Author(s): Martha Hunt Handler

Fiction

A tragic mystery blending detective work spirituality. An exploration in grief, suicide, spiritualism, and Inuit culture, Winter of the Wolf follows Bean as she searches for the truth of her brother Sam's suicide. Unconvinced her loving brother could commit such an act without warning, Bean pulls herself from her grief to become a part-time detective and shaman. With assistance from her friend Julie, Bean retraces Sam's steps and delves into his Inuit beliefs, seeking clues from beyond material understanding. Both tragic and heart-warming, this twisting young adult novel will not only have readers diving deep into the customs of native peoples, but also gaining a greater understanding of the effects of suicide and loss. Bean is an empathetic and driven fifteen-year-old who readers will quickly gravitate toward and follow as she struggles with family tragedy, high school drama, and understanding the people around her. Through Bean's eyes, Winter of the Wolf urges readers to seek out the truth-no matter how painful-in order to see the full picture. An environmentalist and award-winning author, Martha Handler has brought together two important pieces of her life-the death of her best friend's son and her work as president of the Wolf Conservation Centre-to craft an empathetic and powerful story with undeniable messages. Martha's passionate debut novel will capture the hearts of a young audience.