Book Title: Viper’s Daughter (available here)
Authors: Michelle Paver
Publisher: Zephyr
Publication Date: April 2020
Most Suitable For: Upper KS2
Reviewed By: Chris Whitney
As a newcomer to the Wolf Brother series by Michelle Paver, I was interested to see if this book could be read as a standalone; it certainly can! Michelle is an international award-winning author and this book is the 7th in the Wolf Brother series for which she has won critical acclaim. The author herself has written, “The characters have never gone away, not for me and not for readers and I began seriously to wonder what actually did happen to Torak, Renn and Wolf after the end of the series?”
So, the reader is plunged into a new adventure with these characters and the Stone-Age world in which they live. Their adventure takes the reader into a world of demons, mammoths and ravenous ice bears and an enemy more evil than any they’ve previously encountered.
The reader picks up the adventure two summers after the end of the previous story and finds Torak and Renn living in the Forest with their faithful pack-brother, Wolf. This life, however, changes when Renn mysteriously disappears. She is forced to leave when she realizes Torak is in danger – and she’s the threat. The quest to find Renn and to understand why she left begins as Torak and Wolf brave the Far North to find her.
The reader learns a great amount about Stone Age life and the natural world from the depth of minutely researched detail that the author weaves into the story. A prehistoric world is vividly created; the reader is taken deep into the practices of ancient clans and survival skills whilst travelling with Torak, Wolf and Renn all the way to the Edge of the World. On the journey, they travel through frozen lands, battle demons and engage in a battle between good and evil. The strong characters are believable and each chapter carries the reader to the next challenging episode in their quest. The threats seem real, the danger is palpable. It is certainly a page—turner!
This is a great introduction to those new to the series and a welcome return for loyal Wolf Brother fans. The launch comes alongside news of the Wolf Brother series being turned into a TV show.
The publishers have also produced an accompanying 23-page activity pack to go alongside Viper’s Daughter, which is perfectly suited for home learning, and also a set of teachers’ notes with discussion points and activities.
Viper’s Daughter by Michelle Paver is out now, published by Zephyr, an imprint of Head of Zeus, priced £12.99 in hardback.
Click here to download the activity pack.
Click here to download the teachers’ notes.
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You can order Viper’s Daughter online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Review Panel member Chris for reviewing it. Check out the other stops on the blog tour, too.
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
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> View our printable year group booklists.
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