Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: War themes, World War II, military and gun violence, displacement, death of a person mentioned, disappearance of parents
Score: Seven points out of ten.
This review can also be found on The StoryGraph.

Well. I wanted to read this for a while after I read Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief, made by the same author; this novel was next on my list, and not long after, I finally read it. When I finished it, I enjoyed this from start to finish, which I can't say applies to other books I've read, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief was better. It starts with the main character, Liesl, whose name I don't know, alongside her family, who hopes Germany will win the war. A few pages later, the Russian Army came and forced Liesl to flee to who knows where. Throughout most of the book, Liesl and her family are alone in the forest, mandated to survive by finding food, water and other necessities, which disheartened me seeing them in this state. Towards the last third of the story, Liesl realised Germany lost the war and her parents; all she has left is her brother, Otto, and her sister, Mia. Eventually, they find solace in a Lithuanian town with their culture being erased in the process, but out of nowhere, the author pulled off a satisfying ending, which I liked. ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grades 5-9
Awards: Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature (Winner – Children's Literature – 2022), ARA Historical Novel Prize (Winner – Children/Young Adult – 2021), CBCA Book of the Year (Shortlist – Younger Readers – 2021), KOALA Awards (Winner – Fiction for Years 7-9 – 2022), KROC Awards (2022), Maine Student Book Award (Reading List – 2024), Queensland Literary Awards (Finalist – 2021), Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee – Children's – 2024), USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 6-8 – 2023)

Highlight

The night when she sings her brother to sleep while saying goodbye to their language and German identity. I also really liked how this combined with the witch dreams. ( )

Atrio of German siblings must fend for themselves in order to survive during the final months of World War II.

As the war rages on, Liesl, Otto, and Mia live in East Prussia with their family. It’s October 1944, and Papa has finally been called to serve in Hitler’s army. Not long after, the Russian army breaks through German lines, spurring the family to abandon their village and seek safety in the midst of a terrible blizzard. The children become separated from their mother, and 11-year-old Liesl must honor the promise she made to Mama to take care of 7-year-old Otto and toddler Mia. The children are quickly found by some Red Army soldiers and taken to their temporary quarters, where a kindly German-speaking Russian means to protect them, but when the arrangement becomes too dangerous, they are forced once more to flee. The siblings attempt to survive on their own in the forest along with other orphaned German children known as the Wolfskinder, or wolf children. The children’s physical and emotional journeys, inspired by real events, are poignantly depicted as they struggle against the elements, hunger, and foes and try to understand the nonsensical nature of war and the unimaginable things it forces people to do to survive. Heiduczek’s hauntingly atmospheric art adds to the story’s emotional impact.

A lesser-known story beautifully and sensitively told.

"We Are Wolves" was a fabulous historical novel for younger readers. It follows the story of three children, German refugees fleeing the Russian army, who have lost everything - family, home and identity. Now they must struggle to survive in a land destroyed by war. After escaping to the woods, they learn to hunt for their food, steal and kill.

Liesl was a worthy protagonist, determined to keep her younger brother and sister safe in a world gone mad. Seven-year-old Otto was my least liked character, until Charlotte came on the scene, in the second half of the book, while baby Mia was an absolute delight and often had me smiling with her words and antics. I just wanted to pick her up and cuddle her.

Based on the real wolf children (wolskinder) of WWII, "We Are Wolves" broke my heart more than one and brought tears to my eyes. The story was filled with bravery, resilience, heartache, compassion and hope. I have read many WWII novels over the years but this one gave a different perspective and was an inspirational read. ( )