Firstborn Read Free Books and Download eBooks
A young wolf seeks the bravery to be himself in this “rich take on the wild that quickens the pulse and fills the heart” (Kirkus Reviews), from the author of National Book Award Finalist Mean Margaret and The Wainscott Weasel.Wolves. Predators of the wild. Stalkers of the forests. Born into rankings and expected to live up to their roles. Blue Boy, the alpha male of his pack, is the largest wolf many have ever seen, and his dream is to have a firstborn son who will take after him in every way. But Lamar is not turning out the way his father hoped. Lamar likes to watch butterflies. He worries if his younger siblings fall behind in the hunt. He has little interest in peacocking in front of other clans. Blue Boy grows increasingly dismayed at Lamar’s lack of wolf instincts, and then Lamar does the intolerable: he becomes attracted to a coyote. While the other infractions can be begrudgingly tolerated, this one cannot, and the unity of the pack is in jeopardy. Lamar wants to make his family happy, but is doing what is expected of him worth losing the only true friend he’s ever had? Full of bite and beauty that will make you think of White Fang, then Ferdinand, this story cuts to the heart of what’s most important: being true to yourself, and being true to others.
Lexile Measure: 790 (What's this?)
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books; Reprint edition (March 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1481410180
ISBN-13: 978-1481410182
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #117,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #117 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Foxes & Wolves #408 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Values #1000 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Emotions & Feelings
Age Range: 9 - 14 years
Grade Level: 4 - 9
From the moment she emerges from her egg and begins narrating “Firstborn”, Maggie the Magpie – her parents lacked imagination when it came to naming their children- displays a curiosity about her surroundings and the lives of others. Through her voice, Tor Seidler gives readers an engaging, informative story. This novel combines natural history, environmental and ecological concerns, and life lessons that are as applicable to the reader as they were to the animal characters.The first thirty pages of “Firstborn” may deceive the reader who chooses the novel thinking it is the story about the wolves of Yellowstone. In that portion of the novel, Tor Seidler’s focus is on Maggie, her growing friendship with the crow Jackson who perches atop the barn’s weather vane, and her disillusionment with living the “normal” life of a magpie. Jackson tells Maggie “…it’s hard to be different and the same at once … You generally have to opt for one …” Abandoning her mate the scavenging, junk-collecting Dan, Maggie joins the mountain bluebird Trilby on a “little trip” to Butte. Returning to the ranch, Maggie learns Jackson was shot and died. Almost eaten by a prowling fox, Maggie is saved by a wolf that she later learns has been relocated from Canada and is named Blue Boy. It is at this point in the novel that Tor Seidler begins focusing on the wolves. As Maggie continues narrating “Firstborn”, she provides - in addition to the ecological and environmental information - philosophical and moral insights into the wolves’ actions and characters.Tor Seidler’s writing demonstrates his knowledge of and love for Yellowstone, the environment, and the balance of nature that is critical for all readers and for our world.
When I was younger, my imagination was completely captivated by wolves. I remember reading Jean Craighead George's JULIE OF THE WOLVES and, later, NEVER CRY WOLF by Farley Mowat, marveling at the power and mystery of these elusive creatures. Now, in FIRSTBORN, Tor Seidler brings wolves to life for a whole new generation.Seidler, who evidently was introduced to Yellowstone's wolves by Jean Craighead George himself, is no stranger to writing about animals in previous books such as A RAT'S TALE and GULLY'S TRAVELS. In FIRSTBORN, he makes the surprising choice to narrate his story not from the point of view of one of the wolves, but from that of Maggie, an adventure-loving magpie who's almost as embarrassed of her species' reputation as "empty-headed chatterboxes" as she is of her name (Maggie the magpie? Really?). When Maggie's first and only real friend, a sardonic crow, falls victim to a trigger-happy farm boy, she follows a fetching bluebird beyond the confines of the farm --- and toward a whole new adventure.Maggie makes a surprising alliance with a wolf named Blue Boy who has been recently brought from Canada to Montana as part of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park. The two soon find that their friendship can be mutually beneficial --- Maggie can help Blue Boy spot prey and can later benefit from the remains of the creatures Blue Boy kills. But when Blue Boy mates and fathers a cub, Lamar, who seems more interested in asking a million questions than in learning to be an alpha male, everyone's definition of what it means to be a firstborn wolf son is called into question. Lamar, whose unbridled curiosity leads him into an unorthodox (and unapproved) friendship with a coyote, constantly stretches the boundaries of what's expected of him.
Firstborn
