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Published in 1997, Shadow of the Wolf is the third book in Gloria Whelan’s Oriole trilogy. Part of the Stepping Stone series, this historical fiction book can be read with the others, but it also stands beautifully on its own. Set in 1841 Michigan, it offers an often untold look at the early Midwest logging industry and its impact on both the land and the Native peoples who lived there. Whelan writes with sympathy for the Potawatomi and Ottawa tribes, telling a historical tale that is accessible for young readers without being heavy-handed.
Our heroine, Libby, is the daughter of a white surveyor who, like Pa Ingalls, has a restless spirit. Libby’s father goes north to help the Native Americans attempt to buy back land they had sold to the U.S. Government before unscrupulous loggers can clear the land of the forests, thus decimating the wildlife and hunting lands.
Papa returns quickly and packs up his family, moving them away from Saginaw and up to the northern shores of Michigan. His spirit calmed by the lake, Papa moves his family into an abandoned cabin on the beach where he plans to put down roots.
This is another winner from Gloria Whelan—rich with history, culture, and great storytelling. I wish I had read it as a child; it would have deepened my appreciation for Gene Stratton-Porter’s Freckles when I first encountered it. A wonderful choice for early independent readers who enjoy historical fiction.