Lumi and the Wolf
An epic animal adventure across snowy Lapland
When Lumi arrives in Lapland to stay with her aunt and uncle for the winter, they warn her about a wild white wolf roaming the forest. But Lumi finds a friend in the wolf, and when she discovers that he is being hunted, she decides to save him, whatever it takes.
Together with local boy Oskár, Lumi sets off across the snowy fells towards a national park where the wolf will be safe. To stay one step ahead of the hunters, she has to trust her sharp senses, her talent for reading the forest and her own determination.
A story of friendship, bravery and belonging, illustrated with pages from Lumi’s own Forest Diary. For readers aged 8–12.
- Genre
- Middle-grade fiction, animal adventure
- Age range
- 8–12
- Setting
- Lapland, Finland
- Cover art
- Jason Cockcroft
- Illustrations
- Lottie Saahko
- Publisher
- Hachette Children’s Group, Starboard
- Published
- 24 September 2026
- ISBN
- 9781510102071
‘When I met the wolf for the first time, I had no idea that within a week I’d walk a hundred kilometres to save his life.’
What is it about?
Friendship with an animal
A girl and a wild white wolf learn to trust each other.
Nature & wildlife
Snowy forests, fells and Arctic animals, seen through Lumi’s Forest Diary.
Climate change
The story talks about climate change, and small things we can all do to help, like reducing food waste.
Folklore & Finnish culture
Lumi learns stories from Sámi folklore, and tries sauna, ice swimming and ice fishing.
Neurodivergence as a strength
Lumi is autistic, and her way of noticing details is exactly what helps her reach her goal.
Belonging & heritage
Lumi explores her Finnish roots, and her friend Oskár his Sámi heritage.
Standing up for what’s right
Lumi stands up for what is right: for the wolf, and for herself.
Who will love it?
Teachers, meet the book
A two-minute introduction to the themes of Lumi and the Wolf, and why it works so well in KS2:
- Positive autism representation
- A boy character alongside Lumi
- Learning about different cultures
- Eco themes and ways children can help the environment
- Short chapters for class reading or reluctant readers
- Lumi’s illustrated nature journal
- Identity and belonging: you don’t have to know a culture or language perfectly to belong
Why Lumi and the Wolf is perfect for KS2 classrooms
The chapters are super short and end on cliffhangers, which makes the book a great choice for reluctant or developing readers, and for reading aloud in class, one chapter at a time. The book is also full of pages from Lumi’s Forest Diary.
What people are saying
Here is storytelling at its best, the story utterly mesmerising and deeply touching.Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse
A heartfelt adventure set in the snowy Finnish wonderlands. Sensitively written, this is bound to appeal to animal lovers everywhere.Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
Epic, enchanting, authentic – a brilliantly original animal story that stayed with me long after finishing.Emma Carroll, author of Dracula & Daughters
High adventure, neurodiverse feisty heroine, action-packed short chapters; it’s a teacher’s gold standard.Jude, Only Make Believe Bookshop
The must-buy children’s book of the year!!!Liliana, Waterstones bookseller
Hannah Gold meets Elle McNicoll with a sprinkle of Moomin midwinter magic.Claire Hatcher-Smith, author of The Mizzy Mysteries
This is an incredible book. I know the second I pass it to a child in my class it will spread around so quickly! So beautifully written!Kristy, a teacher, on Goodreads
LOVELY book! Will be recommending this to my students!Anna, a teacher, on Goodreads
A brilliant adventure full of love, animals and friendship. I was hooked immediately!Matilda, 10 years old
Find out more
Your questions
What age is it for? Is Lumi autistic? Is it suitable for the classroom?
Read the FAQ →LAPLANDMy research in Lapland
How I travelled north to research Lumi’s journey, the Sámi culture and the national parks.
Read the diary →BOOKLIST
Books like Lumi and the Wolf
More animal and nature adventures for readers aged 8–12.
See the list →