cover image Lone Wolves

Lone Wolves

John Smelcer. Leapfrog (Consortium, dist.), $16 (192p) ISBN 978-1-935248-40-8

This sobering novel from Smelcer (Edge of Nowhere) centers on an Alaskan community surrounded by natural beauty but plagued by social and psychological dysfunction. Sixteen-year-old Deneena "Denny" Yazzie connects with nature in a way she doesn't with her classmates. Her mixed Native and white heritage leaves her feeling uncertain about her identity, while the wound left by her alcoholic father's abandonment is still raw. Despite her mother's protests, her grandfather Sampson indulges her interests in their indigenous language, dog sledding, camping, and cooking salmon. But between incest, rape, wolf attacks, suicides, drug use, and depression rampant within their village, Smelcer presents a bleak picture of Native Alaskan life. After Sampson's death, the bills add up, and Denny decides to enter a race with her recently tamed wolf in hopes of winning prize money and proving her worth. While Smelcer's writing vacillates uncomfortably between Denny's poetic and insightful journal entries and stiff, overly informational narration, the Alaskan setting provides a haunting backdrop for Denny's growth. An uplifting conclusion offers respite from the desolation. Smelcer includes glossaries of Ahtna words and mushing terms, as well as discussion questions. Ages 12%E2%80%93up. (Oct.)