Cook, Colleen Ryckert. Werewolves In America.

Cook, Colleen Ryckert.  Werewolves In America.  Rosen Publishing Group  48p  $21.95  978-1-4488-5533-9    2012                ms       VG-BN       series: America's Supernatural Secrets    Nonfiction

The title of this book says it all, as the author explores the various incarnations of werewolves in these United States.      Werewolves are a hot topic in YA literature and media, so a book about werewolves couldn’t come out at a better time.  This book takes a different approach from what one usually finds for students this age, by using examples and cases of werewolf sightings and occurrences as a foundation for the book.  After an introduction about werewolves as the “stuff of nightmares”, the author takes each chapter as a case history of werewolves in America: “Sherman Ranch, Utah, 1994”, “Werewolves in Wisconsin”, “The Bray Road Beast”, and “Other Sightings around the United States”.  The last chapter discusses werewolves in popular culture, and the book concludes with a glossary, a list of sources for more information (print and web), a bibliography, and an index.  Full-color photographs sit in amongst the related text on pages throughout the book.  Sidebars talk about related topics, such as: “How big are real wolves?” (page 22) and “Lycanthropy” (page 26).

Werewolves-United States                                                                                                                                                                 --Lynn Fisher

 

Little women and Werewolves

Alcott, Louisa May & Porter Grand. Little women and Werewolves
Ballantine see Random 2010 396p 14.00
978-0-345-52260-3 secondary Supernatural E-BN
In this new version of Little Women there is the added elements of werewolves. The story is similar to the classic version but werewolves are part of the plot and interwoven into the little women’s lives. Little women and the werewolves is indeed an interesting tale of the marsh sisters town where werewolves live along side their neighbors. In this version the Laurence men are werewolves but only Jo and Beth know the truth and they are determined to keep this knowledge a secret from everyone. This tale is more gruesome than the original cleaned up story and fans of Louisa May Alcott may find it truly interesting and exciting.
This edition includes an original letter from Alcott’s editor telling her that the story as is can not be published but if she took the element of the werewolves out it could prove to be a hit.
The story in itself mirrors the original in pretty much everything except for the werewolf element.
In all probability if this tale about the editor is true and this is the original tale then it most likely would not have been a children’s favorite but it would have been a best seller for adults. Diaz, Magna
Girls - werewolves –

What happens when you cry wolf too many times!

Van Belkom, Edo. Cry Wolf.
Tundra Books, 2007. 192p $9.95 978-0887768187
Supernatural

Maria has cried wolf too many times and now that there actually are wolves, werewolves, and her sister is truly missing but no one believes her. She was so determined to get even with Tora for stealing her part in the play. Then by accident she came upon the truth of the Brock family. They are werewolves! She was shocked, but she was also elated because now she knew how to get even with Tora. She began to plot against Tora and her family but to do that she needed proof. To get proof she would have to get pictures and that is when everything fell apart. She was staking out the Brock family house and actually got one fuzzy picture, but she needed more clear pictures to prove her point. Then the day she got the pictures she needed her sister disappeared. Now she is afraid this time she may be the cause of her sister’s death, and she must make a decision on how to deal with it and with her knowledge of the Brock family.
This book is very good story for reluctant readers. MD