Book review - Gone Wolf

 

Title: Gone Wolf

Author: Amber McBride

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett 

                      The Giver by Lois Lowry

Rating:

 

thought provoking

Summary (provided by publisher): In the future, a Black girl known only as Inmate Eleven is kept confined—to be used as a biological match for the president's son, should he fall ill. She is called a Blue—the color of sadness. She lives in a small-small room with her dog, who is going wolf more often—he’s pacing and imagining he’s free. Inmate Eleven wants to go wolf too—she wants to know why she feels so Blue and what is beyond her small-small room.
In the present, Imogen lives outside of Washington, D.C. The pandemic has distanced her from everyone but her mother and her therapist. Imogen has intense phobias and nightmares of confinement. Her two older brothers used to help her, but now she’s on her own, until a college student helps her see the difference between being Blue and sad, and Black and empowered.

My opinion: This is a book that is going to require some patience and emotional intelligence to properly process. At first, it seems quite straightforward. The narrative about Inmate Eleven is clear and easy to follow. The messaging is accessible and the general thrust of the plot is simple enough. Then, at a pivotal moment, the focus shifts. And we begin to understand what this book is really about. That's the point that requires a great deal more reflection and careful consideration to properly process. It's a fantastic read, well worth the effort.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Stocking cap

 In addition to my Christmas crafts, I spent December making a stocking cap for my mother. This is a style that was popular when she was a kid but she never had one. I was determined that she would get one this year. The pattern I used was sized for a child but it took very little fiddling to get it adjusted for an adult head.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 1

 It's Christmas Eve and that means I like to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. This didn't turn out quite as I had planned. I was going to make a little pocket that I would applique to the front of the star. I think I like this version better.

Wishing each of you a joyful, peaceful Christmas.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 2

 If you've seen one of my countdowns before, you know I like to include at least one puppet. Some of my favorites have been inspired by holiday foods. And that includes this year's Christmas cookie.

The cookie is made primarily of a foam mattress pad covered with t-shirt scraps. The sprinkles are diamond painting gems. There's a bamboo skewer anchored in the top half and a channel made from a section of straw in the bottom half to allow for movement.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 3

 When I spotted this Christmas dinosaur online, I knew I wanted to make my own version. I made mine with cardboard and construction paper rather than wrapping it with yarn. It's a simple thing but one I rather enjoyed.

Crafty Christmas countdown: 4

 I wasn't going to make any Doctor Who themed Christmas crafts this year. Then I sat down to make a scottie dog pin out of felt and this happened instead.

 

that felt insisted on being K9

Once the Doctor Who door opened, I figured I'd just roll with it and made this ornament as well.

 

Crafty Christmas countdown: 5

 I've never been into the idea of a Christmas village but my opinion changed a little when I found these little wooden houses to paint. This year I just decorated the houses but it's possible that they will spawn a whole scene in future.