Description
"The best animal adventure since Watership Down" - The Times The children's debut by Booker-longlisted author Sam Thompson is an engrossing, thoughtful, beautifully written story about humans and animals, voice and power, neurodiversity and acceptance. Silas is 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 helps an injured wolf. Then he enters the secret world of the Forest, where the last remaining wolves fight to survive. But even there, language is power. Can Silas find his voice in time to help his wolf friends - can he become the Wolfstongue? "Each creature has its own character and I love how by having names they feel real and I have been naming creatures when I see them out on my walks." - Oscar, aged 9, child reviewer "Has all the makings of a modern classic." - Alex O'Connell, The Times
About the Author
Sam Thompson lives in Belfast, where he teaches English and creative writing at Queens University. His first novel Communion Town was longlisted for the 2012 Man Booker Prize. Jott was shortlisted for the 2019 Encore Award. His fiction and criticism have appeared in the Times Literary Supplement, London Review of Books, The Tangerine, Still Worlds Turning (No Alibis Press), on BBC Radio 4 and in Best British Short Stories 2019 (Salt Publishing).
Reviews
'As in George Orwell's "Animal Farm," the dynamics of oppression and resistance that play out between animals mirror those between humans.' * The New York Times * '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. ... I predict howls of approval - and prizes.' -- Alex O'Connell * The Times * "Sober, stirring fantasy." * The Wall Street Journal * 'Wolfstongue is a hugely original tale with classic influences and infrastructure.' -- Sara Keating * The Irish Times * 'A stunning book.' -- Justine Carbery * The Irish Independent * "Wolfstongue is fabulous." * Piers Torday, author of The Wild Before * 'Astonishing. One of the most extraordinary children's books I've ever read.' -- Anthony McGowan 'The writing raises this to classic status ... Gripping and profound.' * The New Statesman * 'A children's debut with a timeless feel.' * Publishers Weekly * 'Thompson thoughtfully examines how words can hurt and heal, emphasising language's powerful influence on characters' self-perception. Silas' speech difficulty is unnamed, enabling readers with a variety of similar conditions to see themselves reflected ... Tromop's realistic black-and-white illustrations accentuate the grim, mysterious atmosphere ...Unusual and thought-provoking.' * Kirkus * 'Thompson is a superb writer. There is a dreamlike quality to his prose.' -- Philip Womack * Literary Review * 'An edge-of-the-seat adventure.' -- Meg Rosoff '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 'An unforgettable fable. Raw, devastating and brilliantly written.' -- Lucy Strange 'Wolfstongue has modern classic written all over it.' -- Patricia Forde 'A fiercely gentle tale, heartwarming and brave.' -- Myra Zepf 'An absolute delight. Warm and thoughtful, full of insight.' -- Kelly McCaughrain 'Every now and again, a remarkable new children's book comes along which is a pleasure to read, isn't too long, and is filled with a sense of profound meaning and significance without ever feeling preachy. Wolfstongue is precisely this.' * BookTrust * 'Now here's a middle grade novel that intrigues me.' * School Library Journal * 'Brilliantly compelling whilst at the same time making profound comments about the way language and expression help to define us and, when limited, can equally confine us, really powerful.' -- Jake Hope * Youth Libraries Group * 'Children - and adults! - everywhere will certainly find comfort and magic within Wolfstongue's pages.' -- Karla Brading * Buzz Magazine * 'A startling entrance into children's fiction.' -- Pet O'Connell * The Echo * 'A stunning fantasy adventure.' -- Brid Conroy * Mayo News * 'An amazing book.' * Kid's Book Buzz * 'The story is fascinating, the world-building well done (with a diagram of the fox city at the front of the book). The characters are believable, the story is believable! ... The black and white illustrations greatly enhance the story.' * Youth Services Book Review ***** review * 'I can't wait for the sequel! There was never a dull moment in this book and time flew as I read it ... and the protagonist goes on a journey where he finds his strength and who he is; kids need these kinds of triumphs to read.' -- ***** reader review * NetGalley * 'The relationship between the wolves and foxes is uncommon and the role of humans in character dynamics is creative. The message regarding human culture is a valuable lesson and I recommend you give this book a shot.' * YA Books Central * 'An impressive debut that is nicely illustrated with the black-and-white artwork of Anna Tromop, Sam Thompson's new action/adventure fantasy novel is an engrossing, thoughtful, beautifully written story about humans and animals, Wolfstongue is an inherently entertaining, original, and fully engaging read from cover to cover.' * Midwest Book Review *
Awards
Winner of Spark! School Book Awards 2022.
Book Information
ISBN 9781912417759
Author Sam Thompson
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Little Island
Publisher Little Island
About the Author
Sam Thompson lives in Belfast, where he teaches English and creative writing at Queens University. His first novel Communion Town was longlisted for the 2012 Man Booker Prize. Jott was shortlisted for the 2019 Encore Award. His fiction and criticism have appeared in the Times Literary Supplement, London Review of Books, The Tangerine, Still Worlds Turning (No Alibis Press), on BBC Radio 4 and in Best British Short Stories 2019 (Salt Publishing).
Reviews
'As in George Orwell's "Animal Farm," the dynamics of oppression and resistance that play out between animals mirror those between humans.' * The New York Times * '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. ... I predict howls of approval - and prizes.' -- Alex O'Connell * The Times * "Sober, stirring fantasy." * The Wall Street Journal * 'Wolfstongue is a hugely original tale with classic influences and infrastructure.' -- Sara Keating * The Irish Times * 'A stunning book.' -- Justine Carbery * The Irish Independent * "Wolfstongue is fabulous." * Piers Torday, author of The Wild Before * 'Astonishing. One of the most extraordinary children's books I've ever read.' -- Anthony McGowan 'The writing raises this to classic status ... Gripping and profound.' * The New Statesman * 'A children's debut with a timeless feel.' * Publishers Weekly * 'Thompson thoughtfully examines how words can hurt and heal, emphasising language's powerful influence on characters' self-perception. Silas' speech difficulty is unnamed, enabling readers with a variety of similar conditions to see themselves reflected ... Tromop's realistic black-and-white illustrations accentuate the grim, mysterious atmosphere ...Unusual and thought-provoking.' * Kirkus * 'Thompson is a superb writer. There is a dreamlike quality to his prose.' -- Philip Womack * Literary Review * 'An edge-of-the-seat adventure.' -- Meg Rosoff '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 'An unforgettable fable. Raw, devastating and brilliantly written.' -- Lucy Strange 'Wolfstongue has modern classic written all over it.' -- Patricia Forde 'A fiercely gentle tale, heartwarming and brave.' -- Myra Zepf 'An absolute delight. Warm and thoughtful, full of insight.' -- Kelly McCaughrain 'Every now and again, a remarkable new children's book comes along which is a pleasure to read, isn't too long, and is filled with a sense of profound meaning and significance without ever feeling preachy. Wolfstongue is precisely this.' * BookTrust * 'Now here's a middle grade novel that intrigues me.' * School Library Journal * 'Brilliantly compelling whilst at the same time making profound comments about the way language and expression help to define us and, when limited, can equally confine us, really powerful.' -- Jake Hope * Youth Libraries Group * 'Children - and adults! - everywhere will certainly find comfort and magic within Wolfstongue's pages.' -- Karla Brading * Buzz Magazine * 'A startling entrance into children's fiction.' -- Pet O'Connell * The Echo * 'A stunning fantasy adventure.' -- Brid Conroy * Mayo News * 'An amazing book.' * Kid's Book Buzz * 'The story is fascinating, the world-building well done (with a diagram of the fox city at the front of the book). The characters are believable, the story is believable! ... The black and white illustrations greatly enhance the story.' * Youth Services Book Review ***** review * 'I can't wait for the sequel! There was never a dull moment in this book and time flew as I read it ... and the protagonist goes on a journey where he finds his strength and who he is; kids need these kinds of triumphs to read.' -- ***** reader review * NetGalley * 'The relationship between the wolves and foxes is uncommon and the role of humans in character dynamics is creative. The message regarding human culture is a valuable lesson and I recommend you give this book a shot.' * YA Books Central * 'An impressive debut that is nicely illustrated with the black-and-white artwork of Anna Tromop, Sam Thompson's new action/adventure fantasy novel is an engrossing, thoughtful, beautifully written story about humans and animals, Wolfstongue is an inherently entertaining, original, and fully engaging read from cover to cover.' * Midwest Book Review *
Awards
Winner of Spark! School Book Awards 2022.
Book Information
ISBN 9781912417759
Author Sam Thompson
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Little Island
Publisher Little Island
