The Guardian has written a round-up of the best children’s literature of 2015 (including YA literature). It’s worth looking through for the tales that have Gothic or lupine tropes. There are a few that sprung out for me: Deep Water by Lu Hersey, A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond (which is a retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and was praised highly Marcus Sedgwick), Darkmere by Helen Maslin and Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell.
I am particularly enamoured by the concept of Wolf Wilder due its wolfish qualities – unfortunately there is an incredibly long wait for it at my local library. In an interview for The Guardian, Rundell makes it clear that she loves wolves and this is something she wanted to bring out in the novel. I find myself warming to it already!
There’s still enough time to either request these for Christmas presents or pick them up for yourselves before the festive holidays begin. Happy reading!
Hi Kaja,
Thanks for posting this. I love the idea of a wolf wilder instead of an animal tamer…someone who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves….cats do not need this of course as they have a secret feral self, even the most domesticated ones can easily revert. This author has a feral child book that I will post on too. They look like good Xmas pressies!