Book Club Discussion Questions
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 fathers 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 fatherthat 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 Spirits help. Only
then will
it be possible to vanquish the demon bear, but Toraks 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 todays world?
Discussion Questions
- Why is Torak so upset and bewildered by his dying fathers insistence that he
swear to find the Mountain of the World Spirit (pp. 78)? Does Torak understand
why his father has asked him to find a mountain that he thought was imaginary?
- What does Toraks vision, when he finds the lone wolf cub, have to do with
his
fathers prediction that Toraks guide will find him (p. 19)? Do you think Torak
has any idea at this point what his connection is with Wolf?
- Wolf calls Torak a Tall Tailless and considers him a pack-brother. Why
doesnt
Wolf respond in a similar manner to Renn? Does Wolfs opinion of the female
tailless change with time? If so, why?
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
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.