The Devouring Wolf

On the night of the Full Moon Rite, white-cued Riley Callahan is ready to “finally, finally become a werewolf,” make her werewolf moms proud, and meet her prime pack—five wolves linked by magic “who would trust and support you for the rest of your life.” But when the ceremony takes place, Riley and four other 12-year-olds in the community don’t shift, suggesting that something’s gone awry. With the safety of the pack in question, Riley and her companions attempt to solve a generations-old mystery around the mythical Devouring Wolf, rumored to consume young werewolves’ magic. The pack must learn patience, teamwork, and to trust one another, things Riley struggles to navigate alongside her disappointment around being “wolfless,” butting heads with her parents, and coming into her own queer identity. This character-driven duology opener from Parker (the Seafire trilogy) centers an intersectionally inclusive werewolf community that has built traditions around supporting its youngest members. Pressing third-person narration, interspersed with revelatory diary entries unearthing the pack’s past, portrays a complex magical world with plenty to be revealed. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lara Perkins, Andrea Brown Literary. (Aug.)