The Cry of the Wolf facts for kids
The Cry of the Wolf is an exciting novel for young people, written by Melvin Burgess. It was first published by Andersen Press in 1990. The story takes place in Great Britain and is about a grey wolf named Greycub. He is raised partly by humans after his mother teaches him only a little before she dies. The book also features a hunter who is determined to kill every last wolf in the wild.
This book was Melvin Burgess's very first novel. It was highly praised and was a runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. This award is given each year by the Library Association to the best children's book written by a British author.
The Cry of the Wolf was published in the United States in 1992 by Tambourine Books. It has also been translated into many other languages, including Danish, Norwegian, French, Spanish, Lithuanian, and Slovenian.
Contents
What is The Cry of the Wolf About?
The book tells the gripping story of a man who wants to wipe out the last wild wolves in England. It also follows a wolf, Greycub, who grew up among people and tries to fight back.
Imagine if there were still wolves living secretly in England, and only a few people knew about them. What if one of those people was a very skilled hunter, obsessed with the idea of killing the very last wolf?
The story begins with the birth of the last wolf cubs, just moments before a terrible attack. The mother wolf, named Silver, is hurt by the Hunter. She survives just long enough to teach her only surviving cub, Greycub, a few important skills before the Hunter kills her too.
Greycub is then raised by Ben and his family. Wolves are social animals, so Greycub waits for years to hear or smell another wolf. But he is truly the last wolf in England. Sadly, he leaves his human friends and searches for years for any sign of his own kind, but he finds nothing. What he does find, however, is the Hunter. Greycub eventually faces the Hunter and finally gets his chance to turn the tables, becoming the hunter himself and defeating his enemy.
Who Are the Main Characters?
Animal Characters
- Greycub – He is the main wolf in the story, the son of Silver and Conna. He grows up to live alone in Scotland and eventually defeats the Hunter.
- Silver – Greycub's mother. Her first mate was killed by the Hunter. She is known for being clever and smart.
- Conna – Greycub's father and Silver's second mate. He is a skilled hunter, but he is killed just before Silver.
- Jenny – The Hunter's loyal hunting dog. She had an accident that made one of her front legs shorter. The Hunter kills her for not obeying him.
- Goldface – Silver's first mate. He was the first wolf killed by the Hunter.
- Cacoo – Conna's cousin. The Hunter also kills him.
- Brindles – An old wolf who was part of Silver's pack. The Hunter kills him.
- Clapper – A farm dog. The Hunter kills him when he tries to kidnap Greycub.
- Bell – Another farm dog. The Hunter kills her while she is guarding with Clapper.
Human Characters
- Ben Tilley – A kind boy who tries to help Greycub for most of his life. He accidentally tells the Hunter that there are still wild wolves in England.
- The Hunter – The main bad guy in the story. He becomes obsessed with killing the last wolves. Greycub eventually defeats him.
- John Tilley – Ben's father and a farmer at High Pond Farm.
- Margaret Tilley – Ben's mother. She likes to keep things clean but cares deeply for her family and the wolves.
- The Breeder – The person who helps raise Greycub when he is a cub. Greycub respects him a lot, along with Ben. The Breeder keeps many deerhounds in his kennels.
