Book Review: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Title: Wolf by Wolf

Author: Ryan Graudin

Series/Standalone: Wolf by Wolf Duology (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Pages: 388

Publisher: 2015

Year Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Format: Audiobook & Library Copy

"Her story begins on a train.

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, 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 in Tokyo.

Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arms are a constant reminds of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael 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 racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele's twin brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move.

But as Yael grows 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?

From the author of THE WALLED CITY comes a fast-paced and innovative novel that will leave you breathless."

My Rating: 4/5

This book has so much going for it. Alternate reality, assassin teen who doesn't have the whole "chosen one"/"pick me" character vibe, and a thrilling plot. I enjoyed the fact that the author chose to feed us pieces of the past little by little so we could understand where the story was going, but not every aspect of Yael's past. I also liked having her start to further explore the shades of grey between good and evil. Not that there aren't obvious villains, but there are people who are surviving through this terrible time by any means necessary even if it just means protecting their own family (not saying it's right, just saying that it's understandable). I also loved the changing atmosphere that came with the race. I am so curious to see where this duology goes and hope to pick up the sequel soon.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny