit the genre of "early man" culture, and it's sweet to sense the connection between man and what becomes our best friend, dogs.

[Maddie]

love <3

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book when i was in 6th grade i think and just loved it. definately a book that you should read