Description
★“A story of grief, forgiveness, healing, and friendship, this book will skate into readers’ hearts. Would make a fantastic read-aloud for classrooms and a great pick for book club discussions.” — School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review
When Wolfgang’s father dies, everything changes.
Wolfie and his mother move to Calgary to stay with his grandfather, and Wolfie starts at a new school. Consumed by sadness, his mother stops speaking and rarely comes out of her bedroom. While he tries to adjust to his new life, Wolfie gets to know his grandpa and makes a friend, Jimmy, who introduces him to hockey. Though he misses his father terribly, Wolfgang finds moments of happiness, like when his mom finally emerges from her grief to rejoin the world, and when his grandpa teaches him how to skate. He even gets good enough to join Jimmy's hockey team!
What haunts Wolfgang, though, is that no one will tell him how his father died...until one day he overhears his mom and grandpa say that his father took his own life. Now Wolfie has even more weight to bear—and so many questions. But even in the most difficult times, friendship, hope and hockey keep Wolfie going.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Author Bio
Gregor Craigie is a father, writer and journalist. He wakes up at three forty-five every weekday morning to talk on CBC Radio in Victoria, British Columbia. Despite the early hours, Gregor loves his job because he gets to ask questions and write for a living. Before his current job at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, he worked for the BBC World Service in London and traveled to several different countries, telling stories for radio listeners. He is also the author of two books in the Orca Timeline series: Why Humans Build Up and Walls. Saving Wolfgang is his first novel for young readers.
Gregor Craigie is a father, writer and journalist. He wakes up at three forty-five every weekday morning to talk on CBC Radio in Victoria, British Columbia. Despite the early hours, Gregor loves his job because he gets to ask questions and write for a living. Before his current job at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, he worked for the BBC World Service in London and traveled to several different countries, telling stories for radio listeners. He is also the author of two books in the Orca Timeline series: Why Humans Build Up and Walls. Saving Wolfgang is his first novel for young readers.
Prizes
- The Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society (SCWES) Book Awards for BC AuthorsWinner 2025
Review Quotes
★ “A story of grief, forgiveness, healing, and friendship, this book will skate into readers’ hearts. This is a raw, painfully honest exploration of life after a parent dies. The family’s grieving process reads realistic and is not depicted as an arc but as a journey. Supportive friends remind [Wolfgang] and readers that there is still much to be happy about during painful times, which is both hopeful and accurate. This would make a fantastic read-aloud for classrooms and a great pick for book club discussions. A necessary purchase for upper elementary and middle school collections.”
— School Library Journal (SLJ), starred reviewBiographical note
Gregor Craigie is a father, writer and journalist. He wakes up at three forty-five every weekday morning to talk on CBC Radio in Victoria, British Columbia. Despite the early hours, Gregor loves his job because he gets to ask questions and write for a living. Before his current job at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, he worked for the BBC World Service in London and traveled to several different countries, reporting on various issues. Gregor has written several fiction and nonfiction books for adults and children.
