The Big Bad Wolf Murder – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Reimagining, fairytale, trust, quest, humility.
Children’s book title: The Big Bad Wolf Murder.
Children’s author: P.G. Bell.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Usborne.
ISBN: 9781836040743.
Recommended for children aged: 9-12.
First published: Paperback September 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: looking at how we see ourselves and others and whether our decisions and judgements are influenced by our families, friends, or peers.
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Our review:
Ruby Calvino is one of the rising stars of the Tooth & Claw games, and now her team, the Netherburg Reds, is in the championship game up against Alarick, also known as The Big Bad Wolf! As the game progresses, Ruby realises only she can win for her team, until, to her horror, as they come face to face, Alarick gasps, sways, and falls dead at her feet.
Suddenly, Ruby is no longer a star in the making. Instead, she finds herself on the run, accused of murder, with only a young wolf called Fillan on her side. Determined to prove her innocence, they follow the clues around the town and surrounding countryside, sometimes one step ahead of the police, at other times hiding until it is safe to move on, until gradually they begin to work out what happened.
Unfortunately, they are up against some desperate people, one of whom hires a bounty-hunting wolf to silence them permanently. But they have two things in their favour: Ruby is a very good Tooth & Claw athlete, and Fillan’s sense of smell is extraordinary. Is that going to be enough, though, when they have to beat hardened criminals, ruthless wolves, and their own trusting natures and naivety? If not, the future of Tooth & Claw is doomed – and so are Ruby and Fillan.
Our verdict:
P.G. Bell’s story is set in a world where wolves and humans live, if not entirely equally, at least side by side. The Tooth & Claw games have been held for as long as anyone can remember, and Ruby’s ambition to move from a rundown area of the city is what motivates her to be the best. There are clear parallels between the inequality in our everyday lives and that experienced by the main protagonists in this story.
There is a naivety to the two main characters, which, whilst endearing, gets them into a lot of trouble. They both trust very easily, Ruby especially so, and find it difficult to move past certain problems that befall them. Yet they also accept other situations which would definitely cause me to at least pause – think of Jarvin’s boots! As in all good murder mysteries, there are plenty of red herrings, and it could be an interesting activity to get students to write down who they think did it at the end of each reading session, then see how many change their minds by the end and how often.
By the end, Ruby has faced a few home truths and accepted some of her failings, while Fillan has learned a lot about himself and how not to underestimate his skills and positive character traits. These are all things that could be explored further in class discussion.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- How would living in a world where wolves were your equals feel? Think about school, hobbies, and even supermarket shopping. What challenges would you face?
- Murder mysteries contain misleading facts, secretive characters, and false clues. These are called red herrings. Did you decide on the killer’s identity early on, and if so, were you right, or did you change your mind a few times?
- In a cross-curricular activity with art, draw a wanted poster for either Ruby or Fillan, or both of them together. What would be important to include so they were caught as quickly as possible?
- There is a map at the beginning of the book. Did you refer to it while you were reading, and if so, did it help?
- The police use crossbows instead of guns. Why do you think the author chose this weapon?
- Hiding in rubbish, or sorting through it, is often used in crime stories. Why do you think that is?
- How desperate would you have to be to do what Ruby and Fillan did? Which part of their journey would you find the hardest or most frightening?
- The gangster Jarvin meets a grisly end. Did this surprise you?
- Write a story plan based on a fairytale. Which characters and locations would you keep, and what new things would you add?
Many thanks to Usborne for the review copy.
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