American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West

American Wolf includes numerous allusions to the way Western culture has portrayed wolves throughout history. To what extent does Blakeslee either compound or counter this narrative? Use specific examples from the text.

Blakeslee explains that wolf reintroduction is part of a culture war in the American heartland. What is a culture war? What positions do the two sides in the war over wolves hold? Can you identify common ground that might alleviate the tension between them?

Blakeslee gives us a firsthand look at Steven Turnbull in the Epilogue. Why is this interaction with Turnbull separated from the rest of the book? How does it affect readers’ impression of Turnbull? To what extent is Turnbull the book’s “bad guy”?

Identify passages in the book where Blakeslee draws parallels between wolves and humans. What major traits do the two have in common? What characteristics make humans and wolves very different? How convincing is Blakeslee’s comparison between the two, and why does he make this comparison?

There are several storytellers in this book, including Rick, Laurie, Nate Schweber from The New York Times, and Blakeslee himself. Why is telling stories about the Yellowstone wolves so important? Do any of these figures successfully achieve their goals through their storytelling? How so?

American Wolf is largely set in Yellowstone Park. In which passages does Blakeslee best describe the park and its environment? Is his rendering of Yellowstone surprising? How might it influence how readers feel about either the park specifically or the environment more broadly?

How do politicians fare in Blakeslee’s book? What light does he portray them in? What is he trying to argue about politics and cultural issues through this political battle over the Yellowstone wolves? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

Choose your favorite wolf moment in the story. What about Blakeslee’s writing makes this scene so effective? How does he incorporate elements of fiction writing into this nonfiction book, and to what purpose? Consider some of the following craft aspects, such as setting, character, voice, tone, atmosphere, point of view, and imagery.