Lets go in to the woods where wolves, stags and demons lurk. We Were Wolves by Jason Cockcroft.
We Were Wolves – the blurb
Boy lives in a caravan on his own in the woods. His dad, John, is in prison and promises to get out soon. All the boy needs to do is survive alone for a little while longer.
But dark forces are circling – like the dangerous man in the Range Rover, who is looking for his stolen money. And then there are the ancient forces that have lain asleep in the woods for an age…
If you go in to the woods today
We Were Wolves is slightly more grown up than our usual children’s book of the month. There is swearing and guns and a boy who is trapped in something he doesn’t really want to be part of. I’d put it more in the ‘Teen’ category than middle or Y/A.
Cockcroft brilliantly illustrates how no one is all bad/all good, except maybe Sophie and Toomey. For me the boys mom and dad were the most intriguing characters. They still loved each other but couldn’t live with each other. The mom let the boy live in the caravan so must have thought John safe to some extent. But boy did John have his demons. As well as interesting parents the book had a great setting – in the woods. The survival parts were interesting but what a perfect place to let demons, stags and wolves roam.
Book club questions
+++ These questions contain spoilers and should only be used if you have read the book already!+++
- At what point in the story did you realize the boy had no name? Why don’t we find out his name?
- Who do you think the stag that the boy talks about is meant to be in the book?
- How old do you think boy is? Does he sometimes act older. Younger?
- Would John have been happy in Scotland or did the boys mom have it right when she said it wouldn’t last?
- Do you prefer the woods or the seaside?
- Who are the wolves? Are they good or bad? Could Mol be a wolf?
If you would like to join in with our Children’s Book of the Month keep your eyes peeled when we announce October’s book in a few days time. Our review with book club questions is usually posted on the last Monday of the month and you can check out previous Book of the Months such as Orion Lost by Alastair Chisholm by clicking on the Young Adult/Kids button at the top of our Home Page. In the meantime we would love to see what you have been reading.
