  | Last words of Will Wolfkin Author: Knight, Steven | |
| Price: $6.25 | ||
Summary:
Toby, paralyzed since birth and raised in a convent, suddenly finds himself able to move and speak when his cat takes him on a magical, mysterious trip to Iceland.
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| Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 6-8 Reading Level: 5.60 Points: 20.0 Quiz: 50263 | ||
Common Core Standards
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → 5.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → 5.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 6 → Reading → RL Literature → 6.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 6 → Reading → RL Literature → 6.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 6 → Reading → RL Literature → 6.RL Integration of Knowledge & Ideas
Grade 6 → Reading → RL Literature → 6.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 6 → Reading → CCR College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards fo
Grade 7 → Reading → RL Literature → 7.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 7 → Reading → RL Literature → 7.RL Range of Reading & LEvel of Text Complexity
Grade 7 → Reading → RL Literature → 7.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 8 → Reading → RL Literature → 8.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 8 → Reading → RL Literature → 8.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → 5.RL Craft & Structure
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/15/10)
School Library Journal (09/01/10)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (A) (09/10)
Full Text Reviews:
Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2010 Afflicted since birth with an illness that leaves him unable to move or speak, fourteen-year-old Toby Walsgrove spends much of his time in his imagination, dreaming up adventures in different worlds where he can be the hero and hold all the power. When his cat of seven years starts talking to him about a world under the ice that desperately needs his help, it seems that Toby’s fantasies are about to become real. That’s if he can convince himself that he is not going crazy, a task that is easily handled when the cat grants Toby the abilities to walk and feel and thus pinch himself to make sure he’s not dreaming. Soon Toby is whisked off to the land of the Fel, where he learns that not only is he a descendent of this race of magical creatures but also the great-grandson (times thirty or so) of the recently passed king, Will Wolfkin, and thus their rightful leader. Of course, there’s always a catch, and this one involves a fight to the death with a shape-shifting tyrant bent on destroying Toby and any other threat to his reign. The setup is formulaic, and Knight’s attempts to inject ingenuity into what is otherwise a straightforward plot create a hodgepodge of episodic asides, including a random trip to Sudan and a newly discovered sister, that never quite cohere into a satisfying story. The cinematic detail given to each of the settings, on the other hand, is quite impressive, and the fire and ice of the underworld Fel land are as dramatically portrayed as the arid, war-torn landscape of Sudan, effectively drawing the reader in with a sense of place, if not plot. Despite its flaws, the story of Toby’s success against all odds may be entertaining enough for young readers who just can’t get their fill of the triumphs of underdogs. KQG - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
School Library Journal - 09/01/2010 Gr 4–8—Adventure, intrigue, true friendship, and new worlds are found under the Icelandic ice. Or is it merely the dream and imagination of a boy trapped in his own body? Knight introduces readers to the world of the Fels, a population that carries ancient, secret magic, currently in need of assistance from two young humans who, unknown to them, are half Fel. Toby, a London boy who was paralyzed at birth and is unable to talk, and Emma, a girl from the Sudan who has witnessed death and cruelty all of her young life, have been transported to Langjoskull to stop the current leader, a bully and potential tyrant, from turning this fantasy land into a horror movie. Treachery, insights into friendship, philosophical discussions, and epic battles ensue, but the end is a return to his useless body for Toby. Was it all a dream? His is an imaginative, truly fascinating entrance to another world. In addition, Knight leaves the door open for a sequel or two.—Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
