The Breakfast Club meets Grimm's Fairy Tales in the lair of an adolescent psych ward.
Milly's evil stepmother commits her to a pediatric psych ward. That's just what the wolf wants. With bunk mates like Red, who's spiraling out of control; Pig, a fire-bug who claims Milly as her own--but just wants extra dessert--Vanet, a manic teen masquerading as a fairy godmother with wish-granting powers as likely to kill as to help; and the mysterious Wolfgang, rumored to roam for blood at night; it doesn't take long for Milly to realize that only her dead mother's book of tales can save her.
But Milly's spells of protection weaken as her wolf stalks the hospital corridors. The ward's a Dark Wood, and she's not alone. As her power crumbles, she must let go of her magic and discover new weapons if she is to transform from hunted to hunter.
About the Author :
Michael F. Stewart is the winner of the 2015 Claymore Award and author of the Assured Destruction Series (a Foreword Book of the Year Honorable Mention, Library Journal's Best Self Published Book 2015: runner-up, semifinalist in the 2014 Kindle Book Awards, and winner of The Creation of Stories: Best YA Award at the Toronto International Book Fair). He likes to combine storytelling with technology and pioneered interactive storytelling with Scholastic Canada, Australia and New Zealand's, anti-cyberbullying program Bully For You. He has authored four graphic novels with Oxford University Press Canada's award winning Boldprint series. Publications of nonfiction titles on Corruption and Children's Rights published by Scholastic Education as well as early readers and three forthcoming novellas with Pearson. Herder of four daughters, Michael lives to write in Ottawa where he was the Ottawa Public Library's first Writer in Residence and runs free writing workshops.
Review :
"Stewart lets the story do the talking in a world populated by fabulous supporting characters and full of surprises. Counting Wolves is an engaging read for teens and adults alike," Wesley King, author of the Silver Birch Award winner OCDaniel.
"At its core, Stewart's memorably inventive novel destigmatizes mental illness and sends a message that seeking help can make life better.
A deeply affecting, hard-to-put-down work that depicts a girl's dark odyssey through obsession toward healing insight." Kirkus Reviews
"This fast-paced deconstruction of mental illness, reminiscent of Neal Shusterman's Challenger Deep, takes a hard look at the stigma of mental illness. The prose here is superb. It is quick, sharp, and easy to read--and it keeps readers turning pages." The BookLife Prize.
Netgalley Reviewers:
"This book was NOTHING like I expected and it will stay with me for as long as I live. I loved every single one of the characters. Which I can confess is very very very rare. The writing was so amazing and so smooth it was like silk. I am so in love with this book and so so so happy I was able to read it. **In addition, I have read a LOT of books involving all kinds of mental illnesses... and this one is the best one I have every read, hands down." Ash D
"Just fabulously done. 5/5 stars." Katia C
"This was a beautifully written story of fear, anxiety, false perceptions, friendship, grief, love, and triumph. It was such a good book." Annie C
"This is a fairy tale, with evil stepmothers who are not what they seem, and a girl lost in the deep dark woods. But this is no ordinary fairy tale; when Milly is admitted to a psychiatric unit of a local hospital for her obsessions, will the wolf finally eat her alive, or will she triumph? This is an amazing story about mental illness, triumphs and heartbreaks, and the power of everlasting love." Chrystal V
"An amazing story that keeps you wondering a) is the wolf real?, b) is Milly just suffering from the effects of losing her mom and having to deal with her father's new wife?) or c) does she really have mental problems beyond severe OCD that only the medical community can address? This had me guessing until the very end. The characters are well developed and so believable! I loved how Milly finds her answers, especially who is "good" in her life. I really enjoyed this one!" Jo H
