Scan barcode
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
Poor wolves. They get such a bad rep in literature. Especially kids books.
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
4.0
Reading The Wolves series, for me, is like putting on a nice warm sweater and sitting in front of a roaring fire. There's comfort and ease in it. Sometimes it takes awhile to get into the character's strong accented language, but if you're familiar at all with 19th century British accents, and you can imagine them saying the words aloud, you'll make it through just fine. Simon is one of the characters from the previous book, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, and we follow him here to Battersea Castle, where he is looking for his art tutor. He's a good natured boy and acts much more mature than his calendar years, so he makes friends quickly. There are plots and darkness afoot, but because of him and his friend from childhood, Sophie, they thwart plots and keep everyone one step ahead of catastrophe. There's some fantastical elements in here- a secret island, a huge hot-air balloon, and wolves way more intelligent than they have any right to be. It rather feels a bit like a fairy tale, with lost royalty and a kidnapping, a pirate voyage and the comeuppance of the evil-doers in the end. This, like the first in the series, is a wonderful middle-grade that isn't written for just pre-high school age children. I had a wonderful time, and I plan on continuing to read the series.
elleneam's review against another edition
4.0
A bit more scary than the first book in the series, but still a great book for kids
luweebayy's review against another edition
5.0
I think Joan Aiken May be one of my new favourite authors. This story is just full of twists and turns and adventure. It’s brilliant!
mat_tobin's review against another edition
5.0
Implementing her theory that a story is enriched by having a lot of relevant action before the story opens, Simon - our goose-boy hero from Wolves - comes to London to seek his fortune by practising and studying art with his friend, Dr. Field. Looking for a place to stay he ends up with the Twites and happens to meet one of children's literature's finest heroes: Dido. Unbeknownst to Simon, Dido's family are Hanoverian plotters who are in a plot to kill the Duke of Battersea. This is possibly my favourite Wolves story so far: clever, intricately plotted and full of rich language and detail.
*Spolier*
I'm so glad that Aiken didn't stick to her original intention of having her famous hero, Dido Twite, killed in this second instalment. Death in children's literature and facing it was something Aiken felt all readers should face at some time but the continual letters of love and praise for Dido from readers across the globe meant that she was here to steer us through this narrative and beyond.
*Spolier*
I'm so glad that Aiken didn't stick to her original intention of having her famous hero, Dido Twite, killed in this second instalment. Death in children's literature and facing it was something Aiken felt all readers should face at some time but the continual letters of love and praise for Dido from readers across the globe meant that she was here to steer us through this narrative and beyond.
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
A delightful book, much like its predecessor but slightly less frustrating (it was a bit painful, in book 1, watching those two awful people enjoy themselves so much, whereas in this book it seemed like the awful people weren't getting so much joy out of it).
There is in particular a marvelous creation, one Dido Thwite, who could so easily have been the JarJar Binks of the book, but instead becomes its Arthur Fonzarelli, aka the Fonz. As Sophie says, I'm sure we'll be seeing her later.
I love the tone and pace of the book (not so breathless as to seem like a child's cartoon set to words, nor so elegiac as to induce slumber), and the rich, varied cast of well-drawn supporting characters. I can only imagine how much fun this book must have seemed when it first came out--my impression is it is, plotwise, more lively than the typical kid's fare of the time, with subplots and tangents involving wolf attacks, shipwreck, gunpowder plots, hot air balloons, let alone the fire, the second shipwreck, and so on.
One must have a tolerance for Extraordinary Coincidences, but they suit the tone of the book (and were plentiful in the fiction of the time period this alternative history is set in) so that doesn't upset me much. After all, the same story sans extraordinary coincidences would hardly be worth writing: a boy goes to town, meets his old friend, studies art, and that's it.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
There is in particular a marvelous creation, one Dido Thwite, who could so easily have been the JarJar Binks of the book, but instead becomes its Arthur Fonzarelli, aka the Fonz. As Sophie says, I'm sure we'll be seeing her later.
I love the tone and pace of the book (not so breathless as to seem like a child's cartoon set to words, nor so elegiac as to induce slumber), and the rich, varied cast of well-drawn supporting characters. I can only imagine how much fun this book must have seemed when it first came out--my impression is it is, plotwise, more lively than the typical kid's fare of the time, with subplots and tangents involving wolf attacks, shipwreck, gunpowder plots, hot air balloons, let alone the fire, the second shipwreck, and so on.
One must have a tolerance for Extraordinary Coincidences, but they suit the tone of the book (and were plentiful in the fiction of the time period this alternative history is set in) so that doesn't upset me much. After all, the same story sans extraordinary coincidences would hardly be worth writing: a boy goes to town, meets his old friend, studies art, and that's it.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
chrissireads's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the first instalment in this series intended for children but totally readable for adults. It has an old-fashioned feel to it which I absolutely love. We learn about a minor character (Simon) from the first book. We are also introduced to new characters such as Dido Twite. I love that this book can be read as a standalone book. You don’t need to read the first one to enjoy this one!
In this story, Simon goes to London to learn how to paint. He’s in search of Dr Field, but no one seems to know where he is or much about him at all. There’s some conspiracy against the King and the Duke and Simon combines studying and working to try and figure everything out.
It’s a book where you have to go with the plot. It’s crazy and silly, but that, in my opinion, is totally its charm. Some things are very unbelievable, but it’s worth going with it for the sheer fun that is this series. I have really enjoyed Joan Aiken’s writing style in the two books I’ve read so far. It’s easy to read and has humour within the story, something I think is very important in keeping young readers engaged.
I have to admit to being a little frustrated with the slang in the book. I know it fit with the character, but I felt it made my reading experience a little stilted which is what affected my enjoyment of the story as a whole. That said, it’s so worth reading, especially if you’ve read the first book in the series.
In this story, Simon goes to London to learn how to paint. He’s in search of Dr Field, but no one seems to know where he is or much about him at all. There’s some conspiracy against the King and the Duke and Simon combines studying and working to try and figure everything out.
It’s a book where you have to go with the plot. It’s crazy and silly, but that, in my opinion, is totally its charm. Some things are very unbelievable, but it’s worth going with it for the sheer fun that is this series. I have really enjoyed Joan Aiken’s writing style in the two books I’ve read so far. It’s easy to read and has humour within the story, something I think is very important in keeping young readers engaged.
I have to admit to being a little frustrated with the slang in the book. I know it fit with the character, but I felt it made my reading experience a little stilted which is what affected my enjoyment of the story as a whole. That said, it’s so worth reading, especially if you’ve read the first book in the series.