Category: Children Publisher: Carole Anne Carr
ISBN-10: 0955981808
Type: Fiction
Pages: 160
Copyright: 2009
ISBN-13: 9780955981807
It was Toland’s twelfth year of life when his father hurled the wolf’s head at the mighty Eorl Uhtred, bringing his childhood to a violent end. These were dangerous times, with people driven from their settlements, tribal wars, and bands of robbers on the roads, but Toland must keep his solemn promise to save the Lindisfarne Gospels from the Vikings, protect his family, and find his father. With his faithful hound Bodo, he sets off on his quest through Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and his many adventures lead him to the mysterious hermit on Inner Farne, the mystery of the stolen jewels, a blood debt, and a terrible discovery at the White Church…..
The story is told by Toland, a twelve year old Anglo-Saxon boy who is living with his family in a settlement in 8th century Northumbria. In the king's absence, the mighty Eorl Uhtred is destroying villages and settlements, and in an attempt to stop him, Toland's father must ride to find the king, leaving Toland the terrible task of escorting his family to safety. He faces a Viking invasion and must promise to carry the Lindisfarne Gospels to safety. Chased by the Eorl, and facing many dangers, he is helped by the strange slave girl Kendra. He must solve the mystery of the missing jewels and a blood debt, escape from the fortress at Bamburgh, and face an even greater danger at journey's end.
Excerpt
It was my twelfth year of life when my father Godwin hurled the wolf’s head at the mighty Eorl Uhtred and brought my childhood to a violent end.
The cold woke me early on that terrible day. My three year old brother Rinan, curled up like a dormouse beside me, had taken most of the sheepskin covers, and I was angrily trying to move into my brother’s warm patch when I heard the door latch click and my father calling to someone as he hurried from the house.
These were dangerous times, and fearful our settlement was being attacked I was desperate to find out what was happening. Struggling to lift my useless leg over the high side of the wooden bed I was in such a hurry I forgot grandmother asleep behind the woollen hangings. But thankfully there was no angry grunt from her, and trying to make as little noise as possible, I dragged my trousers over my tunic, pulled on my jerkin, and slid to the floor. Then tugging on my boots and not bothering to undo the strings, I clung to the side of the bed and pulled myself awkwardly to my feet.
It was hard to find my way through the house for there were only a few shafts of light coming through the smoke hole in the thatched roof. It had been a bitterly cold night so the oiled skins were at the window places, and I was shuffling across the floor and trying to feel where I was when I banged my shins on a stool, gasped with pain, and stood listening for the slightest sound and hardly daring to breathe.
Waking grandmother without good reason would mean no hare coursing with Bodo and days spent on the heath gathering herbs, and I was worried that the goat, tethered at the far end of the room, might start her fierce bleating. But thankfully she only rustled her straw and the hens roosting on the beams above my head crooned softly and soon settled again in their feathers. My hound Bodo lifted his head, his eyes glittering in the light from the glowing embers in the sand box, but deciding it was too soon to be up, he gave a long sigh and returned to his watchful slumber.
Reaching the door, I ran my fingers over the rough planks and touching icy metal I lifted the latch and slipped quietly out of the house. I was limping as fast as I could between the houses and workshops, and I’d almost reached the end of the alleyway, when a sudden squealing made me jump and at the end of the path I was just in time to see the heavy gates of the palisade dragged open and slaves chasing frightened pigs over the plank bridge into the yard.
Moments later, a flock of sheep came tearing after them, their hooves pattering on the hard ground and darting everywhere and shepherd cursing and shouting for someone to help him drive the frightened animals into the pens. And I shuffled away from the swaying sides of the cattle that plodded passed me and their foggy breath felt warm and damp on my skin.
Everywhere was the noise of terrified beasts and my kinsmen shouting and the smell of dung and the creatures charging about and the slaves struggling to trap them inside the hurdles. Fearing to be trampled, I kept well back from the chasing men and the scattering animals, and feeling sure the hill tribes must be on their way to slaughter us all I couldn’t wait for the animals to be safely in their pens and it seemed for ever before my father Godwin ordered the gates to be closed and the wooden blocks to be lifted into the iron brackets.....
Professional Reviews
Book Review of 'First Wolf' by Shropshire Star reporter Sophie Bignall
This is a brilliant book from a former Shropshire primary school teacher, traveller, poet, actor and artist. And now Carole Carr from Ludlow can definitely add 'children's novelist' to her list of many talents. In her first book, aimed at 10 to 12 year olds, she uses her expertise and life experiences, woven together with a brilliant imagination to create 'First Wolf'. Youngsters will be plunged into a brilliant vibrant adventure with just enough energy and realism to keep them on the edge of their seats without being 'too heavy' or too grown-up to cope with.
Together with Carole's Anglo-Saxon hero Toland, young readers will be transported on a journey to an incredible world. And along the way, they learn about truth, honesty, and friendship. and of course, that good always triumphs over evil.
I enjoyed this book, it has a proper plot, unlike some publications for pre-teens, and reading it holds so many benefits for young bookworms. It provides excellent fodder to bridge the gap between books for children and the more adult material available for teenagers.
After visiting plenty of historical places with her school children, Carole said she used the sites as an extension of her classroom. She encouraged children to create their own music, paintings, to write their own stories and poetry, and to make mathematical models, and all of these experiences have formed a basis for her novels.
Carole hopes to publish another three novels this year including 'Little Boy Good-for-Nothing and the Shongololo', based upon her experiences in Africa, and the first two of a series of Shropshire novels, 'Candle Dark' and 'Thin Time.'
Review from Dr. Paddy Kennington, [Professor, Georgia Tech. Atlanta]
In a world and time more like our own than we would admit, Carole Anne Carr creates a story woven with child-understanding, Anglo-Saxon history, and mythical allusions. While full of adventure, action, and mystery, this hero-tale is anchored in a young boy’s rite of passage that involves the killing of his first wolf and his survival in the destructive adult world in which he lives.
More evident in our early history, than in our present time of science and technology, are the boy's otherworldly helpers who are everywhere around him, and central to this story is Toland’s dedication to fulfilling his promise to the monks of Lindisfarne, despite the threats to his life that this single-minded focus brings.
From the beginning, the story holds readers both young and old and does not fail to surprise throughout. Left wanting more of this boy-man’s life, I would pose that readers will not let Carole rest until she returns to this period of history. Attempting to describe the lives of those who lived in Northumbria in the Dark Ages presents her with many difficulties, but in our return to the 8th century we are given glimpses of beliefs that have been passed down to us through the ages and that we still hold more deeply than we ever recognise.
Paddy Kennington, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Book Review of First Wolf by writer Julie Phillips
From the moment I opened the cover and read the first paragraph of Carole Anne Carr's First Wolf I was hooked. We follow the journey of twelve year old Toland and his family who are forced to flee from the horrible Eorl Uhtred who is attacking villages, and due to Toland's father's refusal to give Eorl Uhtred what he wants, their village is next.
I really cared about what happened to Toland and I was amazed by the ferocity of his sense of honour and courage as he helps his grandmother, mother and younger brother to safety. I forgot several times in the book that he is a boy and not a man. Despite his disability and young age, his dogged determination to follow his father's instructions and the quest entrusted upon him by the monks of Lindisfarne endeared me to him and his plight.
It's a coming of age book that shows older children that although unfair and bad things do sometimes happen, the power of the good in people does win through over the bad. Sometimes children are forced to take control and lead the way. Poor Toland has enough trials and danger to last him a life time in First Wolf, but with his beloved dog Bodo by his side, and his friendsip with a young girl Kendra, and help from others they meet on the way, mixed in with a little mythology and the supernatural, First Wolf is an excellent read.
