When I Was A Wolf

At a glance

Jasmine loves one thing above anything else: wolves. But when her mum becomes ill and Gran comes to stay, as well as being ignored and left out at school, Jasmine becomes withdrawn and lonely. Her worries explode at an art club when she inadvertently rips her drawing. She is introduced to Ali, a puppeteer, and together they build a giant, gorgeous wolf puppet ready for the town’s lantern parade with Jasmine developing a love for arts and crafts in the process. The night becomes a magical celebration of wonder and Jasmine has a wonderful time, but her puppet is accidentally set on fire leaving her distraught and blaming herself. However it all works out in the end – her mum recovers and she begins to spend time with her friends at art club. As a treat, she is allowed to decorate her room – by painting wolves, of course!

A heartwarming story! Jasmine’s feelings resonated with me and I felt a surge of empathy as her emotions overwhelm her. As the story progressed it was satisfying to see her confidence rebuilded and her worries alleviated in the conclusion. Her struggles will make children who are experiencing social exclusion and ill parents feel seen, as well as children who are neurodiverse or find controlling their emotions difficult. Wolves obviously feature prominently and the author ensures a few facts are sprinkled throughout. I love the ethos and efforts of Barrington Stoke to support readers who may otherwise struggle reading and this novel is certainly no exception, with larger print, tinted pages and short chapters. The whimsical and beautiful illustrations are not to be ignored and complete the whole package.

Published by Barrington Stoke, 2026