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Wolven is a fantasy firmly rooted in the mysterious present. A boy and his eccentric grandparents live near a strange, apparently cursed wood. Nat longs for a dog - but the dirty, ungainly farm creature finally found by his grandfather hardly fits his image of the perfect pet. But it’s only when his dog starts to grow human ears that he realises something is seriously wrong.

The truth is stranger than his wildest dreams - the boy who appears is a shape-shifting werewolf in reverse. Woody is one of a noble breed of 'Wolven' driven into hiding centuries before only to be rediscovered by evil government scientists who intend to breed werewolves as weapons.

Can Nat and Woody save the day?  

Fast, funny and accessible this is the first of a brilliant and hugely commercial series from debut author Di Toft. Wolven features a wicked lenticular cover – see Woody change from wolf to boy before your very eyes!

REVIEWS

‘… as Toft puts it, “when the astonishing happens, you just get on with it,” and so she does, briskly folding magic and slapstick into a madcap scramble that leaves both the manor and the Proteus Project in ruins. Expect sequels.’ KIRKUS

‘… an arrestingly packaged, amusing and scary tale… engaging and readable…Young readers will find this easy to get into. They’ll enjoy the story, the action and the funny bits. Most of all they’ll have lots of fun jiggling the cover…’ BOOKS FOR KEEPS

‘…an enjoyable read encompassing slapstick comedy, science fiction and history, with some magic and a helping of mild terror thrown in for good measure. Wolven will appeal to 10-12 year olds who will not be disappointed at having judged a book by its wonderful cover.’ INIS IRELAND 

‘…I found myself totally wrapped up in the pacy storyline that drives this book. Werewolves, ancient legend and mad scientists: Wolven contains everything I’d have loved when I was a 10-year-old boy!’ WATERSTONE’S BOOKS QUARTERLY

‘…Di Toft’s fantasy moves at a blistering pace that will engage less confident readers. Strong central characters help to balance supernatural elements…From its eye-catching lenticular cover, which shows Woody changing from wolf to boy and back again, to its satisfyingly scary villain, the bestial Lucas Scale, Wolven is a gripping adventure. Warmly recommended.’ GLASGOW HERALD

‘…Toft debuts with a slight, fast-paced novel …fun action sequences, over-the-top villains…and some intriguing magic.’ PUBLISHERS’ WEEKLY

Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2010

Shortlisted for the Bolton Children’s Book Award 2010

Shortlisted for the Northern Ireland Book Award 2010

Shortlisted for the Leeds Books Award 2010

Shortlisted for the Stockport Schools Book Award 2010

‘Woody?’ croaked Nat; the spit he needed to talk with had almost dried up. ‘Come on, boy.’ There was a shuffling noise, like cloth being dragged, but what came out of the shadows was nothing like a dog. Nat’s mouth dried up completely. 

Wrapped within Woody’s red, striped blanket was a boy. A boy of about Nat’s own age. They stared at each other.

‘Wh … wh … who are you?’ stammered Nat. ‘And where’s my dog?’

The boy shook his head, sniffling. Nat noticed that underneath the blanket the boy appeared to be naked. His eyes went as wide as they could, without popping out of his head. ‘I … look, excuse me, but where’s Woody, and … hey! Why are you naked?’

As soon as Nat had spoken, something clicked in his brain. He looked hard at the stranger, noticing how his cheeks were stained from crying. There was something odd about his eyes. They were an unusual light golden brown. In the dark shadows, they appeared to glow. Noooo, thought Nat, confused. It can’t be… can it?

‘Are … are you who I think you are?’ he stammered.

The boy just stared, his eyes glimmering golden light. A purely selfish thought popped into Nat’s head. Just when he thought he had a dog, this happened! At last the boy spoke, in a halting, gravelly voice which sounded as though it wasn’t used very often.

‘You can … call me Woody,’ he said quietly. ‘But I’m not … a dog.’

Nat’s legs gave way, and he slid to the floor. All this was too much. This was Gary the unicorn territory. Whhooo, he wasn’t ready for this! The boy sat down too, wiping his eyes on the corner of the striped blanket.

Suddenly, Nat slapped himself smartly around the face: THWACK! The boy jumped at the sound and looked at Nat in alarm.

‘Why did you … do that?’ he asked, his curiosity stopping his tears.

‘Because I’m dreaming,’ said Nat, shaking his head. ‘That’s it. I must be! The moonlight’s turned me mental! I’m really still in bed and you are still a dog, so goodnight to you.’

He got up to leave. Suddenly, the strange boy grabbed hold of Nat’s pyjama sleeve.

‘I’m not a dog,’ he repeated. Nat swallowed, trying not to let the boy see how scared he was. He glanced at the boy’s hand, sensing enormous power and strength. And his fingernails! To Nat, they looked alarmingly like claws.

‘Well, what are you then?’ asked Nat bravely.

‘Wolven,’ the boy stated, removing his hand. ‘Shape shifter.’