Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

The Boy, the Wolf, and the Stars

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A boy and fox go on a quest to find a wolf who has eaten all the stars in the sky before the Shadow Witch destroys the stars, removing good magic from the world forever. This compelling fantasy is perfect for fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and Nevermoor.

Long ago, the land of Ulv was filled with magic. But that was before a wolf ate all the Stars in the night sky, ridding the world of magic and allowing Shadow Creatures, beasts made of shadow and evil, to flourish.

Twelve-year-old Bo knows the stories but thinks the Stars and the wolf who ate them are nothing more than myths—until the day Bo's guardian, Mads, is attacked by a giant wolf straight from the legends. With his dying breath, Mads tells Bo that Ulv is in danger and the only way to prevent the Shadow Creatures from taking over is to return the Stars to the sky.

And so Bo—accompanied by his best friend, a fox called Nix, a girl named Selene whose magic is tied to the return of the Stars, and Tam, a bird-woman who has vowed to protect Bo at all costs—sets off on a quest to find the three magical keys that will release the Stars.

But Bo isn't the only one who wants the Stars, and the friends soon find themselves fleeing angry villagers, greedy merchants, and a vengeful wolf. And all the while, an evil witch lurks in the shadows and time is running out.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Levels

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      September 15, 2020
      A boy goes on a quest to bring back wish-granting Stars and save his world. Abandoned as a baby, Bo survived a night in the woods with the malevolent Shadow Creatures. Now a 12-year-old outsider, he's verbally and physically abused by both his gruff guardian and the local villagers, who believe he is cursed. When he accidentally releases magic back into Ulv and reignites a war for power and magic, he sets out on a quest to set things right. Along the way he is joined by his beloved pet fox, a bird-woman who vows to protect him, and a feisty girl with unwieldy magic. Together, they journey to solve three riddles that will let them free the Stars and restore the natural balance of magic to Ulv. Along the way they must outwit vindictive villagers, the bureaucracy of the Un-Royal City and the Temple of the Silent Sisters, a greedy charm-peddling salesman, a power-hungry talking wolf, and the Shadow Witch herself. Interspersed within the third-person, closely focalized narrative are excerpts from The True Histories of Ulv, which provide even further worldbuilding background. Self-conscious prose sometimes struggles to strike a balance between humor and angst, but a relentless plot keeps the pages turning. In this vaguely Nordic-inspired fantasy, characters' skin colors are varied; Bo has tawny skin. For readers who can't get enough of the classic hero's journey. (map) (Fantasy. 9-12)

      COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 26, 2020
      Twelve-year-old Bo, who was abandoned in the forest as an infant, has always been shunned by local villagers, who believe that he’s tainted by the Shadow Creatures that roam the Dark at night. When his guardian, acerbic woodcutter Mads, is killed by an enormous magical wolf, Bo is tasked with a seemingly impossible quest: find the three keys needed to release the wish-granting Stars and return magic
      to the land. Accompanied by his fox, Nix; a magic-wielding girl; and a Korakhu—half woman, half bird—Bo must journey far and wide to solve the three riddles that unlock each step of the quest as ruthless foes seek to find the Stars before him. With this fanciful adventure, Plozza (Tin Heart) invokes the language of myth and fairy tales to construct a complex, heartwarming hero’s quest. Her world, as explored both through Bo’s experiences and excerpts from fictional document “The True Histories of Ulv,” possesses sufficient humor and heart to balance the darkness. Ages 8–12. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary.

    • Booklist

      November 1, 2020
      Grades 4-7 Bo has been an outcast all his life, abandoned by his mother as an infant and shunned by villagers as a "devilchild." He has lived with the surly old woodcutter in the forest, with only a fox for a friend. When Bo gets distracted by village children one afternoon, he neglects the curious chore of sprinkling red dust around a large, gnarled tree, which unleashes unforeseen consequences and sets Bo on a high-stakes quest. Plozza builds a mythology rooted in magic found in the light of the stars (i.e., good magic) and the shadows of the dark (malevolent magic). As darkness gains a stronger foothold in this world, Bo believes he is responsible and must find a way to release the stars, long ago stolen from the sky, in order to save the land. Readers who enjoy fantastical quests will happily tag along with Bo, who must solve riddles and survive many dangers during his journey. Themes of forgiveness and belonging are prominent as well, as Bo faces insecurities and finally experiences true friendship.

      COPYRIGHT(2020) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:5.3
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:4

Loading