Alma de Lobo, by Verónica Moscoso
What happens when reality overcomes fiction? Then you have a story like ALMA DE LOBO. This novella is the true story of Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja. His is the only documented case in Spain of a feral child.
SUMMARY: At the age of seven, Marcos was sold by his father to work as a shepherd in a remote valley of the Sierra Morena. The older shepherd, who was teaching him the ropes, suddenly died, leaving Marcos on his own. He had a hard time staying alive until a pack of wolves adopted him. ALMA DE LOBO describes how Marcos manages to survive in the mountains living a carefree life surrounded by the animals he befriended. Then, the painful process to adapt to the world of humans after his capture when he was 19 years old. Hardly anyone believed his childhood stories, but when he was in his 60s, an event changed his life.
ALMA DE LOBO is a page-turner. This book is an easy reader Spanish novella for students in about Spanish 3 or the end of Spanish 2. With about 305 unique words, it tells a 4,190-word story in the past tense. Illustrations and a full glossary for each of the ten chapters are included.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is one of the most fascinating stories I’ve ever researched and written about. I based this novella on the books, articles, interviews and documentaries about Marcos’ life. Most importantly, I was able to interview Marcos himself, for which I am really grateful.
