Mom, the Wolf Man, and Me by Norma Klein
"Mom, the Wolf Man, and Me" by Norma Klein is a children's novel that explores themes of family dynamics and social mores in the late twentieth century. The story centers on Brett, a young girl navigating her relationship with her single mother, a photographer, as they face societal perceptions about family structures. Brett's father is absent, having never been part of her life, which complicates her interactions with peers and family members. The narrative highlights Brett's strong bond with her mother, characterized by mutual understanding and shared experiences, such as their casual lifestyle and joint adventures.
As the plot unfolds, Brett encounters Theo, affectionately known as the Wolf Man, whose presence introduces discussions around relationships and differing perspectives on love and family. The book provides a nuanced portrayal of unconventional family arrangements, particularly contrasting Brett’s experiences with those of her friend Evelyn, whose mother deals with the challenges of divorce.
Klein’s work is notable for addressing themes of sexuality and independence, challenging traditional narratives and encouraging open conversations about complex social issues. The novel was one of the first to depict a family living together without marriage, leading to both acclaim and controversy regarding its candid treatment of subjects often considered taboo for children’s literature. This groundbreaking approach not only resonated with readers but also sparked discussions about censorship and the importance of diverse family representations in literature.
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Subject Terms
Mom, the Wolf Man, and Me by Norma Klein
First published: 1972
Type of work: Domestic realism
Themes: Coming-of-age, family, and sexual issues
Time of work: The early 1970’s
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: New York City
Principal Characters:
Brett , an eleven-year-old girlMom , a single parent and professional photographerTheo (Wolf Man) , Mom’s friendAndrew , Brett’s best friend from the old schoolEvelyn , ,Brett’s friend in the new apartment buildingEvelyn’s Mother , a divorced womanMimi , Mom’s friend who trains animalsWally , Mom’s coworkerNicky , andMarshall , Wally’s childrenGrandpa , Mom’s fatherGrandma , Mom’s mother
The Story
On Father’s Day at Brett’s new school, she has difficulty convincing her classmates that she is fatherless. Several times she denies that her parents are divorced, finally explaining that her parents were never married and her father does not know she exists.
Brett has a marvelous relationship with her mother and enjoys life as it is. The two think alike in many ways. Both wear jeans most of the time; she has even convinced Mom to sleep in jeans so she will always be dressed. Being a photographer, Mom often works at night and sleeps during the day.
On her regular Thursday afternoon visits with her grandparents, Brett realizes that Grandma shows concern that Mom is unmarried, while Grandpa considers this circumstance irrelevant. Grandpa is a psychoanalyst who has his office at home. Brett enjoys going into his office and trading places with him to play a game called “Mr. Jones and the Alligator.” One day, however, Grandpa is not his usual self, because he is frightened of having surgery the next day.
Mom is going to Chicago on an assignment the same weekend Grandpa has surgery; Brett is to stay with Evelyn and her mother. Grandma says that Mom is uncaring, but Mom insists that Grandpa will be fine. She reminds Grandma that he will be in the intensive care unit and she could not see him anyway.
Later Brett goes for a photography session with Mom, and while waiting for her she meets Theo (the Wolf Man) and his dog, Norma. Brett thinks that Theo looks just like his wolf-hound dog. Mom, Wally, Nicky, Andrew, and Brett drive to Washington, D.C., for a peace march. At the march, Brett sees the Wolf Man and introduces him to Mom and Wally. He rides back to New York with them.
When Grandpa comes home from the hospital on Sunday, Mom and Brett plan to visit him. Brett wakes up early, as usual, and hears a strange noise in the hall; she finds Theo in his pajamas with the morning paper. He fixes breakfast, and about noon they awaken Mom. All three go to Theo’s apartment to walk his dog and then on to see Grandpa.
Monday morning when Brett meets Evelyn on her way to school, Evelyn says that she cannot awaken her mother. Mom takes charge immediately, calls an ambulance, and sends the girls off to school. Instead they go to Lincoln Center for the day. When they return home at the usual time of three o’clock, they learn that Evelyn’s mother is in the hospital suffering from an overdose of pills. In this time of sympathetic companionship Brett decides to reveal that Theo spent the night at her home. The two girls argue about the meaning of sexual intercourse: Brett reports that Mom says that people can have sex because they enjoy it, but Evelyn says that her mother told her that people have intercourse to have babies.
One Sunday when Theo is not there and Mom is in a bad mood, Brett decides to visit him. He and Mom have argued; Brett tells him that her mother is too old, at thirty-one, to get married and have children. Several weeks later, Mom awakens Brett to tell her that she and Theo are getting married. Brett cannot believe what she is hearing, especially since she has confided to Theo her belief that it would be bad for them to get married.
Context
Mom, the Wolf Man, and Me reflects the changing social mores and life-styles of the late twentieth century. The characters are believable, although free-spirited and unconventional. Their alternate life-style exposes readers to a family that may be different from their own. The characters do not reflect any personal tragedy or scarring because of this difference. Evelyn’s mother does feel the difficulties of being divorced and the societal pressures for male companionship, but she is in direct contrast with Brett’s mother.
Many adults are uncomfortable when children read about family situations they do not condone. Norma Klein, however, is not reluctant to write about sex and pregnancy; she writes frequently about strong female characters who do not live conventional lives. Sex is an important part of life, and she believes that women need to be comfortable with their own sexuality. Mom, the Wolf Man, and Me was one of the first books for children depicting adults living together without marriage.
The book, Klein’s first juvenile novel, was warmly received by reviewers, who introduced it to a much larger audience. It has been kept out of many school libraries because of the unconventional choices it depicts. The controversy that followed in the wake of its publication drew Klein into the role of a spokesperson in the fight against censorship.