"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
"The best animal adventure since Watership Down" -- The Times (The
Times Children's Book of the Week, July 3rd 2021
"Gripping and profound" -- New Statesman
"A hugely original tale" -- The Irish Times
"A thrilling adventure" -- Meg Rosoff, author of How I Live Now
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.
Inspired by his own experience of having a son with speech difficulties,
Wolfstongue is Sam Thompson's first novel for children.
Silas is a young boy who 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?
A The Times children's book of the week in 2021