***** Five Stars - Human nature, animal instincts, predator, and prey all converge as the hunters become the hunted. The forest comes alive through the eyes of one very special twelve-year-old in Lone Wolf, the second book in a series from Robin Mason set amid the rivers, mountains, and enchanted woods of Oregon. Human nature, animal instincts, predator, and prey all converge as the hunters become the hunted in this installment of the Oldenglen Chronicles....Middle-grade students will relate to Jax's angst as he tries to understand, accept himself, and become comfortable in his own skin while standing up to the mean kids, all while unintentionally impressing the middle-school ladies with his vast knowledge of ornithology. Fans of Erin Hunter's Warriors series who enjoy talking animals and a focus on nature will want to explore the Oldenglen Chronicles with Jax and Sarah--Foreword Clarion Reviews
This laudable tale is more exciting than the series' first, which Mason co-wrote with his father...Jackson battles relatable issues, too, including loneliness, feeling like both wolf and human with no real pack of his own. A morally-sound hero who earns sympathy and cheers as a champion of the wildlife.-Kirkus Reviews
***** Five Stars - In Lone Wolf Robin Mason has created a marvelous world filled with suspense and wonderful characters. While bullying is a common plot trope in books for young people, Mason does a great job of creating a story with a fresh and new way. His descriptions are vivid and rich and transported me into the world from the first scene. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves magical, talking animals, suspense-filled adventures, and relatable characters. The interaction between Jackson and the animals is natural and avoids falling into the corny pit. Also, the pacing and action kept me reading, wanting to find out what happens next. All the characters were engaging and rich, with varying personalities and magic that made me wish I lived in Oldenglen. This is unquestionably a book worth reading and a series worth following. Kris Moger for Readers' Favorite
Lone Wolf is an excellent fantasy adventure for eight to twelve-year-olds. The story is appropriate for tweens with issues of bullying and an overlying theme of friendship. Learning the value of being one with nature and preserving the wildlife and their habitats is also a major component throughout this series. While recommended for young readers, Lone Wolf has lessons for everyone of all ages. Teri Davis for Bestsellers World
I would recommend “Lone Wolf” by Robin Mason for people who like fiction and nature. It was engaging and came with a powerful message about how important it is to preserve nature. I couldn’t put this book down until I finished it, and I’m very hopeful that there will be more books in the series! Evan Weldon for Reader Views
2016-06-11
Mason, Robin LONE WOLF: BOOK TWO OF THE OLDENGLEN CHRONICLES A twelve-year-old boy's ability to communicate with animals may come in handy when revenge-minded bullies invade his family's land in Mason's (Oldenglen, 2015) middle-grade fantasy. Although initially reluctant to leave his England home, Jackson Wolfe has grown to love Oregon. The Oldenglen estate where he lives is a magical place where the boy can understand the forest's inhabitants. But while the woodfolk are pals, Jackson's had less luck making friends at school. Bully Noah and his three cronies who form The Pack target Jackson after he sticks up for nerdy Daniel. When Noah instigates a tussle outside a library, Jackson momentarily unleashes the "wolf within," [5] a transformation he thought would materialize only in Oldenglen. Jax the Wolf has amped speed and strength, with golden eyes the sole physical change — but it's his eyes that Noah may have witnessed. Now designating Jackson a freak, The Pack creeps into Oldenglen, where Noah boasts of knowing the area. Fortunately, Jackson has help, from the woodfolk who immediately spot the camping bullies to San Franciscan Sarah, who's visiting the boy she'd befriended over the summer. With a hunting dog and gun, Noah poses a threat to Jackson and his woodsy companions, especially if he tells potentially-armed adults he's spotted wolves or coyotes. So Jackson, Sarah, and the woodfolk make a plan to protect Oldenglen. This laudable tale is more exciting than the series' first, which Mason co-wrote with his father. Handling exposition thoroughly but efficiently, the author dives right into the story to establish the new villains. Noah, et. al., even if mere eighth-graders, are genuinely scary; he and older brother Nate, in a discernible black truck, follow Jackson's bus all the way home. Despite further distress (Jackson's missing porcupine buddy Squiffle) and the occasional menacing animal (a bull elk literally looking for a fight), the narrative's predominantly jaunty. The good guys, for one, are surprisingly skilled at psychological warfare, opting to disturb the bullies' sleep and campsite, which results in hilarious directives: "Send in the moles." [214] Jackson battles relatable issues, too, including loneliness, feeling like both wolf and human with no real pack of his own. A morally-sound hero who earns sympathy and cheers as a champion of the wildlife.
