Wolf Brother Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Peoples of Finland and our BookBrowse Review of Wolf Brother.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

About the Book

After his father is killed by a demon-possessed bear, Torak is left alone in the ancient Forest to find his way to the Mountain to ask the World Spirit for help. Captured by the Raven Clan, Torak learns about his father’s past and why the Soul-Eater created the demon bear. Led by his guide, a young orphaned wolf, and with the aid of a young woman who helps him escape from the Raven Clan, Torak seeks to fulfill the promise he made to his father—that he would find the Mountain, or die trying. During their arduous journey to the Mountain, Torak must locate the three most powerful pieces of the Nanuak in order to gain the World Spirit’s help. Only then will it be possible to vanquish the demon bear, but Torak’s battle with evil is far from over.


Pre-reading Activity

Create packets with information about prehistoric clans from different continents. Divide the class into small groups and assign each a prehistoric clan to research. With the help of the packets, ask students to research the traditions and culture of their clan. What is the hierarchy within the clan? How is their culture different or similar to cultures in today’s world?


Discussion Questions

1. Why is Torak so upset and bewildered by his dying father’s insistence that he swear to find the Mountain of the World Spirit (pp. 7–8)? Does Torak understand why his father has asked him to find a mountain that he thought was imaginary?
2. What does Torak’s vision, when he finds the lone wolf cub, have to do with his father’s prediction that Torak’s guide will find him (p. 19)? Do you think Torak has any idea at this point what his connection is with Wolf?
3. Wolf calls Torak a Tall Tailless and considers him a pack-brother. Why doesn’t Wolf respond in a similar manner to Renn? Does Wolf’s opinion of the female tailless change with time? If so, why?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of HarperTrophy. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.