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Wolf
He came in the early morning, at about half past two. His feet padded along the balcony, slinking silently past the closed doors of the other flats. No one glimpsed his shadow flickering across the curtain or noticed the uneven rhythm of his steps.
But he woke Cassy.
And in the morning, Cassy is sent away. She lives with her nan, but whenever the mysterious stranger comes she is packed off to stay with her mother. It's happened before, over and over again, and there's never any explanation.
But this time it's different. This time she is being followed. And the wolf who stalks her through the streets of London disturbs her waking mind and intrudes into her dreams.
But he woke Cassy.
And in the morning, Cassy is sent away. She lives with her nan, but whenever the mysterious stranger comes she is packed off to stay with her mother. It's happened before, over and over again, and there's never any explanation.
But this time it's different. This time she is being followed. And the wolf who stalks her through the streets of London disturbs her waking mind and intrudes into her dreams.
202 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
12 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Cross
148 books86 followersGillian Cross was born Gillian Arnold in 1945. She was educated at North London Collegiate School, Somerville College, Oxford and the University of Sussex. Although now a full-time writer who often travels and gives talks in connection with her work, she has had a number of informal jobs including being an assistant to a Member of Parliament. For eight years she also sat on the committee which advises ministers about public libraries.
She is married to Martin Cross and they have four grown-up children, two sons and two daughters.
She is married to Martin Cross and they have four grown-up children, two sons and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 6, 2023
In Gillian Cross' 1990 Carnegie Medal winning young adult novel Wolf, main protagonist Cassy is a young teenager who permanently lives with her her Nan, with her paternal grandmother, except for strange and problematically mysterious (and often also rushed) visits to her feckless and "free spirit" mother Goldie (who in Wolf is shown by Cross as squatting in London with her partner Lyall, his son Robert and producing innovative plays for schools, including a recent piece about wolves, both as wild animals and as mythical, folkloric beasts and of course and naturally so thus also presenting how the Wolf character is depicted and featured as the main villain in particularly the tale of Little Red Riding Hood); but indeed, of her biological father, Cassy in fact knows basically nothing at all, and Nan seems very much determined to keep it that way (as in fact do everyone with regard to Cassy's father).
And yes, the above also is the very crux of the mystery at the heart of Wolf, that the stranger who keeps appearing and reappearing at the grandmother's house and whose presence always precipitates Cassy being sent away to visit with her mother Goldie is in fact both Cassy's father and also a serious threat and a danger to and for her since he turns out to be not only a prominent IRA terrorist but also someone who would very gladly sacrifice his entire family, including his daughter to and for the "cause" (and that the father in Wolf is truly a mirror image of the Big Bad Wolf of folklore and legend, not really akin to wolves as wild animals but to how in stories like Little Red Riding Hood the wolf as a character totally and utterly mirrors the image of an evil and villainous man and which Cassy's father certainly is shown as being by Gillian Cross in an intensely negative, caricature like, majorly cardboard thin and totally not nuanced and on the surface manner).
But while with Wolf Gillian Cross right at the beginning sets up and established an interesting and mysterious premise (the identity of the stranger who keeps appearing at Nan's house and forces Cassy away to visit Goldie), this all in my opinion soon rather fizzles out, since a very large portion of the presented text of Wolf is devoted to showing and depicting the characters Cassy meets and interacts with at the squat (Cassy's mother bien sûr, but also her partner Lyall and his son Robert), with the mystery of Cassy's father, his identity and why he poses such a threat basically being pretty much actively ignored until right at the end of Wolf, with there basically not being much action at all in Wolf until well after page one hundred. And considering that Wolf is a short novel at less than one hundred and fifty pages, the extremely long set-up and that any sense of danger is pretty much held back by Gillian Cross until Cassy's story is almost finished, it sure makes the ending (and the danger posed by Cassy's IRA and terrorist father) feel not only majorly rushed but also artificial, tacked on and even a trifle unbelievable (and that it almost for me seems as though Gillian Cross might have been told to end Wolf at or around page one hundred and fifty and suddenly needed an ending and a bit of danger to show Cassy's father as a wolf-like and dangerous terrorist).
And yes, the above also is the very crux of the mystery at the heart of Wolf, that the stranger who keeps appearing and reappearing at the grandmother's house and whose presence always precipitates Cassy being sent away to visit with her mother Goldie is in fact both Cassy's father and also a serious threat and a danger to and for her since he turns out to be not only a prominent IRA terrorist but also someone who would very gladly sacrifice his entire family, including his daughter to and for the "cause" (and that the father in Wolf is truly a mirror image of the Big Bad Wolf of folklore and legend, not really akin to wolves as wild animals but to how in stories like Little Red Riding Hood the wolf as a character totally and utterly mirrors the image of an evil and villainous man and which Cassy's father certainly is shown as being by Gillian Cross in an intensely negative, caricature like, majorly cardboard thin and totally not nuanced and on the surface manner).
But while with Wolf Gillian Cross right at the beginning sets up and established an interesting and mysterious premise (the identity of the stranger who keeps appearing at Nan's house and forces Cassy away to visit Goldie), this all in my opinion soon rather fizzles out, since a very large portion of the presented text of Wolf is devoted to showing and depicting the characters Cassy meets and interacts with at the squat (Cassy's mother bien sûr, but also her partner Lyall and his son Robert), with the mystery of Cassy's father, his identity and why he poses such a threat basically being pretty much actively ignored until right at the end of Wolf, with there basically not being much action at all in Wolf until well after page one hundred. And considering that Wolf is a short novel at less than one hundred and fifty pages, the extremely long set-up and that any sense of danger is pretty much held back by Gillian Cross until Cassy's story is almost finished, it sure makes the ending (and the danger posed by Cassy's IRA and terrorist father) feel not only majorly rushed but also artificial, tacked on and even a trifle unbelievable (and that it almost for me seems as though Gillian Cross might have been told to end Wolf at or around page one hundred and fifty and suddenly needed an ending and a bit of danger to show Cassy's father as a wolf-like and dangerous terrorist).
September 27, 2009
This book has left an odd lasting impression on me.
I remember the vaguest of outlines. I remember the pages of italicized text driving me mad at age 8. And I remember my determination to finish a book titled 'Wolf.' (As they were my favorite animal and current obsession... child things.)
Some of the imagery of this book has stuck with me to this day. I don't recall the circumstances but I remember reading in awe as this room was described:
An empty room, perhaps a bed in the corner, furnished with a single candle set in the center of the room. Cassie's mother was sitting on the bed I believe. But this was no ordinary room. The walls and ceiling were covered in mosaic with a myriad of shattered pieces of mirrors. The singular flame from the candle multiplied and danced, a thousand times and then a thousand more. I remember the room having a red hue, perhaps the walls were painted garish red where they weren't plastered with mirror fragments.
No matter how long I live, I feel I will never fulfill the desire I hold to see that room. I carry it with me, I have stood in it, but I have never seen its reality.
I was extremely young when I read this book. I recall it giving me nightmares. But somehow this book, of all that I read in my grade school years, has stuck with me. And that singular image has played through my mind a thousand times a thousand, just as that singular flame danced in the mirrors.
It is not always the quality of the work we read, but what we bring to it, and what we take away, that makes it worth remembering.
I remember the vaguest of outlines. I remember the pages of italicized text driving me mad at age 8. And I remember my determination to finish a book titled 'Wolf.' (As they were my favorite animal and current obsession... child things.)
Some of the imagery of this book has stuck with me to this day. I don't recall the circumstances but I remember reading in awe as this room was described:
An empty room, perhaps a bed in the corner, furnished with a single candle set in the center of the room. Cassie's mother was sitting on the bed I believe. But this was no ordinary room. The walls and ceiling were covered in mosaic with a myriad of shattered pieces of mirrors. The singular flame from the candle multiplied and danced, a thousand times and then a thousand more. I remember the room having a red hue, perhaps the walls were painted garish red where they weren't plastered with mirror fragments.
No matter how long I live, I feel I will never fulfill the desire I hold to see that room. I carry it with me, I have stood in it, but I have never seen its reality.
I was extremely young when I read this book. I recall it giving me nightmares. But somehow this book, of all that I read in my grade school years, has stuck with me. And that singular image has played through my mind a thousand times a thousand, just as that singular flame danced in the mirrors.
It is not always the quality of the work we read, but what we bring to it, and what we take away, that makes it worth remembering.
August 21, 2011
Cassy lives with her grandmother. Her practical, sensible, responsible grandmother. Her mother is a dreamer, unable to look after herself let alone her daughter. And her father, well, no one ever talks about him. Cassy has learned that if she isn’t told about something then she shouldn’t ask, it obviously isn’t her business. But every now and then Nan will decide, suddenly and without warning, that she should go visit her mother. Stay with her for a few days, or maybe a few weeks, until she is sent for. It’ll give Cassy a chance to get to know her mother, so her grandmother says.
But on this occasion is all came far too suddenly for Cassy’s liking. And when she tries to get in contact with Nan there is no response. Her mother has moved from her address but Cassy is used to this, and tracks her down to her new squat and her new boyfriend. He is a children’s entertainer. But something about him makes Cassy uneasy. And then there are her dreams, wolfish and full of danger…
I’m not quite sure what I was expecting with this book, but I got something quite different, but nevertheless a very entertaining and readable book. I really liked Cassy as a character. Her upbringing with Nan has made her such a no-nonsense girl, she is only thirteen but she is a lot more sensible than her mother. A lot more mature and in touch with the “real” grown up world. Or so Cassy believes. And in many ways she is the grown-up child, knowing that work has to be done and that fun is for afterwards. Her mother is far different, but she is also hiding a secret. The same secret that Nan keeps from her. Over the course of this book, and it is quite a short book so I won’t be giving away much more, she has to discover that truth, and come to the realisation that sensible, responsible Nan isn’t always who she tries to be. That the past sometimes needs to be investigated, even if those you love and trust think it is none of your concern.
http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2...
But on this occasion is all came far too suddenly for Cassy’s liking. And when she tries to get in contact with Nan there is no response. Her mother has moved from her address but Cassy is used to this, and tracks her down to her new squat and her new boyfriend. He is a children’s entertainer. But something about him makes Cassy uneasy. And then there are her dreams, wolfish and full of danger…
I’m not quite sure what I was expecting with this book, but I got something quite different, but nevertheless a very entertaining and readable book. I really liked Cassy as a character. Her upbringing with Nan has made her such a no-nonsense girl, she is only thirteen but she is a lot more sensible than her mother. A lot more mature and in touch with the “real” grown up world. Or so Cassy believes. And in many ways she is the grown-up child, knowing that work has to be done and that fun is for afterwards. Her mother is far different, but she is also hiding a secret. The same secret that Nan keeps from her. Over the course of this book, and it is quite a short book so I won’t be giving away much more, she has to discover that truth, and come to the realisation that sensible, responsible Nan isn’t always who she tries to be. That the past sometimes needs to be investigated, even if those you love and trust think it is none of your concern.
http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2...
February 27, 2011
Wolf is an incredibly easy and quick read. I wasn't sure what I expected from it, given the title and cover, and the fairytale references at the end of almost every chapter, but also given the fact that it's subtitled "Playing with Reality" in my course list. It's probably best -- if you're interested in this book -- that I don't say too much about that, because it really could spoil the atmosphere of the book.
Suffice it to say that it didn't really turn out the way I expected from the cover, etc.
I didn't really engage with it, I think. I didn't get any emotional involvement, not even cringing at things where normally I'd feel a twinge of embarrassment along with the main character. It was entertaining enough as a very quick read, but it didn't -- heh -- get its teeth into me.
Suffice it to say that it didn't really turn out the way I expected from the cover, etc.
I didn't really engage with it, I think. I didn't get any emotional involvement, not even cringing at things where normally I'd feel a twinge of embarrassment along with the main character. It was entertaining enough as a very quick read, but it didn't -- heh -- get its teeth into me.
September 23, 2020
This book is haunting. I don't read a lot of books written for children(Is it even written for children? I can't imagine children being the intended audience for a book this bizzare), but this one really took me back to how it felt like to try to make sense of the world as a child. The uncertainty, confusion and eventually the terror that the protagonist feels is described very well, and the overall effect is quite poignant. The inclusion of the wolf symbolism and the fairytale excerpts is done flawlessly and really elevates the story to a whole new level. The characters are interesting and engaging. The only thing I didn't really like was the plot twist, which I saw coming from miles away. But it's a minor twist and it ultimately didn't effect my enjoyment of this book.
August 11, 2016
Cassy is having nightmares and something very strange is going on at her home. Every time the mysterious knock sounds at the door, Cassy is sent from her grandmother's house to live with her flighty and eccentric mother until her grandmother comes to get her. Why? Why won't anyone tell her what's going on? What do wolves have do to with all of this? An interesting and intriguing tale. It's not at all what you think it might be; definitely worth a read.
February 11, 2024
Ho trovato questo libro in casa dei miei genitori, lo avevo letto da piccola e non lo ricordavo. Leggendo la trama non ci avevo capito un gran che ma sicuramente non mi aspettavo una storia del genere. Ok, un retelling di Cappuccetto rosso ma pensavo parlasse di ben altre tematiche. Non mi è piaciuto. E’ tutto molto, troppo accennato. I personaggi non vengono caratterizzati per niente, la protagonista, anche se non per cola sua, risulta insopportabile. Tu padre ti ha abbandonato e tu non te ne curi perché tua nonna ti ha detto che devi farti gli affari tuoi? Bah. Non sappiamo nulla della storia dei pochi personaggi che appaiono durante la storia. L’ unico che salvo e che, anzi, mi è piaciuto molto è Robert, nonostante appaia decisamente troppo maturo per l’età che ha. Succedono cose ben poco credibili o realistiche e i personaggi ne parlano come se niente fosse. Lo stile di scrittura è scorrevole, ma non lascia molto. La storia di per se potrebbe essere interessante e coinvolgente se solo lasciasse il tempo al lettore di capire cosa sta succedendo e se fosse più dettagliata. Invece succede tutto con una tale velocità e con così poco senso che girando l’ultima pagina puoi solo che pensare: “ ah ok”
March 28, 2018
Wolf by Gillian Cross is a Young Adult novel set in London, England in the 70’s. I enjoy reading stories set before modern conveniences like cell phones, internet, and Uber. This dramatic and at times terrifying novel puts Cassy out on the street in search of her estranged mother nicknamed Goldie. Parents and Teachers, the story is more mystery than horror. Descriptive wolf images and amazing wolf facts are found throughout the novel creating erie comparisons to human behavior.
October 28, 2018
Cassy lives with her grandmother but every now and then she is inexplicably sent to stay with her mother Goldie who lives a hedonistic lifestyle with her latest boyfriend in a squat.
But Lyall her latest partner is obsessed with wolves and when they put on a play about them Cassy seems to remember fleeting glimpses into her life before her father left and it seems now he is back around for a while but what does he want? What is he hiding and what is the yellow plasticine type lump in the bag of Cassy's belongings?
A taut thriller for a younger audience but with issues with adult themes.
A powerful book of divided family loyalty.
But Lyall her latest partner is obsessed with wolves and when they put on a play about them Cassy seems to remember fleeting glimpses into her life before her father left and it seems now he is back around for a while but what does he want? What is he hiding and what is the yellow plasticine type lump in the bag of Cassy's belongings?
A taut thriller for a younger audience but with issues with adult themes.
A powerful book of divided family loyalty.
October 22, 2019
3.75 stars
Wow I finished this book within a few days, which I haven't done in a loooooong while and I'm so happy! This shows that the book was enticing and I actually WANTED to read it unlike the previous few books. The plot was... Different. Not super unique, because I could see the plot twist, but it was still unique in its own way. The characters were rather well developed, and you could pretty much relate to Cassy's feelings.
I'm hyped for the next book I'm gonna read (which idk what it's gonna be yet but... Let's hope my reading progress will be as good as this)
Wow I finished this book within a few days, which I haven't done in a loooooong while and I'm so happy! This shows that the book was enticing and I actually WANTED to read it unlike the previous few books. The plot was... Different. Not super unique, because I could see the plot twist, but it was still unique in its own way. The characters were rather well developed, and you could pretty much relate to Cassy's feelings.
I'm hyped for the next book I'm gonna read (which idk what it's gonna be yet but... Let's hope my reading progress will be as good as this)
July 24, 2024
Un libro para adolescentes que retrata la vida de Cassey, a la que su abuela manda de vez en cuando a vivir con su madre. Cassey no entiende muy bien por qué tiene que irse para estar con una adulta disfuncional, que vive en cuchitriles con otros espíritus libres. Pero su abuela tiene sus razones.
Intrigante, recordaba claramente la temática del libro de cuando lo leí en el instituto, aunque hay algunos párrafos que no termino de entender bien, no sé si será por la traducción.
Intrigante, recordaba claramente la temática del libro de cuando lo leí en el instituto, aunque hay algunos párrafos que no termino de entender bien, no sé si será por la traducción.
December 14, 2017
Cassy didn't choose her life but circumstances being as they are -things find you no matter what.Despite Nan's trying to keep her safe,Cassy still discovers secrets she may not like or live through.With a need to be stronger and more trusting of a few special people she works her way through some mysteries that need to be solved for her to continue on.
February 9, 2025
Cassy our main character grows up by her grandmother her Nan. She will find out through the book that her father a terrorist...
You will learn a lot about wolfes in this book but the interesting thing was for me Robert and his parent.
Robert's father leads workshops, works with children but does not enable education for his son.. Artists :)
You will learn a lot about wolfes in this book but the interesting thing was for me Robert and his parent.
Robert's father leads workshops, works with children but does not enable education for his son.. Artists :)
December 25, 2025
The story is about real life characters in England and it had a simple ending with the big bad wolf going to prison for being a terrorist of IRA. Still, the novel is good for beginner English learners who want to know every day vocabulary and it had some good moments between Cassy and Richard. I expected Lyall to be a real werewolf not just an awesome street performer.
July 30, 2017
I'm teaching this at yr9 for the first time in about 7 years so needed to re-read it. It's a great story as adults are assured of a great read as well. And it has captured the interest of the students so that's a great bonus in this day and age.
December 23, 2019
As part of our guided reading/literacy program I make it a point to read every novel in my classroom library. I found the story a bit confusing and I still don't understand why the main character behaved the way she did. The ending was anti-climatic.
January 19, 2020
I absolutely loved this book when I first read it for English in high school, now that I am reading it agin for the second time I remember how much I love the story line and how the characters work well together
May 17, 2019
Solid tale, suitable for low literacy, ugh interest.
April 26, 2020
186 pages
Cover art is a city street and a shadowy figure lit by the moon from the o in wolf.
Cover art is a city street and a shadowy figure lit by the moon from the o in wolf.
October 22, 2020
surprisingly creepy, interesting and hard to put down.
November 3, 2021
This book gave off distinct creative writing assignment vibes where the prompt is very vague. Just left something to be desired.
June 8, 2022
One of my favorite childhood books
January 5, 2023
This is the best. I like how Cassy was sent away and she found the wolf. This is a really good book.
January 27, 2023
3,5 stars
May 12, 2024
It began with lots of questions but the plot was nice and I had agony to see what was going to happen. Even though I liked it and the vibes it gave I was not a fan of the end
September 9, 2025
didnt really like any of the characters and the plot was boring. i thought there would be a supernatural element to it but sadly not. Liked the main character at the end
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2011
I read this book in my year 8 English class at school. I seemed to remember it didn't have very much of an impression on me as the story seemed too confusing and the character were deathly annoying. In fact, admittedly, I decided to re-read this book because I thought it would be bad. Although I hate to say this, I was wrong.
Perhaps the reason that I didn't like this book back in year 8 was because it was a bit hard to understand exactly what's happening. One of the things that I disliked about the book was that I found the characters (Especially most of the 'adults') to be extremely unrealistic and annoying. They seemed to spend the entire book prancing round their little squat and generally acting like children. The biggest problem was Goldie, who compared to the protagonist, Cassy, was a completely pointless and mentally handicapped character who would burst into an embarrassing song and dance in the worst situations.
Another problem I had with the book when I first read it was that the climax was very rushed and seemed to sort of fly completely over my head.
But what do I think now? I have to admit that the characters seemed a lot more interesting. While I still can't quite appreciate Godie's sudden bursts of happiness, I have realised that she is far from a pointless character.
Another thing I liked was the protagonist herself, Cassy. Although she's obviously not a typical 14 year-old being so orderly and set in what she believes in reality, that is what I loved about her, and I was really able to emphasise with the fact that she had to face that life isn't as straightforward and black and white as she would like to believe. That made her a great character to follow.
In conclusion, I would say that you shouldn't shake this off as a regular children's book. It's got some great suspense and a great story. It's a good quick read that you can really get into.
Perhaps the reason that I didn't like this book back in year 8 was because it was a bit hard to understand exactly what's happening. One of the things that I disliked about the book was that I found the characters (Especially most of the 'adults') to be extremely unrealistic and annoying. They seemed to spend the entire book prancing round their little squat and generally acting like children. The biggest problem was Goldie, who compared to the protagonist, Cassy, was a completely pointless and mentally handicapped character who would burst into an embarrassing song and dance in the worst situations.
Another problem I had with the book when I first read it was that the climax was very rushed and seemed to sort of fly completely over my head.
But what do I think now? I have to admit that the characters seemed a lot more interesting. While I still can't quite appreciate Godie's sudden bursts of happiness, I have realised that she is far from a pointless character.
Another thing I liked was the protagonist herself, Cassy. Although she's obviously not a typical 14 year-old being so orderly and set in what she believes in reality, that is what I loved about her, and I was really able to emphasise with the fact that she had to face that life isn't as straightforward and black and white as she would like to believe. That made her a great character to follow.
In conclusion, I would say that you shouldn't shake this off as a regular children's book. It's got some great suspense and a great story. It's a good quick read that you can really get into.
September 9, 2014
I actually like this book, which is good as I usually do not like books read for academic purposes. This however, is great being analyzed as it is better to go into the real deep meaning of it that many would not notice or get when they first read it.
At first, it was dragging but towards the 3/4 point, it gets more and more exciting and fast-paced you don't even realize how much you've read. It also had a very naive and annoying main character, which I think she was created to be so to create more impact when it came to the climax of the novel.
My favourite part of this book is that it takes our stereotypes from both Little Red Riding Hood and wolves in general (wolf, packs, werewolves, etc.) and tells us the facts and what is modern, what is now. It takes the vulnerability of women from LRRH and made them the heroes. It took our fears and stereotypes on wolves and shows us the facts; that they are vulnerable, they aren't viscous but just like any other animal out there. In fact, that we're the monster when it comes to the human and wolf relationship.
I really thought I wouldn't appreciate this book but I actually do. It is a great book that I think can be read from the adolescents and up. It is an amazing novel that can/will change your views on wolves and the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
At first, it was dragging but towards the 3/4 point, it gets more and more exciting and fast-paced you don't even realize how much you've read. It also had a very naive and annoying main character, which I think she was created to be so to create more impact when it came to the climax of the novel.
My favourite part of this book is that it takes our stereotypes from both Little Red Riding Hood and wolves in general (wolf, packs, werewolves, etc.) and tells us the facts and what is modern, what is now. It takes the vulnerability of women from LRRH and made them the heroes. It took our fears and stereotypes on wolves and shows us the facts; that they are vulnerable, they aren't viscous but just like any other animal out there. In fact, that we're the monster when it comes to the human and wolf relationship.
I really thought I wouldn't appreciate this book but I actually do. It is a great book that I think can be read from the adolescents and up. It is an amazing novel that can/will change your views on wolves and the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
September 6, 2015
I cannot really properly review this, I only have a dim memory of the feeling of this book, but that feeling is so strong that I feel compelled to write about it anyways.
This is a strange book, it's eerie and fantastical, glimmering and menacing, while still taking place in regular old modern day America. The strange and mysterious situation that the main character finds herself in permeates the book, soaking tension and unease into every page, even when the lurking conflict is something that's not central to a scene, you can feel it tensing to pounce.
I really loved this book as a kid, the mood that it creates is strong and gripping, and the mystery at the center of it is more than enough to pull you through. I'm fairly certain I read this book in one sitting, and then turned around and re-read it again the next day.
You got a kid who likes scary stuff, but has moved beyond their Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark phase? This is a really great intro to mid level horror, as it illustrates things like tone and atmosphere, which, again, it has in abundance.
This is a strange book, it's eerie and fantastical, glimmering and menacing, while still taking place in regular old modern day America. The strange and mysterious situation that the main character finds herself in permeates the book, soaking tension and unease into every page, even when the lurking conflict is something that's not central to a scene, you can feel it tensing to pounce.
I really loved this book as a kid, the mood that it creates is strong and gripping, and the mystery at the center of it is more than enough to pull you through. I'm fairly certain I read this book in one sitting, and then turned around and re-read it again the next day.
You got a kid who likes scary stuff, but has moved beyond their Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark phase? This is a really great intro to mid level horror, as it illustrates things like tone and atmosphere, which, again, it has in abundance.
June 1, 2015
The book wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I thought I read this book when I was 9, I think I got the wrong book, I was expecting this to be about a mystical wolf, a wolf which was made out clay and wood a little girl made once, it came alive but as it grew older it became more evil and problematic, but it was secret to the entire family, in that book they also lived in a squat, eventually the wolf was found and kicked to death by the grandmother of the house *I think* not sure, my memory is vague. I've been looking for this story for years and years - however Wolf by Gillian Cross isn't like that at all - it's good, but I felt she needed a thesaurus at times because she mentioned the word "grinned" too much. The ending was disappointing in my opinion and I'm rather shocked Semtex was mentioned in a children's book, as well as the IRA.
This book and howls moving castle were part of 3 books I took from the library when I was 9yrs old, I wished I could remember the name of the 3rd. It may not be what I remember, because back in those days I had the habit of reading all the books at once, so I may have mixed it all up together and maybe the story I'm looking for actually doesn't exist at all?
This book and howls moving castle were part of 3 books I took from the library when I was 9yrs old, I wished I could remember the name of the 3rd. It may not be what I remember, because back in those days I had the habit of reading all the books at once, so I may have mixed it all up together and maybe the story I'm looking for actually doesn't exist at all?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews