My thoughts on Werewolves

Hello everyone! I thought I would share with you my thoughts on the paranormal species we know as werewolves.

What is a werewolf exactly? Stereotypically, they are humans that turn to wolf-like-creatures when the full moon comes out. Usually they are dangerous, having no control over themselves when they actually turn. Silver burns them, and most often take the shape of silver bullets.

However, Young Adult novels have really taken werewolves to a new level. From Harry Potter to Shiver and Blood and Chocolate, werewolves have been seen throughout modern teen fiction. Every novel takes its own spin on this classic beast and either romanticizes it, or creates an even larger fear of it. It is actually really interesting to see how the werewolf has been transformed from monster to love interest. Where is the beast that once haunted our dreams?

Personally, I find the humanizing of werewolves fascinating. I love the idea that there is more to them then just blood lust and gore. That the human is still there, and just wants to be loved as well and anyone else. Mostly it seems, that you do not have a choice on if you become a werewolf or not. You were just the guy walking in the park at night and were attacked by "a large animal".

It seems crazy that people should hate someone caught in such a sad predicament. Of course we should be weary because when that person does change, they are dangerous. But it is not usually the humans fault. It is just their sad fate. Other times, like in Blood and Chocolate, you were born a werewolf. This is an interesting idea and actually should be feared many times more then the human who was turned. I expect a lot more werewolf titles to be showing up in Young Adult in the future. I personally enjoy hearing their story and reading the different ways authors can skew the myth.


Books that have Werewolves in them:

-Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
-Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
-Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
-The City of Bones series by Cassandra Clare**
-The Demonata series by Darren Shan**
-Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow**
-New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (also, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn)**
Note on New Moon: Please do not spoil anything for readers who have not finished the series.

Werewolf titles suggested by commenters:

-Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith** (L.H. Parker)
-Need by Carrie Jones** (L.H. Parker)

**Please note that these titles are not exclusively werewolf titles, but contain werewolves within them. Also, may not be werewolves in the traditional sense.

Feel free to comment with more Werewolf titles to share!