QUEEN OF THE WOLVES

A well-crafted chronicle of Yellowstone’s legendary alpha female wolf.

McIntyre, a retired National Park Service ranger with over 100,000 wolf sightings, collaborates with award-winning Canadian author Poulsen in this third installment of the series. Focusing on the remarkable 06 Female and her daughter 926, the narrative skillfully balances educational content with dramatic storytelling, following 06 from her arrival in Lamar Valley (located in the northeast section of Yellowstone) through her establishment of a successful pack, her brilliant hunting strategies, and ultimately an ending that may upset more sensitive readers. Some may find the authors’ anthropomorphizing—inferring wolves’ thoughts and emotions—intrusive at times; however, the ideas remain grounded in decades of behavioral observation. McIntyre’s intimate knowledge shines in detailed pack dynamics: dominance displays, hunting coordination, and the alpha female’s critical leadership role. The prose is accessible yet respectful of young readers’ intelligence, avoiding condescension while tackling difficult themes of human–wildlife conflict and legal wolf hunting. Family trees helpfully track lineages across generations. Detailed, realistic black-and-white illustrations add visual interest without overwhelming the text.

A worthy introduction to wolf conservation that honors its subject’s complexity without shying from harsh realities.