Raised By Wolves Teachers’ Notes

I want to share some behind-the-scenes stuff on my book Raised By Wolves that you’ll find in the teaching materials for the novel.

It’s a book about Olive Silver and her brother, Ben whose dad has been on the run for five years and he comes home, steals something from the family and Olive decides to bring him to justice, but also find out if he loves her, or if he ever did. It’s for age 10+ and, like my book, Two Wolves, would be great for study from grades 5-8. It’s a standalone novel. You don’t have to read Two Wolves to enjoy Raised By Wolves.

The book explores ideas of belonging, identity, family, change, morality and abuse of power. The teaching materials begin with me sharing the inspiration behind the book and my personal connections to the story.

We explore style and structure and then dig down into key themes of power, love, self-determination, mental health and wellbeing. There is an exploration of the motif of windows and hatches which we see in all of my novels, but especially Raised By Wolves. And a quiz on all the book references. Olive is a book lover, so the novel is littered with references to her favourite books and those that resonate with the story.

Below is an overview of the teaching materials. Just click the images to go to the resources in full. Teachers are enjoying using the teaser-trailer and the free ebook chapters and audiobook chapters to share the book with students, too.

RAISED BY WOLVES IS RECOMMENDED FOR

Upper primary and lower secondary (ages 10+; years 5 to 8)

CONTENTS

1. Plot summary
2. About the author
3. An Interview with the Author
4. Beginnings: Where do you start the story?
5. Pre-reading and cover questions
6. Personal connections to the story
7. Writing style and structure
8. Key study topics
9. Key quotes
10. Further reading
11. Class activities
12. Order form

KEY CURRICULUM AREAS

• Learning areas: English • General capabilities: Literacy; Critical and creative thinking; Ethical understanding

REASONS FOR STUDYING THIS BOOK

• Fast-paced, thrilling new novel by Tristan Bancks. • Raised By Wolves deals with themes of ethics, relationships, power and change

THEMES

• Belonging and identity • Family • Change • Honesty and morality • Abuse of Power

REVIEW

‘Bancks seamlessly balances his filmic style with layered depths, character soul-searching and moral dilemmas… Raised by Wolves is an exciting, finely honed novel that values kindness, love and forgiveness. Young readers will find it unputdownable and empowering.

– Good Reading Magazine 

DOWNLOAD RAISED BY WOLVES TEACHERS’ NOTES