WOLF AT THE DOOR

From a veteran author of middle-grade fiction (Annie's Monster, 1990), a novel narrated by Lee, 13, who's caring for a pack of five wolves at her family's home in the woods of western Montana—an engaging story about a ``plain-vanilla'' youngster struggling to cope with the anti-wolf hysteria of local ranchers, plus her own resentment toward her starstruck, overbearing younger sister Savannah. In the process, she discovers the strengths of her family and a focus for her own less showy—but still considerable- -talents. It requires one too many coincidences to ensure the happy ending, but the likable characters and lively pace more than compensate. Short bibliography about wolves. (Fiction. 9-13)