KS1 / KS2 English: Wolven by Di Toft

Nat Carver and his pet dog,Woody, are in trouble.Running for their lives trouble.Hair-raising fangsand evil monsters trouble!And it's all in thisgreat book here - Wolven.

Although I might have said Woodywas Nat's pet dog -that was only half true.He has white fur, strange yellow eyesand he doesn't bark - he howls.

WOLF HOWL

On a full moon -he changes into a boy.So he might be Nat's pet,but he's definitely no dog.He's Wolven -a shape-shifting wolf,one of a very specialrace of animals.And he might end up being the last!

Nat discovers Woody's run awayfrom a top secret government project,and some very scary peopleare determined to get him back.And when I say very scary people,what I actually mean is werewolves.

BLOODCURDLING SCREAM

Why do they want Woody so much?He might look like a scruffy mongrel,with breath that smellsof old pancakes.And that's because he is!

But Woody is also Wolven,a legendary creature,a fearless, intelligent,telepathic warrior.Yeah, that's right, I forgot tomention Woody's telepathic -he can read people's minds.And all this makes him very valuableto evil scientist, Dr Gruber.

Gruber wants to createa new creature,coming the ancient skillsof the Wolven, with the crueltyof the werewolves - and he will stopat nothing to get what he wants.He wants Woody back at the secretproject, whatever it takes.

What I really like is that thereare funny moments and scarymoments, there's bits whereyou're on the edge of your seat,and there's a chase going and you'relike, "Go on, Nat, go on, Woody!"Then there's otherreally funny scenes,I think one of my favourites was whenNat enters Woody into a dog show,and he causes absolute chaos.And I think it might be the onlybook, as far as I remember,where a farmer's wife uses herbig bottom to take on a werewolf,and wins - it's brilliant!

I think everyone can relateto Wolven,because one of the mainmorals within it is friendshipand everyone has either got thatNat or Woody in their life.And I also have my own pet dog,Bella, and I might not have had tosave her from werewolves, but I'vedefinitely helped her in other ways.And although the book's fullof adventure and mystery, ultimatelyit's all about helping each otherand looking out for one another.

This is one of my favouriteparts in the book.Nat and Woody are now on the runin the creepy East Woods.Nat's exhaustedbut he knows he mustn't stop -because those werewolvesaren't far behind.Nat's feeling of claustrophobiaincreased.In the unhealthy, humid atmosphere,his skin felt clammyand itchy, as if insects werecrawling all over him.His backpack seemed to get heavier,and the tiny pinpricks of sunlightflickered through the trees and intohis eyes, almost hypnotising him.Nat's eyelids began to droop.Aaaahhhooowwww!

WOLVES ANSWER HIS HOWL

The voices of werewolves broughtWoody back to Nat's side,his nostrils flaring, his eyesmolten,hackles as stiff as stalagmites.

"We're so dead," cried Nat."There's two of them."

Woody tore off ahead,then came back, then tore off again.Nat gave a small sob of defeat.He was all but done in.He doubted if Woody couldtake on two werewolves and win.

"I can't run as fast as you,"he said. "You go on,I'll try my best to keep up."

Woody ran behind Nat,pushing him with his body,then ran up ahead,yipping and whining.Nat took a deep, shaky breath.

"I cant do it,"he said, sulkily, "I'm too tired."

WOLF HOWLS

It was as though someone had litfireworks beneath Nat's feet.His tirednessevaporated at the chilling howl,and he took off behind Woody as fastas a ballistic missile.Branches tore at him,blood mixing with the sweatrunning down his face.He was aware of nothingexcept his heartpumping the blood around his body,and the rhythm of his feet flyingacross the soft floor of the wood.

Books are just a greatconversation starter,if you just met someoneand you're like, "All right?"

Just bring up at book,even if they haven't read it,explain to them,get them to want to read it,and you can go,

"You know what?"I've done a good job."

Reading's just great all roundand if you don't love reading,you, my friends, people watching,you're missing out!Cos reading is the best and youpick up a good book,and you'll get lost in it,and when you get lost in abook you're on to a winner.

What do you think will happento Nat and Woody?Will they destroy the secretgovernment projectbefore it destroys them?Sometimes with a story, it's bestnot to know what's round the corner.

SOMETHING GROWLS

But with this book you can guaranteeit's probably somethingreally horrible!Time for you to get reading.Time for me to get out of here!

WOLVES HOWL