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The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

60th Anniversary Edition
Series: A Puffin Book
4.06 goodreads logo

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( 22,564 ratings, 1,729 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Set in an alternate English history during the reign of Good King James III, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase follows orphans Bonnie and Sylvia as they face the terrors of wolf-infested lands and the cruel governess, Miss Slighcarp. With the aid of Simon, the resourceful goose-boy, they must use their courage and wits to survive the dangers surrounding the great house of Willoughby Chase.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2100
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for strong preteen readers who appreciate old-fashioned tales brimming with rich characterisation and a gripping plot, this book appeals to those fond of classic children’s fantasy with Dickensian charm.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

When orphans Bonnie and Sylvia fall into the hands of evil Miss Slighcarp, they need all their wits - and the help of Simon the goose-boy - to escape unscathed, for the governess is more cruel and merciless than the wolves that surround the great house of Willoughby Chase.

When Bonnie's parents depart Willoughby Chase for an ocean voyage, she and her orphan cousin Sylvia are left in the charge of new governess, Miss Slighcarp.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A beautiful new paperback edition, with a new introduction and extra content by the author's daughter, Lizza Aiken, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of this wild, evocative and timeless fantasy.

In a period of English history that never happened, when Good King James III is on the throne, and the whole country is ravaged by wolves which have migrated through the newly-opened Channel Tunnel. When orphans Bonnie and Sylvia fall into the hands of evil Miss Slighcarp, they need all their wits—and the help of Simon the goose-boy—to escape unscathed, for the governess is more cruel and merciless than the wolves that surround the great house of Willoughby Chase.

Filled with brilliantly-drawn Dickensian characters, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase would make an excellent choice for strong preteen readers who like an old-fashioned story with a strong plot and good characterisation. This book often appears on lists of best-loved children's books.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critically acclaimed as a "wild and evocative fantasy," this novel garners praise for its stylish storytelling and romantic appeal from the Observer. The Times Educational Supplement highlights its invigorating wit and nonsense, while Time magazine calls it a "genuine small masterpiece" embodying classic children’s literature virtues. The Guardian hails Joan Aiken as a marvel.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141362663

Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 July 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Puffin

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 204g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Joan Delano Aiken (1924-2004) was the daughter of the American poet, Conrad Aiken. Joan had a variety of jobs, including working for the BBC, the United Nations Information Centre and then as features editor for a short story magazine. Her first children's novel, The Kingdom of the Cave, was published in 1960. Joan Aiken wrote over a hundred books for young readers and adults and is recognized as one of the classic authors of the twentieth century. Her best-known books are those in the James III saga, of which The Wolves of Willoughby Chase was the first title, published in l962 and awarded the Lewis Carroll prize. Both that and Black Hearts in Battersea have been filmed. Her books are internationally acclaimed and she received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in the United States as well as the Guardian Award for Fiction in this country for The Whispering Mountain. In 1999 Joan Aiken was awarded an MBE for her services to children's books.

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