Wolfstongue by Sam Thompson (Illustrated by Anna Tromop)

Wolfstongue is the first in a trilogy of books about the secret animal world that exists side by side with the human world that our hero, Silas, lives in.

Silas doesn’t feel like a hero in his own life. Silence is like an illness that descends upon him when he tries to speak with his friends and family. The words he tries to speak just can’t come out, especially when he is being teased and bullied about it at school. The only time that he can speak effortlessly is when he speaks to the wolves, who become his friends and protect him from the sly foxes.

The wolves have almost all been extinguished because of the foxes who enslaved, starved and mistreated them. Only one family of wolves remains, and they are trying to escape the foxes for good. They believe in the legend of a boy who ran with the first wolves who would come again to speak on their behalf in a time of great difficulty. Isengrim, the last adult male wolf, believes that Silas will be that boy, the Wolfstongue, but his mate, Hersent, has her doubts. When they trust Silas to babysit their three cubs he falls under the spell of the wily fox, Reynard, who steals the cubs away and destroys Silas’ family home. The wolves return just too late to save the cubs. Hersent is seriously injured by the foxes and only Silas can retrieve the healing mud that will save her. When she recovers and he decides to help them to try to rescue the cubs she grudgingly accepts that he may have a role in helping them after all.

This is the story of one boy’s journey from fear and bullying to self-awareness and inner strength. His adventures teach him to believe that he is capable of brave deeds, eventually speaking out for himself and for those suffering around him (although not all his problems are solved forever). This is a story of resilience and growing self-awareness that will resonate with preteens everywhere. It will give hope to those feel they have no voice. It will foster a belief in their own bravery and strength within that, in time, they can access and use, not perfectly at first but as a skill that grows with use. Silas is a modern hero for our time.

Wolfstongue is an extraordinary children’s book, aimed at 9-11 year olds, written by multiaward-winning British author, Sam Thompson. It is the first book in a trilogy: book two is The Fox’s Tower and book three is The Forest Yet to Come. The books are beautifully illustrated by English artist, Anna Tromop.