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Monday, 5 July 2021

Review: Wolf Girl #5: Across the Sea

New adventures await Rupert, Gwen and the dog pack as they continue to search for their parents. With everyone caring and protecting for one another – dogs especially, and Gwen’s ability to communicate with the dogs, they continue their quest.

Winter has set in. Rupert, Gwen and the pack have left the Reptile Park behind them, staying close to tree covered areas to avoid detection. Sunrise the wolf, has chosen to leave his parents behind and stay with the pack. Without food, they are surviving a day at a time as the dogs hunt for whatever they can find whenever it’s needed.

The printouts of the truck routes that Rupert made at the enemy base depict a familiarity in the destinations.

Again, the group is unprepared for all that can go wrong. Rupert drops the GPS tracker and it smashes. 

Tiny chases a snow fox across the frozen ice and falls through a crack into the chilly waters. Gwen is swept way on a sheet of ice after rescuing the little dog, but is saved by Eagle who manages to push the floating ice to the edge.

They reach the abandoned village of Gulfoss by the sea and immediately look for food in the stores that have long been looted, but find very little. But it’s a place to sleep in for the night.

The sound of trucks setting out wakes the group. They follow them, always moving like ghosts to remain invisible. A ship is docked at the jetty. Soldiers are herding people from trucks onto the gangboard; from the dock to the ship. 

From their hiding place, Gwen checks the people in the hope of seeing her parents. But it is Rupert’s parents that are amongst the captives. Can they find a way to get to them?

There is nothing too hard for the resilient, agile and strong Wolf Girl and her pack. Determined to gain access to the prisoners, they must plan things carefully. Fate brings them into contact with the cleaning lady after they have secretly boarded the ship. The dogs fight off guards and find a way to get off the ship. 

Fights, challenges and escapades follow.

The captain’s dog, Pirate, joins the group as he has lost his master. Courage and resourcefulness play a big part, as the pack head out once again towards a road that leads to Tunny, the town that Rupert’s parents last saw Gwen’s mum and dad.

The adventures and challenges they have lived together binds the group even tighter together. Eagle will make a sacrifice, while Rupert makes an extraordinary decision.

A special mention must be given to the superlative illustrations by Lachlan Creagh that bring the fast-paced and gripping text to life.

There is a removable Bonus Wolf Girl Adventure at the end of the book.

Title:Wolf Girl #5: Across the Sea
Author: Anh Do
Illustrator: Lachlan Creagh
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $ 15.99
Publication Date: 2 July 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978160879044
For ages: 8 – 14
Type: Junior Fiction