For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Allie Steven’s review of the graphic novel, “Red and the Wolves,” by Cherry Zong, first published February 4, 2026, at Booklist Online.
Enjoy.
“Red and the Wolves”
By Cherry Zong. Illustrated by the author. 2026. 368p. Andrews McMeel (9781524877521). Grades 7-12.
In this dark, sapphic reworking of the classic tale, non-magical Red is a hunter, killing magical, mysterious creatures known as nawa and returning them to the witch she calls Grand Mother. All the other humans have been gone from Red’s forest home for generations, so when she discovers a wolf-girl called Sil caught in a bear trap in the woods, the allure of company is too much to resist. The longer Sil spends with Red, the more suspicious Sil’s wolf companions Remus and Lu become, and the more Red learns about the real history of her world and why things are suddenly changing. As her eyes are opened to the truth behind Grand Mother’s exorcisms and the fate of the forest’s humans, Red must confront the reality behind the things she’s taken for granted and find her own way forward. Adventurous, immersive, and long enough for a reader to really sink their teeth into, this earthy graphic novel in a shifting, dynamic palette is a strong choice for nearly all collections serving young people at a variety of age points. Energetic but unfussy in art and story, with a great balance of darkness, whimsy, action, and emotion, this is a sure bet for fans of “Nimona” (2015) or the works of Lee Knox Ostertag.—Allie Stevens
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