Wolf Girl 13 by Anh Do

The thirteenth instalment of Anh Do’s immensely popular Wolf Girl series, New Friends, continues the pulse-pounding adventures of Gwen and her loyal animal pack with characteristic pace, heart and high-stakes action. For fans of the series (now a million-copy book empire) this chapter is a satisfying blend of daring rescues, loyal companionship, and the enduring search for home.

Picking up immediately after the events at Castle Winter, Gwen and her beloved pack are plunged into danger as they fall into the stormy sea. Their survival is thanks to the intervention of a surprising new alliance: a boy, a girl, and two intelligent dolphins. It’s a clever expansion of the pack-based narrative, weaving in new characters without sidelining the original team. The addition of marine animals brings a fresh dynamic and hints at the broader ecosystem of allies that exist in Gwen’s world both human and animal

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The group journeys to Rocky Bay, where they’re met with a haunting sight: prisoners forced by the oppressive Braxan regime to extract glowing rocks from the ocean floor. This dystopian scene, rendered with vivid detail, raises the stakes of Gwen’s mission while introducing themes of environmental peril and authoritarian control. Do’s ability to fold serious undertones into an action-packed narrative ensures the book remains layered, even as it entertains.

The heart of the story remains friendship and resilience. Gwen’s leadership continues to shine, not through brute strength but through courage, empathy and loyalty. These qualities that have endeared her to readers across the series. The fast-paced structure, aided by Jeremy Ley’s sharp co-writing and Kalp Sanghvi’s dynamic illustrations, keeps the story moving briskly and visually engaging, especially for younger readers.

What sets Wolf Girl 13 apart is its balance. It offers tension and threat without tipping into bleakness, ensuring accessibility for its middle-grade audience. The storytelling remains emotionally resonant, particularly in Gwen’s continued hope of reuniting with her family, a thread that gently tugs at the reader’s heart amid the action.

Anh Do has once again delivered a compelling, imaginative and heartfelt instalment that will leave readers eager for the next adventure. Wolf Girl 13: New Friends is not just a tale of survival but a celebration of unlikely allies, found family and the courage it takes to face the unknown.

This tale is definitely not finished yet, with more wonderful adventures expected from this series.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Allen & Unwin