In Two Wolves, 14-year-old Ben and his younger sister, Olive, were on the run from the police with their mother and criminal father.

The sequel, Raised by Wolves, is set five years later, and Olive (now 12) is the central character. She doesn’t have friends because she can’t trust people. She follows her estranged father after seeing him outside her school. The subsequent gripping, gritty chain of events is told through a ticking-clock countdown, laced with humour.

Bancks seamlessly balances his filmic style with layered depths, character soul-searching and moral dilemmas. He prompts his readers to explore ideas about justice and retribution. Is it better to tell the truth or protect yourself? Should you do the right thing even if treated unfairly (and despite the consequences)? Could being ‘raised by wolves’, seemingly counterintuitively, develop your inner strength and maturity?

Written succinctly and viscerally within the framework of a high-stakes thriller, Bancks shares his knowledge of literature. He deftly enhances his storytelling through references to The Jungle Book, Matilda, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and other classics.

Raised by Wolves is an exciting, finely honed novel that values kindness, love and forgiveness. Young readers will find it unputdownable and empowering.

Reviewed by Joy Lawn
Age Guide 10+

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, Cop & Robber, Ginger Meggs, the ‘Tom Weekly’ series and, most recently, Scar Town, a suspense-thriller that won the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year for Younger Readers. His other awards and shortlistings include a CBCA Honour Book, the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and the YABBA children’s choice book awards. His next book for readers age 10+ is Raised By Wolves, out May 2026.

Tristan is an author-advocate for literacy non-profit Room to Read. He is currently working with producers to develop a number of his books for the stage and screen. He’s excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create. You can find out more about Tristan’s books, play games, watch videos, join his Young Writer’s StorySchool and help him try to change the world here at tristanbancks.com

Visit Tristan Bancks’ website here.

Follow Tristan Bancks on Instagram here.

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