Early Book Review: Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac

Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac is a children's novel with the expected publication date of September 28 2011. This book will appeal to guys and girls around nine through their teens. The novel offers a unique take on legends paired with espionage and a variety of cultures. Luke King has a mixed heritage, and knows a great deal about a variety of other cultures because of his upbringing. His parents taught him about his Native American heritage, but thanks to his father working undercover, he also knows a multitude of foreign languages, self-defense and weaponry skills. He knows that because of all this, his childhood has been very far from normal. After his mother's death, Luke and his father are living in a trailer, and his father is drinking and doing drugs to dull the loss. Luke just wants to be normal, to blend in with the crowd. Then things start to get harder, Luke's friend and long time crush just might share his attraction, and a group of exchange students is becoming unnervingly interested in him, as is an executive at a local company. As things escalate, Luke discovers just how different he is when his father is taken and he uncovers new secrets about himself, his town, and his schoolmates.

Wolf Mark begins like many young adult novels, with a teenager struggling to fit in and avoid attention that might bring trouble to his door. However, that is where the typical ends. Luke's upbringing has been that of a spy in training. He knows how to use all kinds of weapons, fight and speak a variety of language. His infallible memory provides him with cultural and factual insights as he encounter things he might not otherwise understand. Then there is the little fact that Luke is a skinwalker, and there are other varieties of paranormal people all around. As he discovers his heritage, he also discovers vampires or Upyrs are among his classmates and an evil plot to capture and use the DNA of those that are different to create soldiers and living weapons. The tid-bits of individual cultures, and some history and language, is used extremely well in Wolf Mark . My only real complaint is that Luke was a little too perfect. In his search to balance his nature, even before he understands what it is, he seems a little too thoughtful and contained. Although, that is partially explained by his upbringing. His strange effect on electronic never really meshed for me either, since it only really seemed to affect his particular branch of paranormal. The inclusion of several different cultures, languages, histories and legends really worked for me and added an unexpected depth to the story. The multiple cultures are actually the focus of the new Tu Books publishing imprint. I am looking forward to seeing what else Tu and Bruchac publish in the future.

Wolf Mark struck me as something fresh and new in an overabundance of novels with paranormal elements. The blend of humor, science fiction and some of the more obscure paranormal creature legends made Wolf Mark stand out. I recommend Wolf Mark to everyone age nine and older. Older children, tweens, teens and adults will each find something worthwhile in this entertaining and unique adventure.