A Wolf at the Gate

by Mark Van Steenwyk

The Blood Wolf prowls near the village of Stonebriar at night. She devours chickens and goats and cows and cats. Some say children are missing. But this murderous wolf isn't the villain of our story; she's the hero! The Blood Wolf hates humankind for destroying the forest, but an encounter with a beggar teaches her a better way to confront injustice. How will she react when those she loves are threatened?

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Religion, Middle Grade, Folklore, Childrens

78 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2015

Reviews

[Elnora Romness]

DISCLAIMER: A copy of the book was given to me in exchange for a fair and honest review, which follows.

REVIEW
So, I just read this book called A Wolf at the Gate. Someone I know wrote it and I was eager to get the chance to read it once I knew Mark had finished this masterpiece. I finally got the chance to read it yesterday, and now I fully intend to make the paperback copy a part of my children's book shelf.

This book starts with the birth of a wolf, so it says in the beginning of the book. This was not an ordinary wolf but a wolf born with a very red fur; a wolf her parents knew was destined for greatness. They were the leaders of their pack and as such carried the knowledge of their pack...including the burdensome and infuriating knowledge of how wolf-kind had been badly abused by humankind. Though angered by the humans' actions towards the wolves, the Red Wolf's parents knew there was a better way and worked very hard to share their knowledge and wisdom with her so that she might be a great leader when they passed. Pass they did and she was the uncontested leader of the pack... But not for long. She lost her pack and began to behave in a manner that would have made her parents very sad. Then she meets a man who changed her life forever and enables her to change the lives of others forever. I can't say too much more without spoiling the entire book, so I'm going to stop here.

A Wolf at the Gate is a children's book and is written, therefore, as a children's book. It is put together simply (much like the "beggar" who features prominently in the work). Simply written, simply constructed, and simply profound. It is not a long read; it took me all of about half an hour to get through (though it would have been a shorter time had I not stopped so frequently to admire the absolutely beautiful artwork that compliments the book perfectly - a friend of mine even had one of the illustrations tattooed on his arm), and yet there is more profundity packed into that short work then in many I have yet read! As far as characters, settings, plot, etc are concerned, this is a fairly simple work...but remember it is intended as a children's book (this is important, as I know from both personal and professional work that affecting change in one's attitude towards the world is more permanently accomplished when you attempt to affect that change with children). It is not so complex that it's message of fiercely passive resistance and kindness is lost and yet it is complex enough to hold an adult's attention even though it is a children's book. It focuses on a couple main characters and thoroughly develops one of them - the Red Wolf.

I absolutely love this book! As I said, it is incredibly profound in an exceptionally nuanced sort of way and contains a powerful moral lesson. Written in a style that is slightly reminiscent of Aesop's fables, it also contained elements that were slightly nostalgic for me as I remember fondly reading Aesop's fables with my parents when I was but a tiny tot. I love this book I love this book I love this book....please buy it and show it to your children, and grand children, and their children...

I promise you won't regret the time it takes to flip the pages.

Shortly after this book was published it was picked up on one of Amazon's best-sellers list. Currently I know that a publisher has approached Mark to publish it themselves as currently it is a self-published work. Frankly I think it deserves these accolades, and I would actually love to see it made into something for the screen; whether that be an animation in the same style as the illustrations or a movie adaptation or something like that.

Overall on an ascending scale of 1 to 5,
I give this book a huge 5!!
(and any of you loyal readers of my reviews know I don't hand those out easily!)

[Emily]

A truly lovely parable, inspired from historical events, with beautiful illustrations.

[Simon]

I received a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is wonderful tale concerning a Red Wolf and her meeting with St Francis of Assisi. It was very entertaining and I enjoyed it a lot. We first meet the Red Wolf as a pup who is raised by her loving parents teaching her how to be a good wolf. Her parents tell her to avoid the humans who live in a village near the woods, but with the humans living so near and the fact that they take food from the wolf pack, this causes conflict in the pack once the Red Wolf becomes pack leader.

As the story goes on, the red wolf becomes a most feared predator who steals livestock from the villagers. However, the Beggar King makes an appearance and changes the red wolf's life. As I mentioned earlier, this book is a wonderful book and it is mainly written for children but I loved it! The book has a lot of life lessons in and is wonderfully touching. I would recommend this book to everybody.

[La La]

More like 2 1/2. The saving grace for this book was the wonderful illustrations. The beginning of the book was good, lyrical, and interesting, but then the action became a little too violent for the intended age group, and the one message of compassion for all living things became confusing because it was considered bad to harm the animals if the wolf was raiding the chicken coops, but okay if the farners killed the chickens and fed them to her. Where is the compassion in that? It was a good premise presenting life lessons in the style of Aesop's Fables, but the execution was off. The publishers also need to be up front about the substancial Christianity leanings in this story. After I have a chance to ruminate and reread a couple of sections, I might drop it to a two star rating. I was approved for this eARC on Netgalley in return for an honest review. I will not be reviewing this book on my blog because it is less than four stars.

[Tat]

Find more reviews at Read. Run. Study.

A Wolf at the Gate is a children's book told from the perspective of the wolf in the legend of Saint Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio. A Wolf at the Gate was a quick, easy read filled with lessons about love, charity, and forgiveness. With its folk-tale feel and short chapters, I could see this working well for a read-aloud book in an elementary school classroom. It could also work well for a young independent reader because the language is accessible. However, I felt like the messages were heavy handed and the author wasn't sure where he wanted to end the story. I thought he was preparing to conclude the story several times only to find it continued on. Therefore, the story may frustrate an older child or adult reader.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

[✟Roxanne✟(Death by Book Avalanche) ☠]

4 Stars ★★★★

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Although aimed towards children I would recommend that people of all ages should read this book. It contains very thought-provoking lessons and brings up ideas that could be related to real life. The overall message expresses how opposites can live in harmony whilst overcoming their differences. The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 was that some of the messages contradicted eachother e.g It's not ok to kill *change of situation* It's ok to kill...
This left me a little confused in places but I did really enjoy the story. Also, in my opinion I think the parent should read the story first before giving to a child as some of the detailing can be a bit graphic.

[Eddie Gonzalez]

An absolutely powerful story with exceptional illustrations. My wife and I have 6 boys and they were enthralled, engaged, and able to grasp the ideas and struggles of the wolf, the bandits, and the townsfolk. Well, except our two year old. He just likes the pictures.

Excellent pick up for the family, though it is a timeless tale able to be interacted with by anyone, no matter what stage of life. Very thankful to have this in my library.

[Alannah Clarke]

A great little book, it was really engaging with a really interesting storyline. I know this was meant to be a children's book but I really liked it and was glued to it from beginning to end. Strongly recommend it to anyone of any age.

[James]

This is a great retelling of the legend of the Wolf of Gubbio and St. Francis with John Hedstrom's stunning illustrations. Mark Van Steenwyk is a Christian Anarchist, Anabaptist, Prophetic type. This is his only kid's book and it might be my favorite thing he's written.

[Edward Sullivan]

This imaginative retelling of the legend of Saint Francis and the Wolf features striking illustrations and an elegantly written narrative exploring what it means to be a peacemaker in the midst of violence and how to restore a healthy relationship with creation.

[Brian]

I cannot recommend this book enough. This is a moving and beautiful tale about our relationship to nature, the animals in our world, and other human beings. The writing is thoughtful and accessible, and the illustrations are unique and memorable.

[mad mags]

A Retelling of the Legend of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio

(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley.)

According to legend, the wolf of Gubbio was a lone wolf who terrorized the Umbrian city of Gubbio in 1220. The wolf began by attacking and eating livestock; over time the hostilities escalated, to the point that the wolf was feasting on humans as well, both hunters and innocent civilians alike. The wolf seemed invincible, or close to it, and he so frightened the people of Gubbio that they refused to leave the relative safety of their walls. When St. Francis arrived, the city was effectively under siege.

An Italian Catholic preacher, Saint Francis of Assisi is widely known today as the patron saint of animals and the environment. In this vein, St. Francis is said to have brokered a peace accord between the wolf and the people of Gubbio: if they agreed to feed the wolf, he would stop attacking the city. The oath was widely accepted - even considered a miracle by many - and, upon the wolf's death, he was granted an honorable burial within the city limits. This site later became home to the Church of Saint Francis of the Peace. During renovations in 1872, the skeleton of a wolf was reportedly uncovered under a slab near the church wall.

A Wolf at the Gate is a retelling of this legend from the wolf's point of view. Born into royalty, the red wolf (so named for the unusual color of her fur) assumes leadership of her pack upon the death of her parents. Taught to fear and avoid humans at all costs - "They are violent and greedy. They aren’t like any of the other beasts in the forest; they want to own it all." - the wolf stubbornly ignores her pack's insistence that they should leave their forest home in search of new lands, lands not yet spoiled by humans. The wolf's leadership is challenged and she loses. Left alone in the forest, her rage and thirst for vengeance grow.

As in the legend, she begins raiding the city of Stonebriar; her cunning and bloodthirst earns her the nickname Blood Wolf. When The Beggar King, traveling through, learns of the city's troubles, he seeks out the wolf in order to make peace between the warring parties. In exchange for a full belly, the wolf - now renamed Sister Wolf - agrees to stop the illicit killings. As she wanders amongst the humans, however, Sister Wolf despairs over the inequities that exist in her new, human pack: poverty, homelessness, and the like.

Aimed at children (the ebook is just a short 53 pages), A Wolf at the Gate is an entertaining bedtime read that also introduces kids to issues of social justice. Sister Wolf raises some important questions, but doesn't stop there; buoyed by kindness and compassion for her former tormentors, she also takes bold action to effect change.

From a vegan perspective, however, the unfairness of the bargain struck between Sister Wolf and the people of Stonebriar really cut at my heart. Sister Wolf is expected to forgive all humans, everywhere, for waging war on her people; and yet, the Stonebriar-ians are only asked to show compassion for a single wolf - the last one remaining in the surrounding forest, after they killed and dislocated all the rest.

While it's not entirely correct to say that Van Steenwyk doesn't address the issues of habitat loss and mass wolf extermination - something that's still happening today, nearly a thousand years later - they're all but abandoned in light of the peace accord. The humans are never asked to repent or even apologize for killing Sister Wolf's cousins, even as she personally apologizes to each and every farmed animal in Stonebriar. Additionally, Sister Wolf was transformed from a free-living and self-sufficient animal into a beggar, dependent on the goodwill of others; her human benefactors, meanwhile, were not required to change their destructive ways at all. Possibly the former cuts to St. Francis's veneration of poverty; but the latter certainly says nothing of humankind's stewardship of the earth.

I suppose the essence of my complaint is this: the story purports to be from the wolf's perspective; and, though it does start out this way, Sister Wolf's concerns are quickly overshadowed by those of the humans. Simply including a scene in which Sister Wolf raises this inequity with The Beggar King would have gone a long way towards restoring balance. That said, vegan-minded parents can use this as a jumping-off point for discussing these issues with their children.

Usually I don't say this of illustrated children's books, but seeing as A Wolf at the Gate is text-heavy, it's easily readable on a Kindle. The illustrations by Joel J. Hedstrom are lovely (even in gray scale), though you may want to view the book on a full-color device to get the full effect.

www.easyvegan.info/2015/04/29/a-wolf-...

[Jeremy Garber]

I bought this book for my daughter’s birthday this year. She sat down and read it immediately. When she finished, she brought it to me and said, “Read this right away, Dad. It’s really good, and you will like it.” Her immediate reaction proves the power of this gripping and beautiful book. Mark van Steenwyk and Joel Hedstrom provide a masterfully illustrated retelling of the legend of St. Francis and the wolf that will be a gripping story to children and a pointed fable about contemporary politics and religion to adults.

The red wolf is born. The wolf’s mother tells her the story of the coming of the humans, who killed and ate not just to survive but out of anger and greed. Includes the parable of the selfish raven who kept everything for himself and was lonely as a result. In rage at the human’s conduct, the red wolf becomes a poacher in return. St. Francis appears in the guise of the “beggar king.” He confronts the wolf, speaking her language, and points out that she has become angry and greedy, just like the humans who have done so much harm. The wolf approaches the town and the Beggar King says she has pledged never to harm the inhabitants. The Blood Wolf is now called “Sister Wolf.” As she travels the city, she notices the poor and the homeless and asks why some have more than enough while others have nothing at all.

A bad winter causes outlaws to raid the village. When they kill a merchant, Sister Wolf goes out to avenge him. But when she learns the bandit’s story, driven by desperation, she resolves to feed them instead so that they will not have to rob anymore. Sister Wolf finally decides to have all the animals teach the outlaws how to live as part of the forest rather than as hangers-on in human society. Even soldiers who come to arrest the outlaws see their changed lives and decide to forgive them since they have changed so much. The book ends, “It is the story of a red wolf who was born to become the Lord of the Forest. She tried to rule through fear, but learned to serve with love.”

Hedstrom’s illustrations are stark and lovely, abstract but recognizable, often in tones of gray/black/white with a splash of color. The real power of this book, however, is van Steenwyk’s ability to portray difficult and important issues in a subtle narrative. Kids young enough to be read to up to middle-schoolers will be fascinated by the characters of the animals. But adults who want those kids to be part of a better world will appreciate the lessons of forgiveness, kindness, mercy, and love that were the basis of St. Francis’ life. Van Steenwyk’s message is the message of the Beggar King – that ruling through fear is both less effective and less real for oppressors and oppressed alike. We are all called to serve with love.

[Bruce Gargoyle]

I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.

Ten Second Synopsis:
A red wolf changes from a vicious beast to a thinking guardian after meeting the Beggar King.

This is a retelling of the story of St Francis and the wolf of Gubbio, Italy. I was not familiar with the story before reading the book, and I think this probably heightened my enjoyment of the story, as although I could predict where the story might go, I didn’t have the ending in mind before beginning. While not a super-fan of fables, I found this retelling to be very easy to engage with, as the narrative style certainly reflected the familiar style of fables and moral stories, but there was enough original material here to stave off the “I know where this is going and how it’s going to get there” boredom of being stuck listening to a fable. The plot moves quickly and there are enough changes in setting and the situation of the wolf to keep things interesting.

A Wolf at the Gate would be a great choice as a read-aloud for the early to middle primary classroom when studying fables, Christian mythology or just ethics in general. Van Steenwyk never refers to St Francis in the text, creating instead the character of “The Beggar King”, a wandering wise man, so there’s no worry here about getting bogged down in Christian ideology if that isn’t your thing. As a reading choice for middle graders (and even slightly younger children) this is a quick read with plenty of discussion-starting material, as well as being an engaging story peppered with stylised illustrations.

[Susan]

A red wolf is born outside the town of Stonebriar. She is taught by her parents all that a wolf needs to survive plus tales that represent the history of her kind. Her parents rule the wolf pack. After they die, she rules them as her parents taught her. The red wolf becomes angry at the humankind for taking the forest and it's food from them. She is challenged and loses the pack to the challenger. Will she be able to survive without her pack? How does she find food to eat? One day red wolf meets a beggar who talks to her. What truly surprises her is he isn't afraid of her. Can he help red wolf?

This story is a retelling the legend of St. Francis and the wolf of Gubbio. Though this story has its roots in Christianity, it isn't religious. Secular people will be comfortable with this lovely tale. The illustrator does an excellent job of representing the story with his artwork. The story is about peace, sharing and forgiveness. It is a worth taking your time to read this story.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Thager]

The imaginative retelling of the legend of St. Francis and the wolf, told from the wolf's point of view. The Red Wolf was born to rule her pack and taught by her parents " it is better to be hungry with neighbors than well-fed alone" . However, hunger and fear cause the Red Wolf to rule her pack harshly and she is eventually left alone to terrorize the nearby village. An encounter with the " beggar king" changes her heart and mind. Now called Sister Wolf she strives to live in harmony with man and beast.

Themes of love, forgiveness, charity, hospitality and mercy come through in this clever retelling. I can see it working really well as a read aloud to elementary students at Christmas time , during a study of St. Francis or as part of a folk tale unit. Independent reading for intermediate on up to secondary students as well.

The language in the story has an "old world" feel befitting a legend from the 13th century. Woodblock print illustrations add to the feel.

[Joanna Shenk]

My niece and nephews loved this story! One of my nephews said, "I liked the WHOLE story because it shows you how people and the wolf can change and become loving." My niece talked about how it was so cool that the animals in the forest were able to help the humans live in healthier and happier ways. And they all agreed that it's better to be hungery with friends than to be well-fed alone.

There are so many important lessons in this story for both children and adults. I was brought to tears the first time I read it, as I reflected on the power of community and non-violence to change the world. This is a book to give to all your friends, young and old. They will be moved and inspired.

Thank you Mark Van Steenwyk for this beautiful and imaginative and honest tale. And thank you St. Francis and Sister Wolf!

[Cecilia Palazetti]

I got a free copy of this book in exchange of a review.
The story of Wolf at the Gate is the re-telling of Saint Francis story, but from the wolf's point of view. The story itself is awesome, it attempts to show that a life of love is more fulfilling than a life of anger. Easier said than done.
I absolutely loved how the story was told and the illustrations are on point! I highly recommend this book!

[Libby]

This retelling of the legend of St. Francis and the Wolf definitely takes some liberties with the "standard" story (especially about the wolf's color), and there are a few moments when it feels preachy, but overall this is a very good story. I like that it goes into more depth than most retellings of this and that it gives the wolf's point of view. It's also interesting to see how the wolf "pays forward" the villagers' truce with her to other outsiders.

[Holly]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book! It's obviously intended for a younger audience, but I loved the message, that humans have to learn (like the Blood Wolf) to live with and take care of each other and nature, instead of pillaging the earth.

[David]

Great telling of the legend of St. Francis and the Wolf from the perspective of the wolf. Themes of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and community are presented in a manner anyone can understand. I especially enjoyed how the various characters in the book exhibit anger and fear toward one another until they actually get to know one another.

[Daniel Farrell]

Engaging and challenging, reading this little book will make you want to be a more gracious person.

Adapting the story of St Francis and the wolf from the wolf's perspective, Mark provides an engaging story that helps connect you to the non-human world that is all around us. I wish I had more books like this when I was growing up.

[Jarrod]

As a minister and a dedicated worker to help bring about great change in this world, this book is a must for story time with my step-son. Mark weaves a classic tale with a beautiful new twist that creates awareness of humankind's pursuit of "stuff" and how it separates us from the rest of God's beautiful creation. A must-read!

[Tim]

This is an re-telling of an ancient, sacred tale from the point of view of the wolf. It weaves layers of meaning that invite questions and engagement from a young reader. It's accessible young adult fiction without being dumbed down.

[Tim Otto]

This re-imagining of St. Francis's relationship with a wolf is fresh and inspirational. While this is "children's literature," it had me on the edge of tears at points. Sometimes the simple stories are the best.

[Caleb Lange]

This book is perfect for children but has a message that most adults I know, myself included, could really learn from. It is an extremely poignant and timely book. Get it for the children in your life and read it with them.

[Rhiannon Overby]

This is a great story for children of all ages (including parents). The story is entertaining and will hold your attention from beginning to end.

*I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest opinion*

[Carrie]

Excellent book with insightful, progressive ideas and lovely illustrations! It's refreshing to see more about peace instead of violence and war!

[Nathan Colquhoun]

Added to my list of books that will be on my children's required reading list.