Wolk's family farm inspired the setting for Wolf Hollow; her mother and two uncles lived on the farm and walked to school. In addition, Wolk stated she was inspired by contemporary events, as she "hoped to create through Betty a microcosm of what was happening in the war. A ferocious bully and his sidekicks were murdering and terrorizing the world. Bringing out the worst in people, and sometimes the best. And Betty was doing the same on a much smaller scale in Wolf Hollow."
