In the early twentieth century, juvenile literature experienced a surge of popularity, and millions of young readers got into the habit of curling up with a good book for a bit of escapist fun. However, some leaders bemoaned the questionable quality of many of these books. To address the problem, the Boy Scouts of America commissioned a series of action-adventure novels for young readers filled with the kind of virtues and values that the organization sought to promote. The eminently enjoyable page-turner The Gaunt Gray Wolf was originally published as part of that series, and it definitely holds up as an example of wholesome, attention-worthy entertainment.