Tom Jones (Children's Literature)
Wabi, an abandoned owl left in the care of his great grandmother, embarks on the adventure of a lifetime when he discovers that he is a shape-shifter in this heroic and spiritual tale of redemption. Bruchac draws heavily on his Native American ancestry in this book, and the result is both funny and insightful. Wabi is an owl, but not just a typical owl; he is an owl that can speak as humans speak, which allows him to understand and listen to the humans of a small village in his hunting area. He is especially drawn to a girl named Dojihla. As he matures, he discovers that he can also become human if he so desires. This he does when a competition for Dojihla's hand in marriage is announced. Like all good heroes, Wabi wins the competition, but he is ultimately rejected when the village and Dojihla discover his owl ancestry. Dejected and distraught, Wabi embarks on a hero's journey to find the family of his wolf companion, Malsumsis. It is this journey that marks him as a man and ultimately as a hero. Bruchac's world is both fantastic and realistic and his characters are all imbued with nobility and courage. I should hope more books like this one find their way into print. 2006, Dial Books/Penguin, $16.99. Ages 12 to 16.

Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature)
Wabi is a great horned owl who hunts throughout the woodlands. Born into a strange family of squabbling siblings with a distracted mother, Wabi feels drawn to the human beings who live nearby. Then, one day Wabi is nearly eaten by a fox and is saved by another owl. That owl, Wabi’s great-grandmother, tells him stories about their family. From his great-grandmother Wabi learns that some of his relatives had the power to shape shift and had once been human. Wabi is stunned by this revelation, but it also makes him wonder if he too has that ability. Over time Wabi befriends a wolf pup, becomes drawn to a Native American girl, and discovers that his life is destined to be one filled with adventure. Wabi: A Hero’s Tale is a beautifully told story based upon Native American legends. Told with a careful eye for the woodlands, its creatures, and the mythology of Native people, Wabi is a book that will charm its readers. This is a story of adventure and drama, but also one that helps readers to understand that who they are is determined by themselves and not the expectations of others. 2006, Dial Books/Penguin, $16.99. Ages 12 up.

Matthew Perley (Children's Literature)
It is not very often that one finds a compelling story about a young owl, an old owl, a wolf, a young man, a young woman, and a wise grandmother all in one, but Wabi is just that. Based on Native American traditions, this novel tells the story of Wabi, a young owl, who questions everything around him. Wabi never feels satisfied unless his great-grandmother answers all of his questions. His wandering around the forest leads him to find two of the most important people in his life: he rescues a young wolf, and he becomes enamored with Dojihla, a young girl in a village nearby. Displeased with being an owl, Wabi, with the help of his great-grandmother, learns of a way to turn himself into a human. His plans to impress Dojihla are thwarted when she discovers that he has the ears of an owl. Embarrassed, Wabi runs away from Dojihla’s village and goes on a journey to find the family of Malsumis, his wolf friend; instead, he finds himself. When Wabi returns to Dojihla’s village, he ends up rescuing her from a bear. But in the end, it is Wabi who gets rescued by his best friend Malsumis and his great-grandmother, who has now turned herself into a human. As children find themselves getting lost in this mystical story, they also learn about the importance of family. Wabi’s story teaches readers about the strength of the human spirit and how we are all here to help and depend on each other in one way or another. 2006, Penguin, $16.99. Ages 12 up.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 3))
Bruchac, in top form here, crafts an exhilarating journey tale that not only promotes the value of listening, asking questions and telling stories, but is laced with folkloric elements, heroic deeds, romance, toothy monsters and transformations. Born an owl with oddly pale feathers and the ability to understand all creatures, Wabi finds himself falling in love with Dojihla, a young woman from the local village. Discovering from his wise great-grandmother that he has the power to change his form, he becomes human (though retaining his owl's ears). But when Dojihla rejects his suit, as she has those of all other men, he sorrowfully departs on a quest to discover what became of the wolf pack from which Malsumsis, his oversized best friend, had come. No, the plot doesn't exactly hang together-but readers aren't likely to care that much, as, along the way, Wabi faces one malign, magical swamp or forest creature after another, culminating in a titanic battle to save a repentant Dojihla from a crazed giant bear. Parts of this, particularly the climax, will seem familiar to fans of Michelle Paver's Wolf Brother (2005), but Bruchac gives the story a distinctive Native American cast, and readers won't be able to turn the pages fast enough. 2006, Dial, 192p, $16.99. Category: Fantasy. Ages 11 to 13. Starred Review. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Claire Rosser (KLIATT Review, March 2006 (Vol. 40, No. 2))
Bruchac is certainly a prolific writer, and this tale is inspired by Native American mythology, as are many of his other books. His hero, Wabi, begins life as an owlet. As Wabi gets bigger, he is drawn to the Abenaki Indian people who live nearby, especially to a certain young girl, Dojihla. The only other owl he remains close to is his grandmother, and there is a mystery about her background and her relationship with the human race. The story evolves when Wabi shape-shifts into a young man, but he retains strange, owl-like ears that give him away as being different from other humans. The girl he loves, Dojihla, is especially stubborn and unaccepting of any man’s love, so then the story becomes a hero tale, as Wabi goes off into an unknown wilderness, with his wolf companion, to fight off evil creatures and then to return to the Indian village to win Dojihla’s love. Bruchac writes a compelling fantasy, and the cover art is striking, with Wabi the owl and Wabi the young man portrayed as one being. This will interest YAs who like mythology and fantasy. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2006, Penguin, Dial, 198p., $16.99. Ages 12 to 18.

Jan Chapman (VOYA, April 2006 (Vol. 29, No. 1))
Wabi begins life as a great horned owl. When just a fledgling, he falls from the nest but survives with the help of his watchful great-grandmother. Under her tutelage, Wabi grows to become a brave and confident owl. As he travels through the forest, Wabi finds himself fascinated by a tribe of humans living in his territory. He is particularly entranced by a young girl named Dojihla and is overcome with love for her. He confides his longing for Dojihla to his great grandmother, who tells him that he has the ability to shape-shift to human form. But even as a handsome young human warrior, Wabi still has to prove himself worthy to the headstrong and beautiful Dojihla. To earn her hand, he must go on a dangerous quest with his loyal wolf friend Malsumsis to rid the forest of the monsters that threaten Dojihla's tribe. This vividly imagined Native American shape-shifting tale is sure to please Bruchac's fans. He crafts a wonderful adventure story that blends Native American legends with elements of heroic fantasy and mythology. Teens yearning to transform themselves will identify with Wabi's desire to abandon all that he knows for love. Readers who enjoyed Louise Erdrich's The Birchbark House (Hyperion, 1999) and Bruchac's own acclaimed novel, Skeleton Man (HarperCollins, 2001/VOYA October 2001), will be delighted by this simply told story of love and transformation. It is a welcome addition to the growing genre of Native American fiction for teens. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2006, Dial, 192p., $16.99. Ages 11 to 15.