The Wolves of Greycoat Hall: Boris in Switzerland by Lucinda Gifford

Title: The Wolves of Greycoat Hall: Boris in Switzerland

Author: Lucinda Gifford

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Walker Books

Published: 1^st February 2023

Format: Paperback

Pages: 240

Price: $16.99

Synopsis: Young wolf Boris Greycoat finds himself on the trail of mysterious ghosts, priceless art, and delectable Swiss cuisine…

It can be hard being the only wolf at a sophisticated boarding school, but soon Boris starts to make friends. Then he sees a mysterious face at a window…

A romp of a read, with an ingenious mystery to solve, and packed with endearing illustrations.

Boris is attending the Institute of International Excellence, a fancy Swiss boarding school while his parents are staying with Great Aunt Orfilia. Although worried about being the only wolf, and having to navigate around the rude vice principal, he quickly makes friends, learns how to “log in” and heli-board, and has plentiful supply of cake, Boris can’t shake the idea that something funny is going on . . .

~*~

Boris, Randall, and Leonora are back – and this time, they are in Switzerland. Great Aunt Orfilia has hurt herself and needs Randall and Leonora to help her. So Boris is off to the Institute of International Excellence for a term, where there are students from all over the world, and where languages from everywhere are spoken. Yet Boris has a rocky start – he’s in the scholarship room, which is more like a broom cupboard, most people don’t like him, and he is worried that there won’t be enough food for him to eat! As he begins to make friends with Lotta, Pierre, and Freddie, a mystery begins to unfold. Boris begins to see a mysterious face at night and is convinced there is a ghost! He also wants to see the art collection at the school – yet the principal won’t let him! As Boris tries to find out what happens and contends with Lotta’s jealousy that his parents are always visiting, there are those at the school determined to stop him and drive him out. But Boris is determined to solve the mystery, learn new things, and have fun – and he will, so stick around to see what happens!

I love that Boris is back – and this time in a new place, with new friends. And with a brilliant mystery to boot! In Boris’s world, everything humans have done has been mirrored by wolves, but in their own way. There are wolf paintings of well-known human ones, like Edvard Munch’s The Scream, or in the wolf world, The Howl. There are wolf versions of Degas, and many others – and wolves appreciate both, of course! What I loved about this book was its celebration of art, seen through human and wolf eyes. I love that Boris sees the talents in everyone on an individual basis and the way the clues are dropped slowly – astute readers might be able to piece the mystery together but it’s fun to either guess who is behind everything or to just read and go along for the journey, because it is a fun book that can introduce kids to mystery stories without things being too high stakes, which is one of the things I loved about it. Everyone will find their way through the mystery in a different way, which is awesome.

The other thing I loved was the diversity and celebration of everyone for who they are, and the way Boris was loyal to his friends and shared with them and made sure they could always spend time with him. He’s such a wonderful friend, he’s able to be there for his friends and help them, which means they will always be there for each other and will do anything to come together – and I loved that they believed him and backed him up. The representation throughout the novel reflects a very internationally diverse world, with characters from different backgrounds, boys, girls, and a main character – Lotta – who is disabled. She was one of my favourites, and I loved that Boris cared so much about her – it was great to see that. At its heart, this book carried a message of friendship, family, and following your snout when it comes to suspecting something. The loyalty that came through the novel and the intriguing clues and discoveries made this  novel one that I found hard to put down because I wanted to know what was going to happen and how Boris was going to solve the mystery. I can’t wait to see where the third one goes and if we get to see more of Boris’s new friends!

A wonderful book for kids and the young at heart!