Blakeslee spends the greater part of this book describing the wolves who live in and around Yellowstone National Park.  Wolves possess traits that make them admired, feared and misunderstood.  They travel in packs but they are monogamous.  They are loving parents, loyal to their group, but they will not think twice about killing a wolf outside the pack who encroaches on their territory.  Wolves can easily kill animals twice their size but they ignore human beings.  Blakeslee’s narration zeroes in on one “alpha” female, O-Six, who is beautiful, strong and maternal and is a favorite of visitors to Yellowstone.

If you are an animal lover, and especially if you find wolves intriguing, you’ll want to read American Wolf.