There's a lot of wolf books, good, bad, awful, plain, and just forgettable. Where does Firstborn rank on this? You ever binge on things until you never want to read or watch another thing involving it again? That was me as a teen, I consumed wolf books and found disappointments galore. I grew weary, learned to predict every plot, grew cynical.

This is not a wolf book at heart, it's a tale about wolves told by our POV magpie and it's amazing. Not only are there birds, but so much more. It's a lovely breath of fresh air needed in a series. This book may only be three years old, but it's got a timeless feeling to it, like it could be from the eighties, nineties, or next year.

I do not blame the book for it, as it's nowhere near as bad as websites and the internet, but the "love story" interest thing involving Lamar, aka the alpha, is vastly not a thing. He wants to be friends, and seemingly grows up and accepts things. There's no real love beyond a friendship on shaky legs. So even that's not really a flaw. I expected a cheesy romance or some iffy romance subplot, but it was beyond that, an accident and guilt and the time fixing such a mistake took. A very mature theme in a small book.

A strong theme in the book is blood, relations, being true to yourself, even if you are expected to be someone else. Even if it earns you disdain and you are judged by your family. Maggie the magpie simply cannot abide by magpie ways and becomes one of the wolves in a lot of ways, Lamar is an alpha against hierarchy and the neglect of other wolves. So much within such a small book. It's breathtaking. ( )

Narrated by Jenni Barber. Readers may pick up a few things about life as a wolf but it's no Jean Craighead George. Best for those who may find JCG boring for their tastes and who like stories where animals are portrayed as talking and thinking characters. I found some of the animals' knowledge of the human world a bit of a stretch: how would Maggie the magpie know about GPS trackers in the wolves' collars? More of a 2.5 star rating. ( )

An absorbing, rich tale of the wild exploring themes of self-acceptance, devotion, and integrity. A good book for discussing subjects of prejudice and stereotypes with readers. ( )