As World War II is drawing to a close, Charlie’s older brother, Theo returns to their home in London after being wounded in battle. Charlie, who is white, has missed Theo; he’s also counting on Theo’s return to help ease the burden of responsibility Charlie’s felt since their dad died. Their mom is working hard to support the family, while their grandfather has days when he’s confused. Despite Grandfather’s warning to not expect Theo to be the same, Charlie expects exactly that. But Theo isn’t the same; he’s distant and angry. Charlie discovers that Theo is at the mercy of War Wolves, beasts that steal and eat the hearts of vulnerable soldiers who’ve seen too many horrible things. Determined to recover Theo’s heart, Charlie sets out to track the War Wolves down. He’s helped by Mellie, an older woman dealing with her own trauma; a young soldier at the nearby convalescent center; his cat, Biscuit; and two retired carrier pigeons, Bertie and Pudge. Individual War Wolves represent the most challenging aspects of human nature and behavior, and they, along with the reality of what’s happened to Theo and other soldiers, make for a sobering look at the impact of war. This spellbinding quest makes clear that Theo’s recovery is dependent not just on Charlie’s success, but on help from the human world, too. (Ages 9-12)