Wolf by Wolf

Gr 8 Up—What if Hitler and the Axis powers had won World War II? Part alternative history, part spy novel, and part coming-of-age tale, this work is most of all the story of Ya-el, a young woman who escaped the horrors of a concentration camp but could not escape being changed forever by Nazi experimentation. Ya-el is a shape-shifter, assuming other people's appearances with ease. As a resistance fighter, Ya-el is given a critical mission: assume the identity of motorcycle racing champion Adele Wolf and compete in the Axis Tour. She must win the race and assassinate Hitler at the victory dance. However, she doesn't count on Felix, Adele's brother, accompanying her. Ya-el struggles against the grueling race course, her competitors, and the nightmares of her past as she seeks to win the race and set off a revolution. Can Ya-el keep the secret of her true identity? And how did she develop the abilities that enable her deadly mission? These questions are answered by flashbacks interspersed throughout. While potentially confusing, the chronological shifts are well-integrated. Graudin's prose is artful and addictive. The ending feels rushed, crying out for the likely sequel.