Adult/High School -This is not the story of the fellow who invented skiing; instead, it is the account of a boy who reinvented his own life, since he might not have survived without his imagination and industry. Wolfe's mother was a wild, beautiful, and dangerous woman who, for example, gave his sister a bite of egg knowing that she would have an allergic reaction. The girl was forever damaged, and there were times when the author worried for his own physical safety. His doctor father had a heart condition that caused him to push his family away, and that led to his early death. The author overcame these beginnings by learning to take care of himself and by paying attention to his surroundings. This awareness and eye for detail are what make his storytelling so engrossing and heartfelt. He writes of ordinary people and of extraordinary ones, and is able to make both compelling. Wolfe recounts life with his beloved horse and his experiences as a miner, forest firefighter, woodcutter, and slaughterhouse worker with humor and warmth. His stories fully engage readers, and they may help teens understand that they can endure their own difficult lives and emerge stronger.-Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA