Lone Wolf

The Oldenglen Chronicles Volume 2

Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
348 Pages
Reviewed on 06/02/2016
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Author Biography

Robin co-authored Oldenglen, the first book in The Oldenglen Chronicles series, with his father, Michael. Robin is continuing The Oldenglen Chronicles series himself, and published the second book, Lone Wolf, in April, 2016. The third book will be published later in 2016.

Robin was born in England. The story behind Oldenglen came from the time the family was renting a large estate in British Columbia, Canada, many years ago. As a young boy, Robin grew up with the written word. Michael would read to him every night, including such works as the Narnia books, Wind in the Willows, the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Oldenglen Chronicles is effectively the result of that upbringing.

Lone Wolf is a finalist in the 2016 Foreword Indies for Juvenile Fiction (Children's); a Silver Medalist in the 2017 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards for Young Reader: Fiction (8-12 years) Children's/YA; and received an Honorable Mention in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2016/2017 for Teen - Age 12 - 16.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Kris Moger for Readers' Favorite

Lone Wolf by Robin Mason is the creative tale of Jackson Wolfe, a boy who inherits wolf traits from his father's bloodline. Having moved from England to America, he lives by a magical place called the Oldenglen, which is owned by the grandparents of his best friend, Sarah. At the start of the school year, he becomes the target of the school bullies. With the help of Sarah, the animals, and his lab partner, Daniel, he fights to save the glen and himself from the bullies' destructive hatred. All the while, he struggles to keep the wolf inside him at bay. As events turn desperate, his fear of losing control grows, and threatens to destroy everything.

In Lone Wolf Robin Mason has created a marvellous world filled with suspense and wonderful characters. While bullying is a common plot trope in books for young people, Mason does a great job of creating a story with a fresh and new way. His descriptions are vivid and rich and transported me into the world from the first scene. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves magical, talking animals, suspense-filled adventures, and relatable characters. The interaction between Jackson and the animals is natural and avoids falling into the corny pit. Also, the pacing and action kept me reading, wanting to find out what happens next. All the characters were engaging and rich, with varying personalities and magic that made me wish I lived in Oldenglen. This is unquestionably a book worth reading and a series worth following.

Chris Fischer

Lone Wolf, the second offering in The Oldenglen Chronicles series by author Robin Mason, is definitely a worthwhile read for middle grade readers. Following the exploits of a unique boy, 12-year-old Jax, the story has elements of adventure, fantasy and good fiction all rolled up into one book. Jax has a problem. There is a wolf within him, and he has not quite mastered how to control it. He has moved to Oldenglen, a mountainous and remote area of Oregon, and thinks he might have found an area where he will be able to hone his skills. But when a terrible bully provokes a reaction from Jax, he's led down a path he hadn't intended, and it seems unlikely that he will be able to come back from it.

Lone Wolf is a great book for middle level readers, both boys and girls. The author, Robin Mason, has created a complex and interesting character in Jax and many young readers will easily be able to relate to his feelings of exclusion, of wanting to belong, and of believing that he has to hide something within himself in order to make it in the world. Middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy, adventurous and fast paced stories, or parents looking to engage their children in reading should give this book a chance. I can easily give this book my highest recommendation, and look forward to seeing how Robin Mason continues The Oldenglen Chronicles series. If his future efforts are anything like this book, they will certainly be worth a read!

Tracy Slowiak

In a great second installment in The Oldenglen Series by author Robin Mason, Lone Wolf is a story that will keep middle grade readers engaged from the start all the way through to the very last page. Follow the story of our protagonist, twelve-year-old Jax, as he adjusts to his new home in Oldenglen, hidden within the wilds of the mountains of Oregon. Jax has a secret, and one that he is pretty sure he can keep hidden in this remote area. But when a school bully provokes him, the wolf inside him surfaces, and Jax isn't able to contain who he really is anymore. Jax's strange ability has taken him down a dangerous path, but will it do so again? You'll need to read the book to find out!

I very much enjoyed Lone Wolf. Author Robin Mason has a true gift of creating characters that young readers will be able to connect with and relate to, and will truly come to care about. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. The story line is exciting, adventurous, and full of life lessons about bravery, friendship, and the difficulties of being different in some way. Any middle grade reader who enjoys books with an exciting and heartfelt tale will definitely like Lone Wolf. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to seeing what author Robin Mason has in store for readers!

Rabia Tanveer

Lone Wolf: The Oldenglen Chronicles Volume 2 by Robin Mason is about Jax, a 12-year-old with a secret that has the potential to change his life if it is leaked. Jax is not your usual 12-year-old. Sure, he goes to school like every other kid, has a best friend named Sarah, and does not get along with certain kids, but he is not one of them. Not really. There is a wild beast inside him, just waiting to come out, but Jax has it locked inside. The beast is only unleashed in the forests of Oldenglen.

However, when the school bully and his gang tease the wolf inside Jax, things go from bad to worse. The secret is out and now both Jax and the bully are inside the forest. One is looking for revenge and the other is looking for refuge. The forest is not a safe place for any 12-year-old, not even Jax. There are dangers inside that forest and if they are not careful, they may become the next prey.

HOLY MOLY! This is the way a novel should be written. Jax is a cool kid and very level headed for a 12-year-old. He is sensible, as he should be with the amount of pressure on him. The fantastic elements of the novel were really cool and so were the other characters, especially Sarah. She is the type of friend I would want in my life. All in all, this is a wonderful, enigmatic novel and a very cool series.