Gr 5 Up— In Moulton's latest, Jewish traditions and werewolf mythology blend seamlessly to create a compelling coming-of-age tale. Benji Zeb is overwhelmed. Faced with the strain of navigating his Modern Orthodox Jewish upbringing on a rural Washington kibbutz/wolf sanctuary and escalating threats from an antisemitic neighbor, Benji has barely had time to prepare for his upcoming bar mitzvah. Thankfully, the kibbutz's true purpose remains secret: a safe space for its residents, who are all werewolves. School presents its own set of problems for Benji. He's terrified of losing control and accidentally transforming in front of everyone. To make matters worse, his former friend (and secret crush) Caleb Gao has turned into an arrogant bully. When Caleb unexpectedly arrives at the sanctuary as a fellow werewolf, distraught and terrified of returning home, he desperately needs Benji's help. Though he's initially wary of Caleb, the two forge a sweet bond as they work to confront the threats to their town. The title may mislead readers into expecting chills and gore, but what the book lacks in horror it makes up for with nuanced characters and a thought-provoking take on antisemitism, bigotry, and the power of acceptance. Benji and his parents are cued as white, Caleb is of Chinese descent, and there is a diverse cast of kibbutz residents offering a contemporary, multifaceted exploration of marginalized perspectives. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers looking for a unique take on the werewolf trope. Readers will root for the gentle and introspective protagonist.— Alia Shields

A closeted gay werewolf bar mitzvah boy hopes nobody will learn about his crushing anxiety.Benji Zeb can't let on how panicked he is about his impending coming of age. He knows that his mother, the leader of their egalitarian Washington state werewolf kibbutz and wolf sanctuary, expects greatness from him. The only thing to do is pretend he isn't gutted by terror and shortness of breath at the idea of leading their Modern Orthodox congregation in a Torah reading. Changing into werewolf form calms him down, but he's not allowed to shift because his mother says he isn't studying enough. Benji knows that one of the local ranchers, the racist and antisemitic stepdad of his estranged crush, Caleb Gao, is planning something dreadful. Why doesn't anyone on the kibbutz listen when Benji tries to warn them? But when Caleb turns up at the kibbutz, it turns out that he and Benji have something unexpected in common: Caleb's turned into a werewolf, too. Benji finds that introducing Caleb to lycanthropy and Judaism is surprisingly rewarding. The boys' relationship is by turns hopeful and charmingly uncomfortable. In this overwhelmingly white rural area, Caleb has much to learn about Jews (information that's sometimes heavy-handedly delivered). Biracial Caleb, who's white and Chinese American, is startled to discover that though Benji's white, many of the other kibbutz families aren't. Benji's warm family counterbalances the hate Caleb's heard from his internet-radicalized stepdad.Busy but sweet and optimistic. (author's note, resources) (Fantasy. 10-14)