Module 9 - Wolf Rider by Avi

Bibliography:

Avi. (1986). Wolf Rider. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 0020415133

Summary:

Andy and his father just moved to an apartment a year after Andy's mother died in a car accident. As Andy was getting ready to leave to go to a party that night, the phone rings. Andy answers it and the voice on the other line claims that he just killed someone, a girl named Nina. The voice says is name is Zeke, and that the girl went to the college in town. Andy tries to keep Zeke on the phone for as long as he could, having sent his friend to cross the road and use a phone there to call the police to have them trace the call. But the call ends and the police don't trace the call. This starts Andy off on an investigation to discover who this Zeke person is once he realizes that Nina is a real person, attending the college in town where Andy's father works as a math professor. As Andy continues his investigation, people at all turns think he is crazy and that the phone call was a prank. They think he should just forget about the whole thing, but Andy is determined to help Nina. So, even though his father gets angry and upset at him many times, straining their relationship, and the police constantly turn him away, and the guidance counselor at school makes him attend meetings with her, he still strives to figure out the truth. Even Nina, when Andy confronts her about the whole matter, thinks he is mad and calls the police on him. But in the end, Andy reasons that Zeke must be a part of the math department, as they would be the only one with their new phone number, which wasn't listed yet. He calls each person in the department under the guise of calling from the newspaper, and finally finds the voice of Zeke: Dr. Lucas. With a series of phone calls to Dr. Lucas, Andy gets him to come to a meeting point where he knows Nina to be, hoping that Dr. Lucas will reveal himself as Zeke and have proof for the police. But, instead, Dr. Lucas kidnaps Andy and drives him out to a cliff. There they have a struggle, and the car drives off the cliff with Andy managing to get out of the car in time. In the end, he decides to tell no one about what happened. His father, upon finding a cufflink that he knows belongs to Dr. Lucas in Andy's pocket, decides not to confront his son about it and throws it away to protect his son.

Impressions:

This book was a very fast read. From the very first page I was hooked and wanted to figure out who the killer was. Although I thought that the story could have been filled out a little more, for I felt there were a lot of stray questions that Avi left unanswered, I thought the book was a good read. I enjoyed how Avi gave insights into not only Andy but Dr. Lucas and Andy's father as well. The ending caught me off guard, for I felt that Andy should have told his father the truth, if only so that he could finally been believed. It bothered me that no one seemed to trust what he was saying, even Nina I felt should have listened to him a bit more. But when faced with the truth that someone wants to kill you, I can understand her overreacting. I also didn't like the idea that Andy's father could be thinking that Andy killed Dr. Lucas somehow, when this wasn't the case; it was all an accident and Andy had actually tried to save Dr. Lucas. But Andy's father thinking that Andy murdered Dr. Lucas could put a strain on their relationship that could last a lifetime if the truth is not spoken. I also learned, while looking for reviews that the book has an alternate ending in which Andy dies on the plane ride to his aunt's house. I think if I had read this ending, I would have been a little more upset with the ending of the book. But all in all, I enjoyed reading the book and think that others would enjoy reading it as well.

Reviews:
"A charged beginning electrifies a plot that sizzles with suspense every inch of the way. Avi fortifies this excitement with staccato dialogue and a fast pace"

(November 01, 1986). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Wolf Rider.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"His attempts to ferret out Zeke and protect Nina, while compromising his own safety, make for an exciting tale of the terror lurking beneath everyday surroundings and behind ordinary events."

 (December 26, 1986). PWxyz, LLC. [Review of the book Wolf Rider.]. Publishers Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

This book could be read aloud and it would instantly attract the attention of it's listeners. The book has a great hook and it is fast paced, with the readers/listeners wanting to know things like what's going to happen, is Nina going to die, and who is Zeke? As well as being fast-paced and an interesting mystery, a discussion could be held later about different actions Andy could have taken, or about the ending of the book when Andy decides to not bother his father with what happened with Lucas, and Andy's father decides not to ask, although he knows his son had something to do with the death of Lucas, maybe even killed him. The ending leads much to speculation and would lead to a great conversation. Talks could also be had about what would be different in today's age, seeing as this was written in 1986. For example, most people don't have a home phone anymore, and even if they do, everyone has caller ID now.