The police are called to stop two teens ransacking a small-town grocery store. They have no identification. And they won’t speak a word. And the small town of Kokanee Creek is suddenly plunged into a sinister mystery that only #1 bestseller James Patterson could have written.
Two teens appear out of nowhere, ransacking a small-town grocery and attacking the police officers who come to investigate. Their clothes are torn and filthy, their hands and bare feet callused, they have fangs. They’re sister and brother, alone against the world. Where did they come from? Raised by wolves, they say.
Kai and Holo are taken in by the police chief and his wife, and begin adjusting to life in a small town, attending school and going on dates. But humans, they find, are the most vicious animals. And the mystery of their upbringing brings dark and powerful forces to Kokanee Creek, tearing the town apart and threatening the lives of everyone they love. How will the wolves survive? How will Kai and Holo?
Raised By Wolves is a suspenseful and original adventure story from James Patterson and Emily Raymond. The story follows two teens found ransacking a convenience store in the small town of Kokanee Creek, Idaho, wearing rags, acting feral, and claiming to be raised by wolves. After spending a night in jail, they reveal they are siblings, Kai and Holo, presenting themselves as surprisingly well spoken. The police chief decides to take them home as he tries to figure out where they come from and who their parents are. The story has a slow-burn start and builds in intensity and action in the second half. The story features some popular literary tropes, including found family, slow-burn romance, and the powerful protagonist.
The authors do a great job with the character development in this story with the use of meaningful dialogue and evolving relationships. The story is mostly told from the perspective of seventeen-year-old Kai, who speaks with a lot of emotion and maturity beyond her years, despite being raised in the forest. Even still, Kai’s POV gives the story a YA feel, especially when the siblings are put into high school and other teenage characters are introduced. The relationship between Kai and Holo is very endearing, as they are constantly looking out for each other and refuse to become separated. When they are bullied at school, they use their wolf-honed skills to retaliate. Kai’s new experiences in the real world, her newfound family, and a love interest add additional layers to the narrative, making it also a coming-of-age story. For readers who are expecting this to be a typical James Patterson mystery, you may be disappointed. Fortunately, the story does get more thrilling and action-packed later on, culminating in a series of twists and an open-ended, thought-provoking ending that may either delight or disappoint readers.
The story also has an underlying subplot exploring the relationship between humans, nature, and wildlife. There are several scenes where the wolves demonstrate their fierce loyalty towards the siblings, whom they lived alongside for years. The bond between them is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, as they become the hunted and tragedy strikes later in the story. The wolves also have their own story with an equally powerful ending.
In summary, this story is a mixed-genre, suspenseful adventure story with an overall YA vibe. Narrators Laura Fortgang and Robb Moreira deliver very convincing and compelling performances of Kai and the police chief and provide distinct personalities and voices for all the side characters, making for an enjoyable and easy listening experience. If you’re a first-time reader of James Patterson or enjoy YA mystery or adventure stories, this book is for you. It can easily be enjoyed in a single sitting and give a taste of the author’s popular writing style!
