Book: History of Wolves

In "History of Wolves" by Emily Fridlund, young Madeline—known as Linda or Commie at school—navigates the complexities of adolescence in the quiet, eerie backdrop of a Minnesota lakeside town. Raised by former commune members in an isolated cabin, Linda's life takes a turn when the enigmatic Gardner family moves into a nearby house. Entrusted with babysitting their curious young son, Paul, Linda finds herself drawn into a world of perceptions and secrets that are far more complex than her own unconventional upbringing. As she becomes engulfed in the Gardner's mysterious dynamics, Linda is faced with moral dilemmas and tragic revelations that challenge her understanding of trust and culpability. Fridlund masterfully explores themes of isolation, identity, and the ways personal histories silently dictate individuals' lives. With haunting prose and a keen psychological insight, "History of Wolves" captures the tenuous line between innocence and experience, leaving readers reflecting on the nature of truth and the wolves lurking within us all.