She Named Me Wolf
by Tenkara Smart
📚 Book Summary:
Growing up with an unpredictable, alcoholic father, Wolf has learnt that his only option is to escape into an imaginary world. Feeling isolated and misunderstood, he relies on his best friend, Polly, the ghost of a Japanese girl, the quiet wisdom of his karate teacher, and the conversations he has with the animals in his yard to cope and survive.
With Polly’s help, Wolf pieces together haunting memories and begins to remember another life, one where he was a samurai warrior. However, when tragedy forces him to choose between repeating the pain of his past or forging a new path, he must discover if his ghostly friend, his inner warrior, and the strength of his imagination will be enough to save him.
She Named Me Wolf is the first book in The Many Lives of Wolf series by Tenkara Smart.
🔥 Sensitive Topics To Be Aware Of:
Child Abuse: Wolf’s father is depicted as both physically and emotionally abusive; however, readers believe the author handled these themes with delicacy and sensitivity and not overly graphic.
Alcoholism: Wolf’s father is an alcoholic, which is a core part of the trauma.
Mental Health / Trauma: The book deals with coping, imagination, and possibly dissociation (though not clinically labelled).
Supernatural Elements: Ghosts and past-life memories could be triggering for readers who struggle with grief or spiritual trauma
📖 Key Themes & Motifs:
The Power of Imagination
Imagination as escape and resilience.
Creativity forging new realities or rewriting fate.
Visionary thinking as a form of resistance.
· Coming of Age in Unusual Circumstance
Learning who you are while coping with forces beyond your control.
o Emotional maturation accelerated by danger or awakening.
· Cycles of Life, Death, and Renewal
o Each lifetime learning a lesson toward emotional growth.
o Rebirth as a metaphor for personal change.
o Transformation through endings as much as beginnings.
· Belief vs Reality
o Imagination blurring lines between possible and impossible.
o Believing in hidden truths as an act of strength.
· Ghosts & Spiritual Presence:
o Represents unseen support, ancestral memory, and the idea that strength can come from beyond the physical world. Polly symbolizes emotional refuge, wisdom, and a connection to past lives or deeper truths.
· Survival and Resilience
o Wolf’s childhood is traumatic, but he develops internal resources to get through it.
o The theme of survival is not just physical but emotional and spiritual.
o Wolf is growing up, figuring out who he is, what he believes, and what he’ll become.
o The tension between past life identity (samurai) and present-day life (abused kid) helps shape his self-understanding.
· Animals & Nature:
o Wolf’s connection to animals suggests instinct, innocence, and empathy. Animals often represent pure understanding or reflection of his inner emotions. They also hint at survival instincts and the “wolf” inside him.
· Imagination as a Coping Mechanism
o Wolf’s conversations with animals, his imaginary friends, and Polly (the ghost) are his refuge.
o His imagination gives him strength and a way to process his reality.
· Martial Arts & the Inner Warrior:
o Symbolizes self-discipline, emotional resilience, and mastery of self rather than others. The karate teacher is a living embodiment of guidance, balance, and inner harmony.
· Light vs. Darkness:
o Implied through the contrast between his abusive home (darkness) and the inner world he creates (light). Also, may show up through time of day, weather, or mood shifts.
· Reincarnation / Cycles:
o Suggests themes of renewal, rebirth, and continuity across lifetimes. Implies that healing may come from journeys beyond one lifetime.
· Friendship & Support Systems
o Polly (the ghost), his karate teacher, and the animals in his yard are all part of his support network.
o These relationships provide emotional grounding and help him navigate his trauma.
⁉️ Discussion Questions
Character & Development
Wolf’s Coping: How does Wolf use his imagination and ‘otherworldly’ friends (Polly, animals) to cope with his family situation? Do you think these are healthy coping mechanisms?
Polly’s Role: What do you think Polly represents in Wolf’s life? Is she purely a friend, a guardian, or something more symbolic? And is there any indication that she may be ‘real’?
Growth Over Time: How does Wolf change between childhood (when Polly first appears) and adolescence (later in the book)? What are the main turning points for him?
Supporting Character Roles: In the context of the 1970s, when physical discipline was often normalized and family matters were considered private, how might these societal attitudes have influenced Wolf’s mother to ignore or minimize the abuse happening in their home? Do you think she was unaware, emotionally overwhelmed, complicit, or consciously choosing silence? How does understanding the cultural mindset of the time change the way we view her actions—or her inaction? What about his karate teacher, Master Kelly? Did he do enough to protect Wolf?
Plot & Structure
Reality vs Fantasy: Are there moments when the line between what’s ‘real’ and what’s imagined blurs? Which scenes made you question what was actually happening?
Karate and Discipline: Why is karate important to Wolf? Beyond self-defence, what deeper meaning does it have in his journey?
Life-or-Death Decision: Without giving away spoilers, discuss the major decision Wolf faces later in the novel. What does this decision say about his character?
Themes
Survival & Resilience: How does the theme of survival play out in both Wolf’s external (family) and internal (mental) struggles?
Reincarnation & Spirituality: In what ways do Wolf’s memories of being a samurai influence his sense of self and his present-day behaviour?
Identity & Belonging: Does Wolf feel like he truly belongs; to his family, to his imaginary world, or to his past life? How does this evolve?
Agency & Choice: How much agency does Wolf have in his life? Does he feel empowered by the end, or is he still constrained by his past and his environment?
Personal Reflection
Belief Systems: Did you believe Polly was a ‘real’ ghost, or more a psychological manifestation? Why?
Support Systems: Think about people (or fictional characters) in your life who play Wolf’s role (encouraging, otherworldly, wise). How do they help you navigate difficulties?
Imagination as Power: How important is imagination (or inner world) in your life? Do you think it can be a source of strength in hard times?
Comparative / Broader Questions
Compare to Other Books: What other novels can you think of where a child uses imagination to cope with trauma (e.g. Bridge to Terabithia, A Monster Calls)? How do they compare?
Cultural & Spiritual Context: The book weaves in Japanese samurai history, reincarnation, and a ghost. How does this blend of spirituality and culture influence the story’s message?
About the Author:
Tenkara Smart is a novelist whose work blends spirituality, historical depth, and emotional resilience. In her writing, she draws on real-life stories and her travels, particularly to Japan, where her fascination with samurai culture and reincarnation takes shape. Her debut She Named Me Wolf explores themes of trauma, imagination, and inner strength, and reflects her belief that we are spiritual beings living physical lives.