The Wolf’s Curse

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“I am obsessed with this story!” — Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery Medal-winning author of We Dream of Space

“A lyrical tale of loss and survival, tradition and belief, in which tension and secrets build like a towering wave. The Wolf’s Curse is a story of many layers. Young readers will treasure this beautiful debut and hold it close to their hearts.”— — Diane Magras, author of The Mad Wolf’s Daughter

“A fable as polished and timeless as a fine wooden toy. Readers will root for spunky heroes Gauge and Roux while keeping watch for a certain mysterious wolf who’s not what she seems . . .” — Catherine Gilbert Murdock, author of the Newbery Honor book The Book of Boy

The Wolf’s Curse boldly tells readers to take a closer look at the stories they’re told—not to mention at the wolves that might be lurking in the shadows. A clear-eyed, big hearted fable of compassion, friendship, and love. — Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy

“In the France-inspired town of Bouge-by-the-Sea . . . Gauge is the only person able to see the Great White Wolf, a supernatural canine who ferries souls to the afterlife. . . . Fleeing his pursuers, Gauge stumbles upon unlikely allies . . . [and] they begin to suspect that neither the Wolf nor their town’s death rituals are quite what they seem—and they are determined to unearth some answers. . . . Accessible and intriguing worldbuilding, particularly around the Wolf’s backstory, will pique readers’ interests, as will larger questions about life, death, truth, and tradition. Thoughtful, creative, and engaging.” — Kirkus Reviews

“In a thought-provoking debut, Vitalis considers grief, the end of life, and the industry of death through the eyes of an otherworldly, psychopompic wolf. . . . Through the Wolf’s archly omniscient first-person narration, Vitalis relates the affecting stories of Gauge and Roux, whose raw mourning provides a revealing contrast to the Lord Mayor’s simmering, unprocessed grief. . . . [A] contemplative story.” — Publishers Weekly

“Vitalis’s striking debut is alluringly told through the first-person perspective of the Wolf, offering a safe distance for sensitive readers to engage in a story about death, grief, and corruption. The language is wonderfully crisp and clear, showcasing a literary style that favors a slower, more thoughtful pace but still invites a middle-grade audience. A respectful, yet skeptical, exploration of the rituals used both to cope with and exploit death adds a meaningful layer to this poignant tale.” — Booklist

“Twelve-year-old Gauge has spent the last five years hidden from his fellow villagers, because the Lord Mayor Vulpine convinced the residents that the boy is a Voyant, who can compel an invisible wolf to kill. . . . [An] extraordinary fantasy . . . The story is an emotional rollercoaster with all the feels.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books