From School Library Journal
Grade 9-12-In this sequel to Elsewhere (Harcourt, 1991), Ron, a runaway, lives in Bordertown, where the World and Faerie meet. Once a human, he has been turned into a werewolf by a potent spell. His friends are humans, elves, and halfies, and his task is to protect Florida, an orphan elf who is the unwilling heir to the Elflands throne. It soon becomes obvious that things are not always what they seem in Bordertown. Technology is not reliable, magic is not predictible, and people are not necessarily who they say they are. This is cyberpunk fantasy, where magic, teenage gangs, elvish whimsy, rock-and-roll, and adolescent angst blend into a sometimes murky but always lively plot. A murder, a kidnapping, and a trip into the magical forests of the Nevernever lead readers ever deeper into twists and turns and an open-ended conclusion that could permit a sequel. YAs will want background information about the characters and setting that can only be learned by reading the first book. However, the dialogue is snappy and the action never flags. Ron seems to have learned a lot since his arrival in the Borderlands and is a character with whom many teens will identify. Readers may feel at times as though they have fallen into someone else's psychedelic dream, but they will probably enjoy the trip. Fantasy and science-fiction buffs who have read Elsewhere will devour this book and look for more.Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NCCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
Fast-paced, occasionally confusing, but never dull: a sequel to the punk fantasy Elsewhere (1991) recounting the further adventures of teenager Ron and his friends--other human runaways, elves, and those of mixed blood. Known as ``Wolfboy'' since the lovely elf Leda put a spell on him, Ron is trying to adjust to his new shape and to find love (or sex) in the ever-shifting power struggles on the border between the World and Faerie. But even love takes a back seat to the nonstop kidnappings, false accusations of murder, and motorcycle gangs, and to the deadly search for the true heir to Faerie, who has the disconcerting habit of being two ages at once, in the same time and place. Though it doesn't stand well alone, this has the same witty adolescent verve and vulnerability--plus a message concerning peace among those who are really different. (Fiction. 14+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
"The Borderlands series is the finest of all shared-worlds."--Locus

"An exciting story with surprising twists and turns tat will keep you reading to find out what happens next."--Library Journal

"An intriguing hybrid of fantasy that mixes life on the streets with magic and glimpses of unworldly beauty...The ideas fascinate, Ron's fate matters, and this is an unusual view of the streets."--Kirkus Reviews



Book Description
In the sequel to Elsewhere, winner of the Minnesota Book Award, Will Shetterly continues the adventures of Wolfboy. Ron's quest is to break the curse that has turned him into a werewolf; but there's a more dangerous game that that being played on the Border. The true Prince of Elfland is missing,fled across the order and into Bordertown. many are those who would find this Prince, some to guard the Power of Faerie, and some to take possession of it.

Ron is about to get caught in the crossfire--and he my just decide that being a werewolf isn't so bad after all...when you consider the alternatives.



Card catalog description
Seventeen-year-old Ron, now turned into a wolfboy by a spell, finds Bordertown filled with kidnapping, murder, and magic, as gangs of elves continue to search for the heir of Faerie. Sequel to "Elsewhere."


About the Author
Will Shetterly lives in Bisbee, Arizona, with his beloved wife, Emma Bull, and his tolerated cat, Buddha. (They didn't name him. They don't know who Buddha fooled into thinking he was enlightened.) He writes novels, screenplays, short stories, and comic books. He's proudest of Dogland-your mileage may vary. He thinks his two best short stories are "The Princess Who Kicked Butt" and "Dream Catcher."

In 1994, he ran for Governor of Minnesota and finished third in a field of six. It really isn't worth watching Toxic Zombies to see his very brief appearance in a very bad movie.

ANNOTATION

Seventeen-year-old Ron, now turned into a wolfboy by a spell, finds Bordertown filled with kidnapping, murder, and magic, as gangs of elves continue to search for the heir of Faerie.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Ron, the hero of Elsewhere, has been cursed by a beautiful elf named Leda, and now he's a werewolf. As if meeting girls hadn't already been hard enough. Ron would love to break the curse, but he's got other things on his mind. His best friend, Strider, has been framed for murder. Another friend is kidnapped. And a third friend has gone into hiding -- right in plain sight with Ron. Some dangerous elements from Elfland are looking for her: a few, to safeguard the power she wields; others, to seize possession of it; none of them counting on her having friends like Ron, who will do anything to protect her.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

Gr 9-12-In this sequel to Elsewhere (Harcourt, 1991), Ron, a runaway, lives in Bordertown, where the World and Faerie meet. Once a human, he has been turned into a werewolf by a potent spell. His friends are humans, elves, and halfies, and his task is to protect Florida, an orphan elf who is the unwilling heir to the Elflands throne. It soon becomes obvious that things are not always what they seem in Bordertown. Technology is not reliable, magic is not predictible, and people are not necessarily who they say they are. This is cyberpunk fantasy, where magic, teenage gangs, elvish whimsy, rock-and-roll, and adolescent angst blend into a sometimes murky but always lively plot. A murder, a kidnapping, and a trip into the magical forests of the Nevernever lead readers ever deeper into twists and turns and an open-ended conclusion that could permit a sequel. YAs will want background information about the characters and setting that can only be learned by reading the first book. However, the dialogue is snappy and the action never flags. Ron seems to have learned a lot since his arrival in the Borderlands and is a character with whom many teens will identify. Readers may feel at times as though they have fallen into someone else's psychedelic dream, but they will probably enjoy the trip. Fantasy and science-fiction buffs who have read Elsewhere will devour this book and look for more.-Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC

BookList - Sally Estes

In a sequel set several months after events in "Elsewhere" , Wolfboy, formerly the human named Ron, continues the narrative of his adventures in Bordertown and its environs--the boundary between the real world and the world of Faerie. Wolfboy is still trying to protect his young friend Florida, the missing heir of Faerie, from the gangs of Elves searching for her. There's a lot happening in the story: one of Wolfboy's close friends is framed for a murder he didn't commit, Florida is kidnapped, several wild bike chases take place, Wolfboy and friends make a bloody raid on the River Rats holding Florida and several others, Wolfboy loses his virginity (or rather, chooses to leave it behind), and he comes to terms with being a mute wolf. The action is fast paced, and the plot moves quickly. Shetterly makes good use of what Wolfboy calls "Digressions," which are phrases, sentences, or paragraphs in parentheses, that allow Wolfboy to make personal comments outside the plot's main course; also, there are two "Fast Forward" chapters, which Wolfboy invites the reader to skip because they cover uneventful times (of course, one doesn't bypass them). These artificialities work because they seem so much a part of Wolfboy's character. What is most interesting here is Shetterly's use of time and his allowing one character to exist simultaneously at different ages, a mystery that is cleared up nicely in the end.

Gregory Feeley

"In this tale of Ron, a young dropout who travels to Bordertownin search of his older brother, Will Shetterly combines the everyday adn the fantastic to create a gritty, vivid portrait of a half-familiar world....'Elsewhere' works almost perfectly." Newsday

Locus