Massive Congratulations to A WOLF CALLED WANDER  by Rosanne Parry and A WHALE OF THE WILD by Rosanne Parry and illustrated by Lindsay Moore (Greenwillow Books), which have started off the year once again on the New York Times Middle Grade Paperback Bestseller list for the month of January! A WOLF CALLED WANDER has been on either the New York Times Hardback or Paperback lists for an incredible 2 1/2 years, and A WHALE OF THE WILD joins it for the very first time this month.

Praise for A WOLF CALLED WANDER:

“Riveting and lyrical, A WOLF CALLED WANDER is a vibrantly imagined celebration of the natural world. Don’t miss this dazzling tour de force.” — —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“Inspired by the story of OR-7, a real wolf naturalists tracked in the wild, Parry perfectly conveys her character’s curious, alert, and social nature.. . .a page-turning narrative. . . .deserving of a place alongside Sheila Burnford’s The Incredible Journey, Jack London’s White Fang, and other classic animal adventure novels.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)

“Rife with details of the myriad scents, sounds, tastes, touches, and sights in Swift/Wander’s primal existence, the immediacy of his intimate, first-person, present-tense narration proves deeply moving. . . .A sympathetic, compelling introduction to wolves from the perspective of one wolf and his memorable journey.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Wander’s first-person narration…lends a unique perspective and immediacy to the story. . .Armiño’s realistic black-and-white illustrations fill in gaps, making this memorable adventure a beautiful one as well.” — ALA Booklist

“Parry doesn’t pull any punches in her portrayal of the brutal reality of the natural world. . .Readers who liked the Hunters series for the gritty authenticity of its natural world will feel right at home.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Parry offers a wolf’s-eye view of the Pacific Northwest’s forests, mountains, and prairies in this harrowing survival tale based on the story of OR-7, a wolf electronically tracked by scientists. . . .An action-packed novel perfect for reluctant readers as well as animal lovers.” — Publishers Weekly

“Inspired by a true story, Rosanne Parry evokes the Pacific Northwest with lilting, sensory-driven ambient details. . . . Parry’s choice to have Swift narrate his own perilous journey brings an on-the-ground intimacy to the story. . . . Parry has written about being far from home before . . . it’s a terrain she captures expertly.” — The New York Times Book Review

Praise for A WHALE OF THE WILD:

“Parry creates a spellbinding, heart-stopping adventure for middle-grade readers—this time about a pod of orca whales and their plight in today’s Salish Sea. . . . Parry’s thorough research, observation, and creative writing combine to share the marvelous matriarchal familial world of orcas . . . Her descriptive narrative rises in intensity to match each new danger and resolves with a bittersweet yet hopeful finish. . . . Excellent.” — Booklist (starred review)

“After a tsunami devastates their habitat in the Salish Sea, a young orca and her brother embark on a remarkable adventure. . . . Vega and Deneb tell their harrowing story, engaging young readers while educating them about the marine ecosystem. . . . A dramatic, educational, authentic whale of a tale.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Vega is a young orca whale being trained by her mother to one day be the group’s Wayfinder . . . But when she and her young brother are separated from the pod . . . Vega must use her wayfinding skills to reunite them with their elders. . . . Parry weav[es] a great deal of information about orcas and their habits into the narrative.” — School Library Journal

“After just a few pages, readers will be completely immersed in the underwater world of Rosanne Parry’s A Whale of the Wild . . . [Parry] skillfully incorporates details about orcas as well as the many threats to their existence. . . . A Whale of the Wild offers brisk drama alongside insight and wisdom, demonstrating the vital importance of taking care of each other and the world we live in—above and below the surface.” — BookPage.com

“[An] enthralling new novel . . . Parry writes in a tradition of animal adventure novels that address environmental issues from the animals’ point of view . . . A Whale of the Wild is a dreamily written, slyly educational, rousing maritime adventure.” — New York Times Book Review

“A story about two young orcas, Vega and her little brother, Deneb. . . . When Vega acts impulsively, the siblings become separated from their pod. In searching for their lost family, they discover friends — and grave danger.” — Washington Post

“Vega, a late-adolescent orca whale . . . lives in the Salish Sea, an area of stunning ecological richness and diversity . . . When there’s an earthquake with its resulting tsunami, Vega and Deneb become separated from their pod. Parry does a convincing job of presenting orca life in fresh language that rings true. . . . [and] becomes increasingly heartbreaking as the characters try to deal with the fracturing of their world. The story contains gracefully integrated information . . . Detailed black-and-white illustrations beautifully support a powerful portrait of nature under threat.” — Horn Book Magazine

“Two young orcas search for lost family, meet unique friends and deal with the dangerous impact of pollutants and global warming on their undersea world, which is vividly rendered in this novel through words and pictures.” — Washington Post

See the full list here: https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/middle-grade-paperback-monthly/

Rosanne Parry is the author of the acclaimed novels A Wolf Called Wander, A Whale of the Wild, Heart of a Shepherd, Second Fiddle, and Written in Stone. She has taught writing at schools, conferences, educational nonprofits, and online at the Loft Literary Center and works as an independent bookseller. She and her family live in an old farmhouse in Portland, Oregon. She writes in a tree house in her backyard.

Lindsay Moore is an artist and writer with roots in Northern Michigan. She studied marine biology and fine art at Southampton College on Long Island and figure drawing at the Art Students League of New York, and earned her master of science in medical and scientific illustration from Medical College of Georgia, now Augusta University. Lindsay Moore lives with her family in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Rosanne and Lindsay are represented by Fiona Kenshole.

Share: