The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group

Harcourt

The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group
Catherine Jinks
2011

The Summary
"When Tobias Richard Vandevelde wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the night before, his horrified mother tells him that he was found unconscious.  At Featherdale Wildlife Park.  In a dingo pen.

"He assumes that his two rambunctious best friends are somehow responsible, until he discovers that they're just as freaked out as he is.  Then the mysterious Reuben turns up, claiming that Toby has a rare and dangerous 'condition.'  Next thing he knows, Toby finds himself involved with a strange bunch of sickly insomniacs who seem convinced that he needs their help.

"It's not until he's kidnapped and imprisoned that he starts to believe them--and understands what being a paranormal monster really means."

The Good
Catherine Jinks has an interesting story in her novel.  She pulls from original werewolf myths from around the globe--you know, the ones influenced by the lunar calendar, who are the "seventh son of a seventh son" (or something like that.  I didn't entirely understand.)--but she puts it all smack dab in the middle of Australia.

It's unique and Toby isn't a bad narrator.  He's interesting, he's funny and he's very observant for his age.  He's a teenage boy facing terrifying circumstances, and he acts like a teenage boy facing terrifying circumstances.  He's a believable narrator, and I found his story interesting enough to keep me committed to the very end.

The Bad
The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group isn't a great book.  At first, I liked the plot development, liked as it slowly built and, piece by piece, revealed the truth; however, I have to say I was disappointed with the last several chapters.  It's like Toby's story reached a certain point, developing at a steady pace until, suddenly, it just all comes tumbling out in a rush.  It's just too much, too quickly with one thing after another after another coming at you for the last one hundred or more pages.

It just never stops.  Which is annoying, rather than fun and exciting.

Plus, it's not the best young adult werewolf story I've ever read.  It's not terrible, but I wouldn't say it's great either.  I was bugged by the fact that even though you meet several werewolves, you never actually seem them as werewolves.  It's a bit anticlimactic if you think about it.  I mean, I understand why Toby can't say much about it--he doesn't remember it!--but it's a bit disappointing.

Oh, and one last thing:  Fergus was super annoying.  I really didn't like him.

The Ugly
Werewolf fighting.  Makes me cringe a little bit to think about it.