Wolf by Wolf

One girl’s mission to win a race and kill Hitler

By: Ryan Graudin

Narrated by: Christa Lewis

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the author of The Walled City comes a fast-paced and innovative novel that will leave you breathless.

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, they host the Axis Tour: An annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The prize? 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 arm are a constant reminder 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 be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and stay true to her mission?

©2015 Ryan Graudin (P)2015 Hachette Audio

A well-deserved five star listen

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin is a young adult alternative history novel set in a world in which the Nazis won the Second World War. We follow our protagonist, Yael, who is a death camp survivor, and her mission to kill Hitler. This mission hangs on the fact that Yael’s experiences in the death camp gave her the ability to change her appearance to look like any other woman. She must impersonate famous motor cyclist Adele Wolfe, the only person in recent times who has been able to get close to the Führer. To achieve this goal she must first compete in a trans continental bike race from Germania (Berlin) to Tokyo while not revealing her secret to Adele’s brother and former flame Luka Löwe.

I have to say this book really got under my skin. I was completely invested in Yael’s story and rooting for her - I lay awake at night thinking of her story.

What I liked

The protagonist. I loved that Yael is a blend of kick ass heroine and vulnerability. Graudin did an excellent job of making the mission personal to Yael through the use of flashbacks and the imagery of the wolf tattoos. Her relationships with both Felix and Luka were well written and added great extra tension to the story. Yael’s childhood hardships and her struggles to come to terms with her past made her a wonderfully engaging heroine.

The audio narration. After hearing the Audible sample, I immediately chose to experience this in audiobook format. Ms Lewis had me when she pronounced “Adele” correctly in the German way (Ah-day-luh.) The correct pronunciation of the German words really added to the story for me. Ms Lewis was also able to bring across the different voices and personalities excellently. She broke my heart as well when portraying young Yael in the death camp calling for her mama. This is definitely one to listen to.

The writing style. Ms Graudin has a writing style which is both poetic and immediate. I particularly enjoyed the animal imagery throughout the book with Yael’s being likened to a she wolf and Luka Löwe’s being compared to a lion. The way in which the wolf tattoos were symbolic of Yael’s past - and motivation for her mission - and her struggle to turn her past into a strength was very well written.

The pacing. In general, the pacing was excellent. The tension of the cross continental race kept the plot moving along and the flashbacks were integrated at appropriate times. However for me personally, the interruption of the race-flashback-race flow at a certain point in Russia didn’t work so well - I kept wanting them to just get back on with the race.

What I didn’t like

Other than the minor pacing issue, there was nothing I didn’t like about the book. I will definitely be checking out the sequel when it become available.

I gave Wolf by Wolf a well deserved five stars out of five.

Pulse pounding!

Easily one of the best things I've downloaded in five years of Audible membership! Literally made my pulse pound - suspense and beautiful interplay of fiction and history.

Amazing, couldn't put it down.

Anne Frank meets Xmen.
This book was clean and easy to read. Can't wait to see what happens to Felix.

Great story with interesting characters

LOVED this fast-paced story with excellent writing and good character development. I'd call it historical fiction, except there's more to it...a couple of romance and science fiction elements that manage to add to and not detract from the story. The main character is quite likeable, the motorcycle race is exciting, and the character interaction adds depth, not to mention the flashbacks/memories of the concentration camp. Highly recommend.

Great narrator

What did you love best about Wolf by Wolf?

I really liked the way the alternate history was handled. Yael was intriguing and driven as well as vulnerable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. This book touched on some fairly dark stuff.

Surprising, sensitive, gripping and real

Well worth every word, every minute spent listening.
Superb performance by Christa Lewis. Dead on accents, deeply interpretive acting. This work came a live on her tounge. Wow! Mastery!

This riveting tale is vividly written and not predictable. The plot is outlined by the author and generously believable twists are still startling, entertaining and well Crafted. Believable, fascinating real characters, with flaws, understandable.realistic and spun out in sometimes frustrating, pace slowing, suspenseful detail.

Grab this one and let yourself into.this tale. You will not regret the choice!

Gripping

gripping and heart rending story. narrator did a fantastic job. gonna have to buy book 2 asap! will probably buy physical copies, too!

excellent

The story was a very well told tale, captivating and exciting. The narration was excellent. I really appreciate the proper pronunciation of names and the accents were perfect.

A new favorite!

I have nothing bad to say about this book. It is a new favorite. Wonderful!

my first historical fiction

it was good for my first historical fiction book ever. I will definitely enjoy the second book