Book Review Alpha Female
A Story About the Threat of Poaching and Drilling in National Parks
Jun 26, 2009
Christofferson has a strong passion for writing about environmental issues. Yellowstone National Park is near and dear to her heart. The author feels a strong commitment towards protecting wolves from poaching - a very controversial topic in the West.
Alpha Female a Clever Ecothriller
Alpha Female, released on June 30, 2009 (Macmillan, ISBN: 978-0-7653-4420-5), is a clever ecothriller with an intriguing plot centered around the controversial issues of trophy hunting and drilling in or near national parks. Christofferson takes readers through an emotional and suspenseful journey of the leading characters, Annie Peacock, a beautiful young judge and Will McCarroll, a backcountry ranger, who form an unexpected bond trying to solve the mysterious kidnapping of Annie’s mother. This takes them on a journey that proves to uncover even greater issues than both could have imagined.
In vivid language and a smart narrative the author addresses a problematic subject that touches the readers heart and evokes frustrating at the same time. The story does not disappoint by including romance, suspense and raw emotions around issues the author so deeply cares about.
The story is set against the beautiful scenery of Yellowstone Park acting as the silent main character in this multi-layered thriller. It is a story about nature and humanity, about good vs. evil and the struggles of survival within it. There is a strong connection between Annie and the alpha female wolf in the book, referred to as number 22. Annie and number 22 share a common fear both are of living on edge and are in survival mode. The reader can not help but connect with them empathizing with their journey and struggles of survival.
Christofferson has an innate ability to take the reader through detailed images of events and characters leaving the reader breathless turning each page in anticipation and suspense. This book inspires the reader to develop a reverence for Yellowstone Park and its inhabitants. With each chapter, the reader can not help but care about the characters and their struggles sharing the author’s passion and desire to become an advocate for wildlife and make a difference in national parks.
Poaching and Trophy Hunting is a Controversial Issue
Suite101 asked the author how the story of Alpha Female came about and if it is based on any real life characters or experiences. Most of Christofferson’s stories are in fact based on real life incidents. The idea for Alpha Female originated with an event the author heard about several years ago about a real life backcountry ranger in Yellowstone Park, Bob Jackson, also referred to by his admirers as “Action Jackson” in his community.
Jackson generated controversy for his outspoken criticism of outfitters' use of salting to bailt elk - a practice taking place along Yellowstone's borders that endangers bears by increasing human-bear encounters when the bears are drawn to the elk carcasses left behind by hunters. Jackson was terminated from his job and later reinstated by the park.
However, as Todd Wilkinson reported in September 2007 in an article of the New West Enviornment Jackson’s “vigilant stewardship earned him rousing praise from regional conservation groups. His outspoken opinions netted him scorn from superiors in the National Park Service, which imposed a gag order on him, preventing him from talking with the press.”
Christofferson was inspired by Jackson’s story and thought about developing a character like him who turned his job into a mission of stopping trophy hunters and who disappears into the back country of Yellowstone to stop them ultimately serving as the basis for the main character of Will McCarroll in Alpha Female.
On Protecting Wildlife in National Parks
Christofferson told Suite101 that it was very important to her not to exaggerate on the issues addressed in the book. She wants these problems to be taken seriously and not undermine credibility. When writing Alpha Female she often consulted her park ranger friends about the ideas put forth in the book to ensure nothing was too far fetched only to hear that her friends had stories that trumped her wildest imagination.
Poaching and drilling in or near national parks is a big concern and it is not an exaggeration of the problem for the park. The book illustrates that resources are limited and it is impossible to patrol 2.2 Mio acres of land. “Poachers know where to go,” said the author to Suite101, “there is even a historic trail north of the Park called ‘the old poachers trail’, a road poachers still take today.”
"When wolves leave the park they are in even more danger of being killed illegally. In the West, there is a phrase that is often used in reference to wolves: "SSS" which stands for shoot, shovel, and shut up. In other words, they know it's illegal, but anti-wolf fanatics plan to kills wolves anyway."
Suite101 asked Christofferson if there really is a way to guard the parks from poachers like described in her novel? The authors response was a clear “yes”. In her opinion, the public needs to exert more pressure on representatives and lawmakers to increase resources to patrol and protect national parks. There is a large network of poachers that thinks they don’t get caught and are not fearful of anything. The public needs to get involved and not turn a blind eye on the issue. “Everyone has a responsibility to speak out.”
Christofferson hopes that her book "Alpha Female makes a strong case against the 'drill, baby, drill' mentality and people like Alaska Governor Sarah Palin who has no qualms about aerial gunning of wolves and dropping poison gas grenades into their dens."
The author and activist is already working on a sequel to Alpha Female, called Trapped continuing the story of Will McCarroll and Annie Peacock. In Trapped the author exposes another controversial and volatile issue: trapping in national parks. The story takes place in Glacier National Park and the author hopes to finish it by October 2009.
Read more about April Christofferson in On Becoming a Wildlife Activist - An Interview with April Christofferson - Author, Speaker & Activist.
 |
