Chapters 1 - 4

Characters

Setting

Themes

Important Quotes

Ben-makes stop-motion videos, eats junk food, room is messy, has dog named Golden, put Olive’s toothbrush in toilet, is overweight and dreams of becoming a detective, is called Cop because he asks so many questions, writes in a notebook that belonged to his Pop, 13 y.o.
Olive-Ben’s sister, plays on trampoline every day after school, is small, white-blonde, seven years old, smart, reads, Bonzo-dirty, grey stuffed rabbit, called her Dad Maugrim, the evil wolf from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Dad sent her to room with no dessert and put Bonzo away for a week. Will only speak to Dad through interpreter. Page 14, beautiful long hair
Golden-three-legged, sandy-coloured kelpie
April Silver-Mum-wears high heels, “They had never seen her switch her phone off before.” Page 11, ten years younger than Dad, tall, brown hair, could have been a model, works at the wreckers with his father, bites fingernails,
Ray Silver-Dad-ex mechanic, salesman, now motor wrecker, armful of tattoos, has chipped front tooth. Looks rat-like.
Pop-owns a cabin in the hills behind Kings Bay, used to go fishing and hunting rabbits a couple of times a year, Dad hardly ever allowed to go even though he wanted to. Died when Ben was two, Ben and Pop were close
Nan-dad’s Mum. Lived around the corner from them on the highway, had time for Ben and was interested in what he had to say, was rake-thin, tough, sat on front steps and watched the world go by, slept only a couple of hours before dawn. Page 24

Description of Ben’s room is messy- “the floor around him was littered with clothes, shoes, a game console, two controllers, a bike wheel with no tyre, a skate-board deck, schoolbooks, soccer boots, a jumbo-size packet of chips and plates from long-forgotten afternoon snacks. Ben’s favourite place.” Page 2
Description of house-they are poor- “cracked concrete path, past the three rusted, doorless cars that sat in the long grass of the Silvers’ front yard.” Page 5
Cabin-“grandfather’s cabin in the hills behind Kings Bay.”

Family: They weren’t close as a family-they eat dinner in front of the TV, take care of themselves page 10, Ray was not close to his father
Moral and ethical dilemmas-when stopped by the police his father runs away page 32-33.
Self esteem and weight-Ben is made fun of at school because he is overweight, page 19

(Other themes explored throughout the text include: Nature, Survival and Fear, Self Perception, Family ‘Flesh and Blood’, Moral and Ethical dilemmas, Truth and Justice, Wolves and Hunters, Rabbits and Prey, Self esteem and Weight, Innocence versus Experience)

“They weren’t really one of those family-movie-night, camp-in-the-backyard, let’s-discuss-this-and-get-everyone’s-opinion kind of families. There were more of a dinner-in-front-of-the-tv, key’s-under-the-mat-, if-you-want-breakfast-make-it-yourself kind of family.” Page 10
“She knew he was paranoid about his weight because he’d told her the things kids said at school.” page 19
‘An old man tells his grandson one evening that there is a raging inside him, inside all of us. A terrible battle between two wolves. One wolf is bad – pride, envy, jealousy, greed, guilt, self-pity. The other wolf is good – kindness, hope, love, service, truth, humility. The child asks, ‘Who will win?’ The grandfather answers simply, ‘The one you feed.’ Page 21
“For the first time ever, Ben did not ask a question.” page 33

Chapters

Chapters 1 - 4

Characters

Setting

Themes

Important Quotes

Ben-makes stop-motion videos, eats junk food, room is messy, is overweight and dreams of becoming a detective, is called Cop because he asks so many questions, writes in a notebook that belonged to his Pop,  13 y.o.
Olive-Ben’s sister, is small, white-blonde, seven years old, smart, reads, Bonzo-dirty, grey stuffed rabbit, brave.
April Silver-Mum- ten years younger than Dad, tall, brown hair, could have been a model,
Ray Silver-Dad- motor wrecker, armful of tattoos. Looks rat-like.
Pop-owns a cabin in the hills behind Kings Bay, used to go fishing and hunting rabbits a couple of times a year,
Nan-dad’s Mum. Lived around the corner from them on the highway,

Description of room-Ben’s room is messy “the floor around him was littered with clothes, shoes, a game console, two controllers, a bike wheel with no tyre, a skate-board deck, schoolbooks, soccer boots, a jumbo-size packet of chips and plates from long-forgotten afternoon snacks.” Page 2
Description of house-family is poor “cracked concrete path, past the three rusted, doorless cars that sat in the long grass of the Silvers’ front yard.” Page 5
Family: They weren’t close as a family-they eat dinner in front of the TV, take care of themselves page 10, Ray was not close to his father
Moral and ethical dilemmas-when stopped by the police his father runs away page 32-33.
Self esteem and weight-Ben is made fun of at school because he is overweight, page 19

(Other themes explored throughout the text include: Nature, Survival and Fear, Self Perception, Family ‘Flesh and Blood’, Moral and Ethical dilemmas, Truth and Justice, Wolves and Hunters, Rabbits and Prey, Self esteem and Weight, Innocence versus Experience)

Underline these important quotes in your book:
“They weren’t really one of those family-movie-night, camp-in-the-backyard, let’s-discuss-this-and-get-everyone’s-opinion kind of families. There were more of a dinner-in-front-of-the-tv, key’s-under-the-mat-, if-you-want-breakfast-make-it-yourself kind of family.” Page 10
“She knew he was paranoid about his weight because he’d told her the things kids said at school.” page 19
‘An old man tells his grandson one evening that there is a raging inside him, inside all of us. A terrible battle between two wolves. One wolf is bad – pride, envy, jealousy, greed, guilt, self-pity. The other wolf is good – kindness, hope, love, service, truth, humility. The child asks, ‘Who will win?’ The grandfather answers simply, ‘The one you feed.’ Page 21
“For the first time ever, Ben did not ask a question.” page 33

Two Wolves Chapters 5-8

Characters

Setting

Themes

Important Quotes

Ben-is intimidated by his father and feels like he has to ‘man up’ to get his father’s approval on page 43, his father is taller than him and scary looking, p 48. Ben is angry with mum. Tells her she will love cabin when they first arrive, page 45.
Ray-hides things from his family, makes fun of Ben, seems disappointed by him and calls him ‘Big girl’ because he’s scared of the cabin page 40.
Olive-Ben finds Olive annoying when she keeps knock-knock jokes (p 49), when she interrupts him snooping he yells at her ‘she pointed at him and screamed, ‘You’re mean!’ and ran away (p56)
April-she doesn’t agree with Ray, but has to go along with him, is keeping Dad’s secret from the kids.
Nature-Trees. Dirt road. Dark’ page 36-nature is threatening.
Cabin-‘Dark. Sad. Villainous’ page 40. Is threatening. The cabin is not comfortable ‘sickening stench of mould and dead things,’ page 43
Ben’s room-‘he wanted to be back in his bedroom with the comforting smell of his own dirty clothes and discarded cereal bowls’ page 43

Family
Ray expects Ben to be tough and brave and has high expectations of him. “He needed to ‘man up’, like Dad always said. Page 43 When Ben screams when he sees spiders his Dad says “You want me to put a nappy on you? Just hit it with your shoe.” Page 49
Ray couldn’t get the door-handle to move and kicked the door in-isn’t aware of how he behaves or scares his children. P41
Ray doesn’t trust his family. When Ben walks in on him hiding the bag in the roof he says “What are you doing sneaking around?” page 47
Nature
Ben doesn’t like nature and going outdoors. On page 59 Ben asked if he could go outside and Ray was surprised because he never wants to go outside.
Ben felt something on his hand slapped it, is scared of nature.
Self perception
On page 35 he talks to himself and wonders about who everyone else is, and who he is.
Moral and ethical dilemmas
On page 47 when Ben reveals he doesn’t trust his parents and goes to snooping to find out what’s in the roof.
(Other themes explored throughout the text include: Nature, Survival and Fear, Self Perception, Family ‘Flesh and Blood’, Moral and Ethical dilemmas, Truth and Justice, Wolves and Hunters, Rabbits and Prey, Self esteem and Weight, Innocence versus Experience)
‘Big Girl. You’re Scared,” page 40-reveals how Ray treats his son.
‘Big Baby, his dad calls him. Page 44
‘I am me. But, if I’m me, then who are mum and dad? Who are James and Gus? Are they ‘me,’ too? They think they’re ‘me’. They call themselves ‘I’ just like I do. So how am I different? I’m in a different body but are we the same thing somehow?’ page 35
“He scanned the ground for snakes, every cell in his body pleading to return to the car. A frog creaked loudly nearby. Insects sang a never-ending song in the trees all around. The headlights cast monstrous, moving shadows of Ben and Dad onto the cabin. Ben felt a bite on his arm and slapped it. There was a call from deep within the woods to the right that sounded like a baby’s cry.” Page 41

Two Wolves Chapters 5-8-modified

Characters

Setting

Themes

Important Quotes

Ben-is intimidated by his father and feels like he has to ‘man up’ to get his father’s approval on page 43,
Ray-hides things from his family, 40.
Olive-Ben finds Olive annoying when she keeps knock-knock jokes (p 49),
April- doesn’t agree with Ray, but has to go along with him.

Nature-Trees. Dirt road. Dark’ page 36-nature is threatening.
Cabin-‘Dark. Sad. Villainous’ page 40. Is threatening. The cabin is not comfortable ‘sickening stench of mould and dead things,’ page 43

Ben’s room-‘he wanted to be back in his bedroom with the comforting smell of his own dirty clothes and discarded cereal bowls’ page 43

Family
Ray expects Ben to be tough and brave and has high expectations of him. “He needed to ‘man up’, like Dad always said. Page 43
Ray doesn’t trust his family. When Ben walks in on him hiding the bag in the roof he says “What are you doing sneaking around?” page 47
Nature
Ben doesn’t like nature and going outdoors.
Self perception
On page 35 he talks to himself and wonders about who everyone else is, and who he is.
Moral and ethical dilemmas
On page 47 when Ben reveals he doesn’t trust his parents and goes to snooping to find out what’s in the roof.

Paste these important quotes into your notebook
‘Big Girl. You’re Scared,” page 40-reveals how Ray treats his son.
‘Big Baby, his dad calls him. Page 44
‘I am me. But, if I’m me, then who are mum and dad? Who are James and Gus? Are they ‘me,’ too? They think they’re ‘me’. They call themselves ‘I’ just like I do. So how am I different? I’m in a different body but are we the same thing somehow?’ page 35
“He scanned the ground for snakes, every cell in his body pleading to return to the car. A frog creaked loudly nearby. Insects sang a never-ending song in the trees all around. The headlights cast monstrous, moving shadows of Ben and Dad onto the cabin. Ben felt a bite on his arm and slapped it. There was a call from deep within the woods to the right that sounded like a baby’s cry.” Page 41

Chapters

Two Wolves Chapters 9-12

Characters

Setting

Themes

Important Quotes

Ben- Ben’s relationship with his sister Olive is much better than before. Ben and Olive built a raft together. Olive slipped on a rock, and at first he wanted to leave her and continue up the creek bank, but instead he turned back and helped Olive up on her feet.                                                                                    
Ray- Ray was angry with Ben because he found the bag of money that he was given by Uncle Chris that Ray hid in the roof beam ( pg 60 ). Ray and April are keeping secrets from their children. (page 89.)
Olive-and Ben are getting closer.. Ben and Olive built a raft (and they pretended to be bushrangers). Olive is turning 8 years old because she said ,“Tell me what he is hiding or you’re not coming to my Birthday party.” Ben told Olive to not tell their parents about the raft because they were hiding something. So, Ben and Olive wanted to have a secret of their own.
April- April helped Ray lie to her children about how they got the money. She never had spare money on her. She never had a diamond ring on her wedding and really wanted one so when Ray bought her one she was really pleased. The ring was the first real present Ray had given her. The first time Ray and April went out April had paid for the dinner..When Ray caught Ben finding the bag full of money, April defended Ben so he wouldn’t get in too much trouble. (pg 62) 
Family-  Olive and Ben are getting really close. The family move to a cabin because they’re running away from the police.
Nature- Ben is out of his element in nature. Rough chocolate tree trunks (p66)“.Nature was real and true and terrible.” (p.67)“He had never spent time in the bush, had never left the suburbs. He did not want to go to the creek. The wilderness was his enemy”. (p.64)
Campfire- Ray tried starting a fire but couldn’t and everyone laughed at his pathetic camping skills so April took over and got a decent flame going -April is capable and is starting to be herself by standing up for Ben and not allowing Ray be as dominant. (page 89)
Creek--  there are slippery and sharp rocks at the creek (p75). There are snakes “Watch out for snakes”(p76). The creek is seven to eight metres wide (p66) downstream there was a small waterfall leading to a section of the creek(p66).“For the first time since they had arrived Ben started to relax. With just the two of them down by the creek it actually seemed a bit like a holiday. Ben wanted to go barefoot like Olive but he was too scared of snakes.” (p.78) Ben wondered if the stream water was safe to drink so he cupped his hand and caught some water. His thirst was to great, so he gulped down the water (p68).
Moral and ethical dilemmas 
‘We sold the wreckers,’ Mum said. Everyone was quiet.(pg 63). Ben told Olive to go away.(pg 75). Ben knew it was a lie,they had not sold the wreckers. (page 80).
Truth and Justice- Mum is telling Ben that they sold the wreckers but Ben doesn't believe them. They say the money could be used for the holiday. (page 60 & 63) Ben is determined to find out what the money was for. After the campfire moment maybe Ben thinks that family is more important than the money. (p90). Ben made a promise to himself that he would work out where the money had come from. (p83).
Family ‘Flesh and Blood’
Ben and Olive are getting closer - built a raft together and Ben helped Olive when she fell, said it was their secret about building the raft. (page 75, 77 and 84)
Ray went out and got presents, food and clothes for the family, Ray and Olive start talking again after he got her the skateboard she wanted since she was 4. Ray and April had an affectionate moment when dad bought her a diamond ring. “For that moment, everybody was happy. The way things were meant to be, the way they were in movies. The way Ben always imagined other families being. Maybe better” - Ben wants his family to stay happy and do things together without fighting or arguing. (page 89)
“Mum knew that he didn’t like the wrecking yard. It was filled with dead, broken, rusty things and, when he was there, he had to search for parts or clean the toilet or restock the drinks fridge. The only good thing about the wrecking yard was when he found something interesting, like his camera, in one of the cars.” (p.63)
“He knew that he would have no chance out here alone. Ben’s survival skills included hunting for leftovers in the fridge, lowering bread into the toaster and switching on the heater when it was cold. None of these talents would be useful here.” (p.69)
“Adults never told kids anything. Nothing worth hearing anyway. Ben felt as though he spent his entire life trying to work out things that adults knew but wouldn’t tell him.” (p. 71)
“His parents were in trouble. He didn’t know why but he knew they were.” (p.73)
•‘Ben make a promise to himself that he would work out where the money had come from and why they were lying to him. He was sick of being treated like a child. He was sick of being treated like a child. He was going undercover. He would find the truth.” (p.83)
“For that moment, everybody was happy. The way things were meant to be, the way they were in movies. The way Ben always imagined other families being. Maybe better.” (p.89)
“If life was full of good things and presents and they were all happy, did it matter where the money had come from? Did it matter why his father had driven off from the police? Did it matter that his mum lied to him about selling the business? Maybe he was overreacting. Maybe they really did sell the wreckers…And that’s how they got the presents. What if it could always be like this? A million dollars could buy a lot of happy.” (p.89-90)

Chapters

Two Wolves Chapters 13-16

Characters

Setting

Themes

Important Quotes

Ben- Ben went on the raft to try if it can float but he nearly fell off. The reader learnt that he can’t swim. Ben lied to Ray and said he didn’t see a rabbit even though Ben saw a grey rabbit  the day before at the creek because he doesn’t want his Dad to kill the rabbit.(page 105)
Ray- Ray is jealous of Pop even though he has been dead for years. While the family was having dinner, Ray snatched Ben’s book and looked through it. Ben’s book had all the evidence about his parent’s argument and everything else he got during the trip. Ben was fighting and screaming at Ray to give it back. Ben physically attacked his father and  Ray grabbed Ben’s arm and  twisted Ben’s body. After the fight Ray went back to the cabin to read the notebook. This shows that Ray is aggressive and he will attack anyone who tries to stand up to him.
April- April wanted to feel like she was being listened to but Ray is too dominant and stubborn to listen to what she has to say. She stands up for Ben when Ray gets aggressive and starts to physically attack Ben over his notebook. She has to take over majority of the time when it comes to ‘housework’ eg. skin and gut the rabbit and starting the fire.   
Olive- Olive really wanted to go on the raft but Ben didn’t allow her. Olive didn’t want to eat the rabbit and claimed that she was vegetarian. This shows that olive can stand up for herself
Family- Ben’s family is not very happy in general, they had a moment of happiness during the campfire when Ray bought presents, but then the parents were arguing again. ”Do you think that we’re good people”, dad asks. ‘Yes’, Ben said, unconvincingly. ’I think we’re good people.’ This shows that Ben doesn’t agree with his father that they are good people but he doesn’t want to express his real feelings because he’s scared of his father. ‘Ben worried sometimes that his parents would not be together forever. But he also worried that they would be together forever’ (p.92). This shows that Ben is scared that his parents are going to divorce but at the same time he also wants them to have a divorce because they always argue and it doesn’t make Ben happy.
Nature-
Ben hates nature as much as his father does. Ben hears insects at night. Ben is  tucked in beside dad at the fallen tree crawling with green ants. “He sat on the bank, his back against a tree. A near-full moon shone through the pines and the white-sand clearing gleamed like silver.”  (page 92) “He headed off into the heavy shadow of the trees and came across some tough, root-like vines growing along the ground at the base of a hoop pine.They would do.” this shows us that Ben is looking for things to hold his raft together.( p  g 101)
Creek-,
“The creek cut through the voices and other night noises. ‘Shhhh,’ it said, dragging him down.” this shows that the creek is a calming place for Ben and the noises were soothing to him when he was trying to find out what April and Ray were talking about. (pg 93, 94)
The creek is knee-deep water and freezing yet Ben was brave enough to go waist-deep while holding the raft just to test if the raft would work even though he doesn’t know how to swim.
Moral and ethical dilemmas 
Ben spying on his parents. Ben knows that his parents have done something wrong and he is trying to investigate and find out what it is. ‘He would listen to their conversation. He would learn where they were heading, what they were doing’ (p. 94). This shows that Ben is trying to know where his parents are planning to take him to.
‘’Ray, please don’t    fall into pieces on me now. You got us in. You get us out,’ said Mum’s voice’ (p.96). This shows that Dad is responsible for their current situation in terms of being on the run and his Mum is depending on Ray to solve the problem.
‘’As soon as we get these papers, we go…Worst case, we can’t get the passports, we go into the desert, somewhere that doesn’t even exist’ (p. 97) This shows that his parents want to take them overseas or to flee the country.
He also has thought of this comment that he said: ‘Can your own parents kidnap you? I think mine have Help!’ (p.115) Ben is starting to feel trapped and captured by his parents as they
Family ‘Flesh and Blood’
’Sometimes I wish we hadn’t done it,’ Dad said’ (p. 96).said dad (pg 96) Ben wonders what they had done. The parents don’t trust the kids with their secrets and that Ben knows they’re keeping something secret. ‘Ben! Don’t,’ Mum said ‘What are you doing?’ April did not believe that Ben could get his notebook.
Investigating the truth about his parents. When he sees his father and mother arguing Ben decided to record his parents arguing for proof. “But here everything was unknown. The only familiar sound was the arguing’ (p. 92). This shows that the cabin and nature is unfamiliar to him but his parents arguing is familiar because they always do it.
Nature, survival and fear
Ray hunting to get them food. ‘Dad poked the foot at him again and Ben looked into his father’s eyes. They seemed less alive than the rabbits’ (p. 112).‘Ben squeezed his bicep. Maybe I am, he thought. I hope they don’t eat me. Somehow, in supermarkets, the fluorescent lights and the shiny, cling-wrapped parcels made you forget’ (p. 113). Ben is  squeezing his arm because when his dad kills the rabbit for food, he's thinking that he has meat so that his dad could sacrifice him for food to survive. This shows how he is beginning to truly fear his father and that he might do him harm.
‘But here everything was unknown. The only familiar sound was the arguing’ (p. 92).
‘’Please. Just. Listen to me,’ he heard mum say. ‘I never feel heard’’ (p. 92).
‘Ben worried sometimes that his parents would not be together forever. But he also worried that they would be together forever’ (p.92).
‘Like the fire, happiness had flickered and died’ (p.92-93).
‘Ben ran his fingers over the words on the page. He figured that this is what a real detective would do – chew over the evidence, ratchet through the possibilities’ (p. 98).
‘He has somehow became a detective years before he ever expected to’ (p. 102).
‘Dad seemed nervous and unnatural with it. Ben had wondered if he had ever held a gun before. He didn’t seem to be holding it the right way. Not that Ben knew what the right way was’ (p. 103).
‘But the voice came from the same part of Ben’s mind that told him to run when he was walking back from the toilet in the middle of the night. It was the same part of his mind that his stories came from. The fear place’ (p. 104).
‘Dad poked the foot at him again and Ben looked into his father’s eyes. They seemed less alive than the rabbits’ (p. 112).
‘I am who I am. I’m a monster’ (p.115).
‘Ben squeezed his bicep. Maybe I am, he thought. I hope they don’t eat me. Somehow, in supermarkets, the fluorescent lights and the shiny, cling-wrapped parcels made you forget’ (p. 113).
‘Can your own parents kidnap you? I think mine have Help!’ (p.115)
‘That notebook was the one place Ben could be himself’ (p.118).

Chapters

Two Wolves Chapters 17-21

Characters

Themes

Important Quotes

Ben-Ben has changed by being in control of asking questions and standing up to his father.
This reveals that Ben is becoming the man his father wants him to be. In the beginning Ben was being bullied by his Dad, hated nature and stayed in his room all day and was not building a relationship with his family, but staying at the cabin has taught him to go and enjoy nature. 
Ray- Ray becomes more careless and doesn’t really consider his children's safety. Ray leaves Ben and Olive alone in the cabin for a whole day because he is mad at Ben. Ray gets mad at Ben and physically attacks Ben by grabbing him by the neck of his shirt and slamming him to the wall, when Ben finds out that Ray stole 7.2 million dollars.
April- April left the cabin with Ray in the morning without the kids, leaving them with no food or water. She used to leave notes for the kids every time she left, but this time she didn't. Ray is influencing her to be more like him. When April got back with Ray, she was being very secretive not telling the kids where she went, or why she left. As they were eating dinner, April kept reassuring Ben that everything will be ok and that it was a mistake to come to the cabin, whispering so that no one else could hear. When Ray and Olive were sleeping, she sobbed to Ben, telling him that she doesn’t know how to start listening to herself instead of listening to Ray.
Olive- Olive doesn’t care about smashing the window because she knows that being locked in the cabin wasn’t right. When Ray and April came back April went to hug Olive but she refuses to hug her back because she was mad at her for being like her Ray and for leaving them without notice. Ben didn’t allow Olive to break the window because if their dad found out that they had broken the window they would get in trouble.(Ben is scared of his father but Olive isn’t because she wants to break the window so they can escape.) She was busting to go to the toilet but the cabin had no toilets so she peed in the cereal bowl.
Moral and ethical dilemmas 
“Ben could feel the pressure of all the unspoken truths thickening the air between them.” Ben feels that there are so many things that have been going on and he is not aware of it, his parents are hiding secrets from him and Olive, specifically why they are on the run and now that Ben knows the truth he feels this is creating more distance and suspicion between them. page 145
“Why do you listen to him?” he asked Mum. “Why don’t you stand up for yourself? You would never have left us like that. Why did you?” Ben’s trying to talk sense into his mum by telling her that she is stronger and smarter than to just listen to whatever Ray tells her. April knows that if she wasn’t always listening to Ray, she could be a better mum to Ben and Olive.
“Until yesterday he had never even questioned his father to his face, but whatever bond they had was broken now. “ page 147 This shows that Ben is angry because his parents lied to him, also because he is sick of being scared of his dad and he is starting to man up.
“If the bank put it into their account by accident, even though Mum and Dad transferred it out, was it theirs? Didn’t it belong to them now?” page 158 This demonstrates Ben’s conflict when thinking about his parents. On the one hand Ben thinks that his parents were greedy and the money didn’t belong to them because the money was accidentally deposited, then he also wonders if ‘finders keepers’ applies and that it might be okay if his parents had kept it.
“But if your parents were criminals, did that mean that you were more likely to become a criminal too.?” Ben worries that his parents are criminals, that will make him a criminal too because his parents are influencing Ben to be like them. Olive is most likely to become like Ray since they are both violent, and Ben is most likely to become like April because the both of them are kind hearted and sweet.
Family ‘Flesh and Blood’
“Because Dad’s a big Maugrim-ish idiot but Mummy knows better than to be mean and bad. She’s the worst mum in the whole world EVER!” Olive thinks that April should know better than to leave them alone in the cabin and that she should stand up for herself instead of listening to Ray. page 126
“They always ate dinner in front of the TV. Dad would get angry anyone tried to eat at the dining table when a good show was on. He said it was rude.” page 126 This shows that their family is not the type to have dinner together at a dining table where they would all talk to each other across the table about how their day was. Instead, Ray prefers their family to have dinner in front of the TV watching shows and not talking to each other, that’s Ray’s way of having a ‘good family dinner’. 
“To Ben’s family TV was like bad glue. They needed regular doses to keep all the cracks hidden.” page 127 Ben’s family is addicted to TV and they need it in their life. When they end up in the cabin which doesn’t have a TV, they all try to get along but that doesn’t go very well and there is tension. They watch each other more carefully and argue when something bad happens.
When Olive reminded Ben of the time he made her drink apple juice. “Something that looked like apple juice. Ben laughed but he still felt bad. Why did he do those things to her? It was as though there was a bad Ben inside him, forcing his hand?” page 132 When Olive was urinating, Ben had memories when he had pranked her by telling Olive that he had made her Apple Juice however Ben had urinated into a cup and he made Olive drink it. This shows that Ben likes to prank his sister but at the same time, he still felt bad. When there was a bad Ben inside him, it made him feel like his Dad.
Ben wondered where Olive had learned to be such a punk. It wasn’t at school. She had always been like this, even before she could speak.” page 140 Ben wonders where Olive got so much courage. Olive has always been annoying to Ben but he never knew that she was such a punk and maybe bullied people at school. This reveals that Ben doesn’t spend much time with Olive, so he doesn’t know how she acts. This also reveals that Olive acts more like her father then mother.
“Ben wished that Mum was as strong as Olive.” This shows us that April is afraid to stand up for herself and confront Ray about what he does wrong, while Olive confronts him freely without any worry. p 145
“..his parents were scared, so he was scared. Parents were supposed to know the answers. Or at least pretend they knew.” page 148 This shows that Ben had faith in his parents and thought they all had the answers but he finally noticed that his parents have troubles too. He is concerned that his parents are scared because it reveals that something scary is going on.
Nature, survival and fear
“The feeling in the cabin had changed now. Hope had blown in and rain had settled into a steady sprinkle.” page 136 This shows that Ben has succeeded in digging the hole because they could feel breeze and if they couldn't get out they would probably die.
“They’re not coming back. These words helped him to saw faster and harder. Droplets of blood spat onto the floor. Twin angels of fear and anger drove him on.” page 137 This reveals that Ben is angry about this parents not coming back. As he saws faster his hands start to bleed and there is desperation in him since he is sawing fast so he can escape the cabin because he doesn’t want to die in the cabin.
“Forests are supposed to be dark and unknown, Parents are not. He wondered if he would ever find his mother’s shhhh as comforting as he found the sound of that creek.” page 145 This shows that Ben is trying to comfort himself in the forest with the quietness sounds of the forest, however his parents are being suspicious and he doesn't feel comfortable around them. This is a change as it was the forest and nature that was more threatening, but now it’s his parents.
“Olive walked boldly into the dark while Ben scanned the ground with his torch, thinking every stick was a snake, every shadow a werewolf or zombie.” page 140 This reveals that Olive is a tough girl meanwhile Ben is scared of the nature and he’s using his imagination and imagining scary things.
“Useless. Come back when you’re a man.” Dad released his grip and walked out of the cabin, shouting into the night like a crazed beast.” page 155 Ben’s s dad is yelling at him and telling him to come back when is a man and this reveals that Ray doesn’t respect or care about Ben. This also reveals that Ray is very angry at Ben’s investigation and that’s why he is shouting into the woods at night.
“Dad was faster than him. He had leg-length. He could take Ben down like a wolf chasing a rabbit. Eat him alive. Black and crispy on the outside, raw in the middle.” page 159. This reveals that Ben’s father is an aggressive person as well on the inside and on the outside. It shows the transformation in his relationship with his father where he is scared of being harmed.
“They can’t lock us in. Kids are people too.”
“Ben wondered if there would come a time when he realised that he ,himself, was not who he thought he was, that he was someone totally different. Someone capable of doing what his parents had done.” p 152

Chapters

Two Wolves Chapters 22-24

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Setting






Themes



Important Quotes

Ben-Ben has no decision to leave home and guilty to leave his family in the forest and cabin.As he walks he hears odd sounds and he sees police officers running down the forest. Ben had to choose either to help his family or give in to the police, but either way Ben still chose his family and warned them that someone was outside, probably the police.
Ray- Ray leaves ben and Olive back at the cabin alone for the day and locked them in. When Ray came back Ben asked April why she even listens to Ray. Then Ray gets mad. Ray physically attacks Ben. Ray forces April to listen and do whatever Ray tells him.
Olive- Olive does not know what’s going on as Ben tells her that they are playing hide and seek  and Olive is whining for Bonzo. As Ray gives Olive Bonzo she grabs Ray’s arm and hugs him for a thank you. Olive whispers to Ben to tell him to hurry up and escape. After running towards the creek Ben helped Olive get on the raft and Olive asks Ben what is happening?
April- April felt bad and really sorry for leaving Ben and April in the cabin alone for the whole day. When Ben asked her why she would even listen to whatever Ray tells her to do april doesn’t reply because she doesn’t know what she really wants to do. She didn’t want to be like ray and does not want to be apart of the children and not let ray keep secrets from her.
Nature- “The water was black ink but for e few patches of moonlight poking through the tips of the tall hoop pines.” (page 176)  “Olive lay still and flat, the water lapping over her shoulders and legs. he knew that she couldn’t swim well either.” (page 177) “ The creek moved quickly and ben concentrated on steering away from the line of rocks jutting  into the middle of the streams.” (page 177)
Cabin- Ben and Olive escape from the cabin. “He felt around on the floor, his fingertips touching the roughly hacked line of his escape hole” (page 164) “He stuck his fingernail into the crack and lifted a board. It came up with a squeak and a twist of nails” (page 164) “He had to go. He dropped his backpack into the hole, gently swung his feet down and lowered his legs” (page 165)

(Other themes explored throughout the text include: Nature, Survival and Fear, Self Perception, Family ‘Flesh and Blood’, Moral and Ethical dilemmas, Truth and Justice, Wolves and Hunters, Rabbits and Prey, Self esteem and Weight, Innocence versus Experience)
“But he couldn’t deal with not knowing where they were going next or for how long. This was the moment when he could take charge of his own thoughts and actions.” page 164  
This reveals that after Ben leaves he can make his own decisions and he doesn’t have to listen to his dad or mum telling him what to do. After all that Ben’s parents have done to him they don’t deserve to be his parents and they don’t have the right to boss him around.
“It would be so easy to go back. Easier than going forward. He closed his eyes and wished that everything was going to be okay. He wished that he could rewind time.” page 165
This shows that Ben still doesn’t know which wolf to to feed, the bad wolf or the good wolf. Ben could easily go back and help his parents or he would leave them for what they have done to him and Olive. Ben wanted to reverse time to stop his parents from taking the money which led to what is happening now.
“Better the devil you know.’ That’s what people said. If there were two choices and they were both bad, you should go with the one you knew. Your own family. Flesh and blood, said the voice in his mind, the voice he could not control.” page 166
This shows that Ben has no control of what his mind is telling him. His mind is telling him to feed the bad wolf but Ben wants to make his own decisions. If Ben chooses either one it wouldn’t be bad or good the results would be the same. If he chose to give in to the police his family would be in danger of going to jail but, if he chose to hide with his family the police would end up finding them either way.
“Ben no longer knew if he was a detective or a thief. His dream was to be an officer of the law, but his reality was very, very different.” page 172.
This shows that Ben is still struggling on what he wants to do. does he help his parents and become a thief? Or give in and help the police find his parents and become a detective?  
“I’m me, said the voice again, but they are me too. My own blood.” page 173
During the stage of running from the police, Ben’s mind starts to speak. His mind is telling him that he should help his family since, his family is his blood and flesh.
“This was an impossible option but so was going back, giving themselves up, giving their parents up.” page 178
This reveals that Ben wanted to give in to the police and reveal everything his parents has done but he still wanted to leave with Olive and feed the Bad wolf inside. Ben couldn’t make the decision by himself but he didn’t have a choice he was the only one that could make that decision.
“He prayed for his parents. He prayed that what he had done—telling them about the police– had not led to the end of them.” page 182.
This shows that even though Ben’s parents are criminals, he still cared about them, he didn’t want his parents to get hurt, no matter how bad they were of being parents and he thought about what he had done was right and if he was going to get the same consequences that his parents should be getting.
“In Ben’s stories, the good guys always won. But Ben didn’t know who the good guys were in this story. Or when it would end.” page 182.
This reveals that Ben didn’t trust his parents because he didn’t know who were the good guys in his family anymore and he didn’t know when all of the hiding from police would end and Ben and his family would be able to live as a peaceful and happy family.

Chapters

Two Wolves Chapters 25-29

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Setting



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Important Quotes

Ben- When Ben woke up, he opened his eyes and the sun shined his knife into his eyes which forced Ben to close his eyes. It shows that when he wakes up and sees the sun and he’s not used to seeing the sun bright and early. He also is afraid for his sister when he shouts Olive at the start of Chapter 25. Ben wanted to hide from the Helicopters because he was afraid that whatever happens to kids after their parents went to jail. Ben wondered if they would see their house again and he could see the thick brown truck of a giant tree up ahead, the safety of its roots. In the next day Ben and Olive were hunting for food like radishes. They found a fruit that was believed to be figs. Ben tried to keep Olive distracted on other things.
Olive- Olive wanted to get attention from the police when she was waving. Olive likes to have fun playing. Olive was hungry after playing. Olive followed Ben when he saw the giant tree. Olive wasn’t very happy when Ben snapped at Olive.e was heading for the giant tree, where he had seen the hard green fruit lying on the ground.  

Nature- Muddy, harsher, rough, giant trees with enormous roots on the creek bank, tangled mess- vines running from the ground to the branches, thickest trees provide the heaviest covers (safety), creek is red due to either blood or the plants around the edge of the creek

(Other themes explored throughout the text include: Nature, Survival and Fear, Self Perception, Family ‘Flesh and Blood’, Moral and Ethical dilemmas, Truth and Justice, Wolves and Hunters, Rabbits and Prey, Self esteem and Weight, Innocence versus Experience)
‘Was that why he had stopped Olive? Was it to protect his parents, his sister, himself? Or was it to protect the money?’ (p. 190)
Ben was thinking that why he had stopped Olive from waving at the police. He asked himself that was it for protecting his parents, his sister or did he do it for the money.
‘For the first time in Ben’s life, he could choose to do whatever he liked, go wherever he wanted – and he felt stuck.’ (p. 191)
It was Ben first time in his life to be able to choose what to do whatever he liked and go wherever he wanted but he still felt like he couldn’t do anything. His sister was hungry and he was trying his best to take care of Olive while he was in the middle of the forest.
‘Ben had once heard Mum telling Dad in an argument that “money doesn’t buy happiness”. He had thought this was strange at the time. Of course money could buy happiness. But now he knew.’ (p. 194)
It means that money can’t buy everything in every situation.
‘Life had always seemed hard at home … But now, lying here in the pitchy dark on the damp ground and feeling the deepest fear he had ever felt, he would have done anything to be at home or at the cabin.’ (pp. 197-198)
Ben sort of took the cabin for granted and didn’t consider any other places that would be worse than the cabin. Now that he and Olive are in position where they don’t have access to warmth, food or a comfortable place to rest, he would do basically anything to be back at home or at the cabin where it provides them both with a shelter and warmth.
‘Death could not be worse than this. At home he was scared by his parents arguing after he went to bed, hoping that Dad would not leave. But that did not compare to this feeling now.’ (p. 202)
‘Ben felt like crying too, but he could not. He was the father here and Dad had assured him that real men don’t cry.’ (p. 206)
In this situation where Ben and Olive are alone out in the wilderness, the responsibility of taking care of Olive is in Ben’s hands. He feels the need to be the strong one even though he’s been through so much he thinks about what his dad expects of him and how he needs to be the strong one in this case.
‘Ben looked down at the bag of money. He had taken the money and run with it. What did that say about him?’ (p. 208)
‘Fifty thousand dollars, he thought. It meant nothing. It could have been fifty cents.’ (p. 211)

Chapters

Two Wolves Chapters 30-34

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Setting

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Important Quotes

Ben- Ben was screaming for help because he thought that olive was dying. Ben was running away with Olive and the bag of money. Ben chose Olive over the money, so he decided to bury the money 100 meters away from the cabin and run off with Olive for help

Olive- Olive was unconscious for most of the chapters because she got really sick from her eating enough food therefore Ben had to make it his responsibility to take care of Olive.

April- April and Ray left Ben and Olive behind at the cabin and ran away from the police

Nature-grass, flowers, plant bulbs, bugs beneath rotting logs, green,old, bush.
Cabin- The cabin was old and dirty. And was Ray’s grandpa’s cabin

Family- “He had always like being at Nan’s more than being at home.” page 241 Ben feels safer and comfortable at nans house because at home his parents are keeping secrets from Ben and Olive and not telling him what is going on.
Self perception- “Ben thought of the police helicopter and he wished he had not been so stupid, had not hidden from the police and almost killed his sister.” page 221 Meaning that Ben regrets what he has done to his sister and he regrets why he is hiding from the police. If he did get caught, he would have to face the consequences of his parents running away from the police and stealing the money.
“Ben had to think. The decisions he made were important. No more bad decisions.” page 224 Ben has to make the right decision in able for him and Olive to survive so, Ben could not take anymore chances. “Would he become a wrecker, too? His parents were criminals, so he must be more likely to become one. Like father, like son. Did he have a choice or was it written in his DN.” page 225 Since his parents were criminals, his parents could have influenced him into stealing money because he has his parents genes in him so he is feeling that he is going to be a criminal. “He would have thought that the world was out to get him, but now he did not expect so much. Things could not rattle him so easily. Maybe not even death.” page 228
Ben isn’t scared of anything. Ben is stronger than before.
Moral and ethical dilemmas
“Now Ben had $932,000. Fifty thousand had washed away. But he did not feel smart or lucky or good-looking or happy like the rich people in his imagination.”  page 217 Ben imagined that if he had a whole lot of money, he’d be happy and life would be perfect, but in reality he’s in the wild on the run from the police.
(Other themes explored throughout the text include: Nature, Survival and Fear, Self Perception, Family ‘Flesh and Blood’, Moral and Ethical dilemmas, Truth and Justice, Wolves and Hunters, Rabbits and Prey, Self esteem and Weight, Innocence versus Experience)
“Ben watched her chopping onions, thinking how easy food seemed now. Food had been so hard out there. Everything had been so hard. He wanted to always remember.” page 241
Ben says “thinking how easy food seemed now” it means that they have all this food in front of them and they didn’t have to do anything to get it there, then Ben said “Food had been so hard out there. Everything had been so hard” Now Ben had everything handed to him he didn’t have to do anything
“Do you think we have convict blood? Maybe we can’t help it. The Silvers, I mean.” Page 243  
Ben thinks that his ancestors may have been convict blood that’s why his parents are bad.

Chapters

Two Wolves Chapters 35-38

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Important Quotes

Ben- Ben has changed by standing up to his father and not being afraid of him because ben has been lifting weights and that his father is skinny. Ben has been carrying his sister and also the money, but he also lost $50,000 on the way (but he didn't care about it at this point he was more concerned about his sister.)Ben is fighting against the bad wolf(Ray and the money).He doesn’t want to be like his father and grandfather.
Ray-Ray sleeps in the wildness and now looks skinny, his jeans became  dirty and  his T-shirt turned filthy, because of living like an animal. In the end, Ray lost his family and the money that he tried to steal.
Olive-Olive is still the same she is now tired and she wasn't talking like she used to be.
April-April stands up for her children’s side more and does not listen to Ray “you can’t control me anymore…”. April went to court hoping she would be home because she knew that it she wasn’t her  responsibility.
Nature- Ben is no longer afraid of the darkness and the noises because he is used to nature and being in the dark for those imaginary things anymore. (He is more concerned about his sister because she is really close to dying and that Ben is responsible for his sister’s wellbeing).
Cabin-They left the cabin but Ray was still there because he knew that the cops wouldn’t find him there and that no one would be around there.
Family-When ben’s mum came to hug him he hate it because his mum left olive and him but he loved it because he knows that they are safe with his mother. “He had never loved and hated a hug so much in his life.’’pg245. ‘Dad and pop, no matter where I go, are inside me, in my blood. Is it possible to outrun the blood you have inherited, to become somebody else?’ page 254. Ben doesn't want the bad family blood in him. He doesn't want to be like his pop and father. Ben wants to have clean blood in him not criminal blood. Ben has learnt to be good and not let anyone change his mind about who he is. This reveals how Ben has changed to be a good person.
Self perception-Ben sees himself as a good wolf after all he had beaten his father who was the bad wolf. “The terrible battle was done.’’ Ben chose moral over flesh and blood, by returning the money to the cops and fought against his father. Mum was the bad wolf for following her husband but decided to become the good parent again. But dad on the other hand was the bad wolf all the way to the end. Olive had always maintain that strong character.
Family ‘Flesh and Blood’
‘You can’t control me anymore.’ ‘What?’, he whispered, breathless..’ 249 April is now standing up to Ray because in the earlier chapters April was always on Ray’s side but now she is on the kids side which shocked Ray and made he say ‘What?’ he is saying in a shocked emotion, he said this because he didn't expect these words coming from April’s mouth and that’s why say said it.
 (Other themes explored throughout the text include: Nature, Survival and Fear, Self Perception, Family ‘Flesh and Blood’, Moral and Ethical dilemmas, Truth and Justice, Wolves and Hunters, Rabbits and Prey, Self esteem and Weight, Innocence versus Experience)
‘Now they were wolves behind the henhouse’. Page 249 
“Two wolves. Good and bad. Which one wins? The one you feed.’ page 249.
“You can’t control me anymore.’ ‘What?’, he whispered, breathless..’ 249
“Is it possible to outrun the blood you have inherited, to become somebody else?’ page 261.
“You, me and my old man. We’re all the same.’ page 265
“Felt empty now,…in a good way. As though he had released his wolves from captivity. There was no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ wolf anymore…’ page 271.
“Dad and pop, no matter where I go, are inside me, in my blood. Is it possible to outrun the blood you have inherited, to become somebody else?” page 254
“Because you did the wrong thing and you’re going to face the consequences but then you’re going to come home to us and everything will be okay forever.” page 256.
“Like grandfather, like father, like son. Was it really possible to escape what was written in his genes? He could still just take the money and disappear.” page 261.