A Wolf for a Spell

by Karah Sutton (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

The Girl Who Drank the Moon meets Pax in this fantastical tale of a wolf who forms an unlikely alliance with Baba Yaga to save the forest from a wicked tsar.

Since she was a pup, Zima has been taught to fear humans--especially witches--but when her family is threatened, she has no choice but to seek help from the witch Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga never does magic for free, but it just so happens that she needs a wolf's keen nose for a secret plan she's brewing . . . Before Zima knows what's happening, the witch has cast a switching spell and run off into the woods, while Zima is left behind in Baba Yaga's hut--and Baba Yaga's body!

Meanwhile, a young village girl named Nadya is also seeking the witch's help, and when she meets Zima (in Baba Yaga's form), they discover that they face a common enemy. With danger closing in, Zima must unite the wolves, the witches and the villagers against an evil that threatens them all.

"Karah Sutton has crafted a vivid and rollicking adventure that proves a wolf doesn't have to be big or bad to win the day!" --Rosanne Parry, New York Times bestselling author of A Wolf Called Wander

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Booklist

Hannuniemi's intermittent black-and-white spot illustrations add an extra boost of liveliness to this warmhearted take on a Russian fairytale.

Publishers Weekly

To save her wounded packmate, young wolf Zima makes a deal to temporarily swap bodies with the infamous Baba Yaga. While Baba Yaga pursues her own mysterious agenda, Zima must pretend to be the terrifying witch of the deep woods, a masquerade that leads her to the nearby castle of the intimidating Tsar Aleksander. Meanwhile, orphan Nadya, whose chosen older sister Katerina is engaged to Aleksander, also makes her way to the castle in the hopes of finding a permanent home. As paths cross and stories intertwine, an old secret unfolds, one that could either save or destroy the forest that has brought them together. Drawing on the Russian folklore of her heritage, Sutton conjures up a charming debut filled with magic and friendship, where a wolf in disguise can learn what it means to be human and a witch finds opportunity to redeem her greatest mistake. Fun and twisty, this fairy tale that evokes imperial Russia has a timeless air. Stylistic black-and-white illustrations adeptly visualize the characters. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Katie Grimm, Don Congdon Assoc. (Sept.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 3-7--In her wolf pack, Zima has always been taught to fear humans, especially witches--but when her family is threatened she has no choice but to seek the aid of the forest witch, Baba Yaga. Nadya is worried about her best friend Katerina, who has left the orphanage to be married. She knows that something is amiss and that the only person who can help is the witch of the forest. Baba Yaga senses the evil in the world and needs a keen wolf's nose to help her with her secret plan. When the three of them collide, a magical adventure of friendship and bravery ensues as they try to save those they love and protect their world. Told from the perspectives of Zima, Nadya, and Baba Yaga, this delightfully magical tale is filled with everything readers of fantasy and fairy-tale retellings adore: magic, heroism, and whimsy. VERDICT Dotted with Hannuniemi's lovely black-and-white illustrations, Sutton's latest middle grade venture is one not to be missed. A must-purchase where fairy-tale retellings and folklore are loved.--India Winslow, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Karah Sutton has crafted a vivid and rollicking adventure that proves a wolf doesn't have to be big or bad to win the day!" —Rosanne Parry, New York Times bestselling author of A Wolf Called Wander

An elegant fairy tale retelling that feels both classic and fresh, A Wolf for a Spell beautifully explores the power of generosity, the many ways to be brave, and the magic of finding your own pack. This book is beautiful." —Anne Ursu, award-winning author of The Lost Girl

Those who have never before ventured into the deep, dark magic of Baba Yaga's hut will find themselves entranced by Sutton's engaging style and imagination. —Sofiya Pasternak, award-winning author of Anya and the Dragon

This delightfully magical tale is filled with everything readers of fantasy and fairy-tale retellings adore: magic, heroism, and whimsy.... Not to be missed. —School Library Journal, starred review

"Sutton weaves together the three protagonist's storylines with skill, building toward an exciting denouement.... [A] warmhearted take on a Russian fairytale." —Booklist
Karah Sutton
Karah Sutton is an American/New Zealand children's author and former bookseller. Her debut middle grade fantasy adventure A Wolf for a Spell was an American Booksellers Association Indies Introduce selection, an Indie Next List Top 10 selection, a Junior Library Guild selection, and was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award. Inspired by her many years as a ballet dancer, The Song of the Swan is her second novel.

Visit her online at KarahSutton.com or on Instagram at @KarahdactylAuthor.

Pauliina Hannuniemi is a Finnish illustrator with her Bachelor of Arts from Metropolia UoAS. In addition to The Song of the Swan, she is also the illustrator of Karah Sutton's A Wolf for a Spell.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593121658
Lexile Measure
770
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date
December 20, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002250 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Wolves & Coyotes
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV012040 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | Adaptations
Library of Congress categories
Magic
Wolves
Forests and forestry
Body swapping
Baba Yaga

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