Winter of the Wolf

Winter of the Wolf is listed as a Young Adult/Children's mystery - this book is SO much more than that if one can even list it as a mystery. At its core, Martha Hunt Handler has crafted a book about a young girl's spiritual journey after the death of her brother.

The answer as to why people die is never easy and sometimes we never know why - hence the mystery. Handler takes us on Bean's journey as she asks why her brother died. The answers are not easy and some questions are never answered. Yet on this journey questions she never asked are answered. Handler gives us a glimpse into the Inuit culture and how she utilizes Sam to influence the people in his life.

Handler also shows us how death impacts an entire family whose belief systems are different. How every member of a family has a different relationship with the one who has died. Everyone grieves and moves forward differently.

Winter is also about friendship. Bean did everything she could to push everyone away. Julie gave her space, but in the end she said: enough. She pushed her way back into Bean's life and would not let her be alone. Girl code. I love Handler's depiction of Julie and Bean.

When you see the word mystery by Winter of the Wolf know that you are getting so much more. You will be walking away with the knowledge of another culture and Bean's journey of awareness to life.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.