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Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl
Common Sense says
- Emily Pohl-Weary
- Fantasy
- 2013
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl is about 18-year-old guitarist Sam Lee, who turns into a werewolf. But, unlike the typical paranormal romance, it focuses on Sam's struggles with practical issues, from explaining her new status to family and friends to dealing with the guy she has a crush on. There's a lot of arguing and frequent use of coarse language ("bitches," "bitching," "crap," and "pissed"). Teens drink and smoke cigarettes and marijuana. Protagonist Sam drinks beer. There's mild flirting and one kiss.
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Fast paced and engaging!
What's the story?
Guitarist in a well-known New York City rock band, 18-year-old Sam Lee is biking home one night when something bites her. She thinks it's a wild dog. But strange things start happening: A loner and a vegetarian, she suddenly craves lots of meat and becomes more argumentative. A mysterious guy named Marlon approaches her and explains that she's now a werewolf like him, but, being NOT YOUR ORDINARY WOLF GIRL, she just wants to be her normal human self. Then the fur sprouts, and Sam meets Marlon's wolf pack. Struggling to keep things normal with her human friends and family, she's hard-pressed to hold her life -- and her band -- together.
Is it any good?
Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl is a fun story with interesting characters. Readers will root for Sam, who would definitely rather be a typical teen, as she comes to grips with her new reality. Although the story moves along quickly, almost half the book is spent building up to Sam's werewolf transformation. The frequent arguments along the way drag the story down. A cliffhanger ending leaves readers in suspense about what's next for Sam and her pack.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about werewolf stories. Why have they held such appeal for centuries?
How does Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl compare with other paranormal stories you've read, especially about werewolves?
Why do you think Sam doesn't seek medical help after she's bitten by the dog? Would you have acted differently?
Book details
- Author: Emily Pohl-Weary
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Arts and Dance, Friendship, Misfits and Underdogs, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
- Publication date: September 24, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 217
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.