Wolf researcher Rick McIntyre (The Reign of Wolf 21) pairs here with author David A. Poulsen (None So Deadly) to create a young readers' edition of his 2019 adult nonfiction title, The Rise of Wolf 8. The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8 narrates the harrowing and heartwarming story of an unassuming wolf pup's journey to becoming "one of the greatest wolves who ever lived in Yellowstone National Park."
Wolf 8 was one of the 14 wolves relocated from Canada to Yellowstone in 1995 as part of the Wolf Reintroduction Project, designed to restore the keystone species and rebalance the park's ecosystem. As a pup, Wolf 8 is the nervous runt of the litter and the victim of relentless bullying from his larger brothers; as he grows older, he becomes curious and brave. At only one year old, Wolf 8 stands his ground against a ferocious grizzly bear and, just a few months later, sets off to find a mate and become the alpha of a pack of his own. Wolf 8, as alpha of the Rose Creek pack, fights against predators and rivals and provides for his ever-expanding family of pups.
The Unlikely Hero, narrated in approachable, engrossing prose and interspersed with first-person reminiscences from McIntyre, offers an in-depth look into the life of one of Yellowstone's most famous wolves. Black-and-white spot art by Ojibwe wildlife artist John Potter highlights the majesty of the animals and the landscape even as the images themselves reflect the delicate nature of balancing an ecosystem. McIntyre and Poulsen educate readers on the dangers wolves face, but they also tell an underdog story, setting out to prove that "even the smallest individual can be a big hero." -- Cade Williams is a freelance book reviewer.