David Wroblewski Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

David Wroblewski is an American published author known for The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, which was an international best seller and was picked for Oprah’s Book Club, as well as his followup novel Familiaris.

The debut of Sawtelle received a lot of positive attention and was selected as a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers pick, won the Colorado Book Award, won the Indie Choice Best Author Discovery Award, and was the recipient of the Midwest Bookseller Association’s Choice Award. It was also picked to be one of the best books of the year by different newspapers and magazines.

The author grew up in rural Wisconsin and was born in 1959. He grew up not far from the place where his first novel is set, the Chequamegon National Forest.

He attended the Warren Wilson M.F.A. Program for Writers, where he graduated with his M.F.A. in the subject of creative writing. He also received a Bachelor’s degree in the field of computer science from the University of Wisconsin. He is married to Kimberly McClintock, a writer, and they share their home with their dogs.

He had a dog when he was a child and all through high school named Prince who would serve as the inspiration for the dog in his book. Before becoming an author, David started out in the software industry.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is the first book in the Sawtelle Family series by David Wroblewski. If you have been looking for a new and dynamic series to check out, give this story a try.

Main character Edgar Sawtelle was born mute and he grew up speaking only sign. He lives a great life along with his parents, residing on their farm which is located in the remote area of northern Wisconsin.

The Sawtelles have labored for generations to raise and train a fictional dog breed. Their companionship and thoughtfulness is shown by Almondine, a lifelong ally and friend to Edgar. When Claude comes back, Edgar’s uncle, a sense of turmoil comes into the home that was once peaceful.

Then Edgar’s father suddenly passes away, and Claude completely and quickly inserts himself into the life that they have there at the farm. But he doesn’t stop there. He also moves to win over the affections of Edgar’s mother and effectively replaces his father.

Edgar is now reeling with grief over the loss of his father while also having to contend with his total bewilderment over what is happening. He even tries to go so far as to prove that Claude played a vital part in the death of his father, but the plan that he is trying to lay down backfires on him in a magnificent fashion.

He must now go into the wilderness that is beyond the farm and it is in the wild where he comes of age. He now must fight for survival and try to protect the three dogs of about a year old that are following him. He needs to face the murderer of his father and his dedication to the Sawtelle dogs means that he is constantly turning towards home. What will happen in this book that explores the limits of language? Read it yourself to find out!

Familiaris is the second book in the Sawtelle Family series by David Wroblewski. If you’ve read the classic first book in the series that was a New York Times bestseller, you may want to check out the Sawtelle family’s origin story that shows the reader more about the dogs that carry the name of Sawtelle. The story was an Oprah’s Book Club Pick for summer of 2024.

The time is spring of 1919. John Sawtelle is finding that his imagination has gotten him into trouble once more. Now John is setting out with his newlywed wife Mary as well as their three dogs and two best friends to head for the northwoods of Wisconsin.

There they hope that they will be able to begin again and start over. They might just find out what it means to live a life of purpose, meaning, and adventure. The place that they are headed to is stranger and even more dangerous than they even realize, and it might just take all of the ingenuity that they have and a few friends– human, animal, and from the other world– to help them to achieve their dreams.

Heartbreaking and funny, enchanting and mysterious, this story takes the readers along on a journey from the halls of an automobile factory in a small town through a firestorm in the Midwest as well as a World War II dog training program and further back into the past, covering a ton of topics along the way. Pick up a copy of this engaging story from David Wroblewski to see for yourself.