Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin will be featured on the Radio 2 Book Club on Monday 4 January.
The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK.
We have two reading group sets (10 copies in each) available to win – just take a look at our Noticeboard.
We have an exclusive extract available for you to read as well as a discussion guide for your reading group (SPOILER ALERT in discussion guide).
Wolf by Wolf
The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball.
Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female victor, Adele Wolfe. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?
Selection panel review
Our reading panel of staff from The Reading Agency and public library staff loved Wolf by Wolf – here are some of their comments:
“A ‘what if’ fantasy about an assassination attempt on Hitler, set in Germany 1956 when the Nazis have won the War and are determined to rule the World. The plot is exciting and fast-moving, with more twists and turns than an Olympic slalom course. The plot switches smoothly between heroine Yael’s childhood experiences and present-day trials, with a final, unexpected twist in the tale. A ‘right good read’ as we say in Yorkshire! Made me want to get to the end ASAP!”
“I really enjoyed this YA book. It was well written and I felt that it took me on a journey back in time but with a slightly futuristic twist. This was a 5 star read for me, it had excellent pace and an engaging female lead who I loved. I flew through the pages of Wolf By Wolf and was totally invested in the book from start to finish and I am already looking forward to the second book in the trilogy.”
“An amazing story about a 6 year old girl caught up in the horrors of Nazi Germany and medical experimentation. A different perspective to the usual WWII stories. Yael, the heroine of the story, has her camp number tattooed over with 5 wolves. One for each of the people she cared for who died as a result of persecution. She participates in the Axis Tour, the race across the world to win the favour of Hitler & Emperor Hirohito – her prize will be the dance with the Fuhrer and her mission? To end his life. A powerful story of survival, choices and identity.”
About the author
Ryan Graudin was born in Charleston, South Carolina with a severe case of wanderlust. When she’s not travelling, she’s busy photographing weddings, writing and spending time with her husband and wolf-dog.
A word from Ryan
“Thank you, thank you for selecting Wolf By Wolf for the Radio 2 Book Club. Putting such an alternate spin on WWII history was a big risk for me, and I’m so glad that Yael’s story has resonated with such seasoned readers. To have my novel championed in the UK is a dream come true for me (the American Anglophile) and I can’t wait to eavesdrop on the Book Club discussions.”
Get involved
Tune in to Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show on Monday 4 January to hear a live interview with Ryan Graudin talking about her book.
Have you read Wolf by Wolf? You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter, post a review, or add it to your group’s reading list. You can also follow author Ryan Graudin on Twitter.
Want to find out more? Take a look at the Radio 2 Book Club Twitter feed or find out more on the Radio 2 Book Club website
