Tuesday 17 May 2016

Book Review: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Title: Wolf by Wolf
Author: Ryan Graudin 
Published: 5th May 2016
Publisher: Orion Children's Books



I can't exactly explain why as I would never have wanted it to have happened, but I have always had a slight fascination with the idea of what the world would have been like if Hitler won the war. Wolf by Wolf gives us this alternate reality and I completely ignored my toppling to-be-read pile and started reading this straight away.

I have read one other young adult novel focusing on the modern day aftermath of Hitler winning the war and although it was good, it was missing the action that Wolf by Wolf has, consequently making Wolf by Wolf by far my favourite.

This had everything I wanted from this type of novel and more. We get a close in-depth look of only ten years after Hitler took full power and how much further the Nazi's have come in such a short space of time. We also reflect back to the real story that we know and Yael, our protagonist, who was mercilessly chosen for experiments during her horrific time at Auschwitz. This cruel experiment unexpectedly becomes Yael's savour, giving her an ability that helps her to hide from the Nazis and results in her escape. Intent on revenge, Yael must enter and win the annual treacherous motorcycle race from Berlin to Tokyo as an imposter to be able to get to the Fuhrer and annihilate him. 

Two things that gave this story it's edge were Yael's ability and the motorcycle race. Both very unexpected, but just worked so well! You are left constantly on the edge of your seat with this pacy, action-packed read with shocking twists and unexpected developments that have you racing on with Yael to discover what will happen next. 

The action isn't the only thing that made this the incredible unputdownable story that it is, the motorcycle race, isn't just a race, it is fraught with human emotions such as jealousy, love , hidden agendas and the fight to succeed no matter what. Yael is a character so conflicted with what she knows she must do, but not harm other people in the process and see them merely as Nazi followers- there are more to people than meet the eye.

This book was nothing short of incredible, it has topped my favourite reads this year by miles. This is a book that I want everyone to read, it was fascinating and just oh so good. I don't think my review will be able to do it justice.

Wolf by Wolf was gritty, raw, heart-stopping and scarily believable, the wait for book two will be nothing short of agonising.


       


Wolf by Wolf is out now



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