62 pages • 2 hours read
Emily FridlundHistory of Wolves
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Emily Fridlund's debut novel, History of Wolves, teenager Madeline Furston, known as Linda, navigates isolation and interpersonal challenges after taking a babysitting job for the Gardners, a Christian Scientist family whose young son, Paul, ultimately dies due to lack of medical care. Themes include trauma, guilt, and the complexities of religious belief. The novel contains depictions of emotional trauma, child endangerment, and grooming.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund is a compelling debut novel that captures the haunting isolation of rural Minnesota and the inner turmoil of adolescence. Praised for its lyrical prose and atmospheric setting, some critics find the pacing slow and certain plot elements underdeveloped. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking exploration of guilt, morality, and belonging.
Who Should Read History of Wolves?
A reader who would enjoy History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund likely appreciates coming-of-age stories with complex, introspective narratives. Fans of Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You and Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping will find the book's atmospheric writing and exploration of moral ambiguity compelling.