Wolfstongue

Winner of a 2022 Spark School Book Award

Silas is getting bullied at school because his words will not come. He wishes he could live in silence as animals do.

Deep in the Forest, the foxes live in an underground city built by their wolf slaves. The foxes’ leader Reynard controls everything with his clever talk.

One day Silas meets an injured wolf and helps him. Isengrim, Hersent and their pups are the only wolves left, moving between the human and animal worlds using hidden passageways as they fight to survive.

When Silas enters the secret world of the Forest he will learn that, even here, language is power. Can he find his voice in time to help his wolf friends – can he become the Wolfstongue?

A lyrical fable about the power of language and the relationship between humans and the natural world.

‘[Wolfstongue] has all the makings of a modern classic with its exhilarating mix of ancient fable and contemporary issues… Not since Watership Down have animal dynamics felt so true and the political undertones so live’ – Alex O’Connell, The Times

‘The writing raises this to classic status… Gripping and profound, Wolfstongue may be for children but it is about being human’ – Amanda Craig, New Statesman

‘An unforgettable fable. Raw, devastating and brilliantly written.’ – Lucy Strange, author of The Ghost of Gosswater

‘A fiercely gentle tale, heartwarming and brave.’ – Myra Zepf, Winner KPMG/CBI Children’s Book of the Year 2020

‘A startling entrance into children’s fiction.’ – Pet O’Connell, The Echo

‘An edge-of-the-seat adventure.’ – Meg Rosoff, author of The Great Godden

‘An intelligent and powerful story about words and language and what it means to have a voice. The illustrations by Anna Tromop are stunning too!’ – A. M. Howell, author of The House of One Hundred Clocks

‘An absolute delight. Warm and thoughtful, full of insight.’ – Kelly McCaughrain, author of Flying Tips for Flightless Birds

‘Wolfstongue has classic written all over it’ – Patricia Forde, author of The Wordsmith