The Carnegies

An extremely emotional book that made my see the many problems of our society clearer. The unforgettable ending seems to hang on to you a long time after reading, with exquisitely written characters and emotional goodbyes, the detailed personalities of characters feel as if you know them personally and that you have experienced their adventures with them. Though I struggled to get into the book at the start, as I read more I became more invested in the success of their goal for justice.

Tess
The Hinckley Readers

We both enjoyed how there was an element of tyrancy. We both enjoyed how there were plot twists at every conrner and the little details really stood out. Another detail that really added to the overall feel of the book was the way the author portrayed the visually impaired main character.

Isabelle & Maya
Carnegie@StBede’s

This book was decent. I didn't particularly enjoy it probably because I am above the age category that it's recommended for. But it was still quite good. I enjoyed the thrill and adventure but disliked the amount of fairytale, it felt quite heavy on the fantasy side. I feel that 7-12 year olds will enjoy this, 13+ won't really as much. But if you like fantasy and fairytales with a twist, maybe this is a good read for you!

Isla
Ousedale Shadow Chasers

I thought that this book was a good story with many plot twists. The characters were diverse and there was a range of different factors that really made the book a fascinating read. It was one of those books that I did not want to put down. A great read that I would recommend to people who like fairy tales.

Wilbur
NDHS Book Group

It's a fantastic, engaging, phenomenal book full of intrigue and will keep you gripped till the very last page.

Ruby
Redhill Reviewers

Very cool book i like the story the character has a mysterious backstories and is linked in the forest in many ways which makes the book more intresting, the illustrations are very cocalastic, i would totally recommend the book

Roman
Reading Wizards

I really enjoyed reading this book because wolves are some of my favourite animals and I loved the twists and turn within this book. I almost cried near the end of the book but I was satisfied with the ending.

Iliana
Redhill Reviewers

a lovely fantasy book about a fairy tale but different what a good read

neave
Carmel Shadowers

I really liked Wolf Siren. It was one of the first Carnegie books I read, and I really enjoyed it! It was a beautiful fantasy tale. It had heartwarming characters. It charmed me. Five stars!

Kayla
SCD Pageturners

Wolf-Siren by Beth O’Brien is an enchanting dark fantasy fairy tale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. The story follows Red, a 14 year old girl who finds herself drawn to the forbidden magical woods. O’Brien’s writing is vivid and clear, weaving in themes of identity and loneliness. I personally enjoyed the way Red was presented as a compelling character who, at first, sought to find ways to hide herself and her connection to the wild, but over time, embraces her true self and becomes stronger and more confident. Ultimately, Wolf-Siren is a brilliant fantasy and mystery novel which I would recommend to those who enjoy dark, modern fairy tale retellings and fans of atmospheric, high stakes stories, focusing on self discovery and inner strength.

Quinn
The Lotus Readers

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is an engaging fantasy novel that deals with themes of identity, bravery, and companionship. It is a story filled with mystery and excitement, containing well-developed characters and descriptive language that brings the setting to life. I enjoyed the way the protagonist matures and gains confidence as the story progresses. Overall, Wolf Siren is an entertaining and creative book that I can recommend for anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction.

Luna
St Angela’s Reading Angels

I personally really enjoyed Wolf Siren and I would definitely recommend to read this compelling book for children, ages 10-14. The main character is Red, a curious girl with a visual impairment who is forbidden from entering the woods yet disobeys her village. It’s interesting reading from the perspective of a girl with a disability as we get a different view on how she sees the world. It’s loosely based on the fairytale of Red Riding Hood and explores multiple themes. Based in a strict, patriarchal village, it explores the injustices in the previous times with a powerful message on the oppression on women and how people were treated unfairly as well as how important it is to really connect with nature but more importantly ourselves. In this book, characters play different roles than you imagine and the adventure, fantasy, mystery & twists and turns engages you, encouraging you to read more of Wolf Siren.

Heer
Watford Girls

When you hear of Little Red Riding Hood, you may cast your mind to thoughts of evil wolves eating grandmothers. However, in this empowering edition of that fairytale, Red is mystified by the magical forest, prohibited to all villagers. After a shortlived visit from her grandmother, she discovers that the wolves aren't the enemies after all: the mayor and his control over the village are. It will be a struggle to prove the wolves' innocence while navigating her own problems and the stigma of the forest amongst the villagers. Along the way, she will find out many dangerous secrets. I sincerely recommend this for a sensitive and heartwarming read.

Ayaansh
OP No Shelf Control

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a very clever take on Little Red Riding Hood. It was one of the better spin-off fairy tales that I have read and it increased my awareness of sight loss.

Zoë
Skipton Shadows

Wolf Siren is a captivating supernatural novel that combines mystery, romance, and high‑school drama in a way that kept me interested from the beginning to the end. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5, because although there were a few slow moments, the overall story was exciting and very engaging. The book follows Lila Crain, who moves to the town of Shade and slowly discovers that the popular students at her school are actually part of a werewolf pack. I found the plot intriguing, especially the way the author built suspense and revealed information little by little. The atmosphere of the town felt eerie and mysterious, which made the story more immersive. Lila is a strong main character, and I liked how she developed throughout the book. Her confusion, curiosity, and bravery felt realistic, and it was easy to understand her reactions as she learned more about the wolves. The relationships between the characters were also well written, especially the tension and uncertainty between Lila and the members of the pack. One of the best parts of the book was the world‑building. The author created a supernatural setting that felt believable, with clear rules, history, and conflicts. The twists near the end were surprising and made me want to continue the series immediately. The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because a few scenes felt slightly repetitive, and sometimes the drama overshadowed the main plot. However, these moments didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment. In conclusion, Wolf Siren is a gripping and atmospheric story that blends supernatural elements with relatable teenage experiences. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy werewolves, secrets, and stories with strong emotional tension.

Mariia
HAEC Books and Biscuits Carnegie Shadowers

This book has been one of the best books I have read for a long time . It goes into the troubles that people face day to day . It has a very interesting plot lines and plot twists that was unaccepted .

Conor
Bramcote College Library

Wolf Siren is a fantasy where many of the people in society live in fear of the wolves and the forest where the wolves live. The main character Red discovers that she is a wolfwoman and becomes friendly with some of the wolves, however this is forbidden, and she and her family will suffer if the Mayor finds out. Red decides that it is very unfair that some women in this patriarchal society are treated so badly, especially after the woodcutter is killed, so she comes up with a plan to show the people in her town that there is a better way to live. Red wants to show how people could live in harmony with the wolves, rather than hunt and kill them. She also wants everyone to take more care of the environment they live in, and replant trees rather than just chop them down for fuel. And she wants to show them how to be kinder to one another and not shun those who are different. But her plan involves confrontation between wolves and people, and this could all go wrong. There are lots of very powerful messages in this story, it’s definitely worth reading.

Mrs Small
Watford Girls

I liked this book because it demonstrates how everyone is different in different ways. Red feels she doesn't belong in the village but feels most at home in the forrest where nature is her best friend. She then discovers a big secret about her family as well as her Grandma ; as secrets unfold, she realises there are some untrustworthy people roaming in her village. She has an adventure and discovers that she has a family of a different species. One reason I liked the book is because it demonstrates how animals are as alive as humans. My favourite character was Aerona and Delena as they both stuck with her especially Delena because even though they didn'

Hannah
Esher High

Such an enjoyable book, completely turning Little Red Riding Hood on its head in a very clever way!

Mrs H
LGA Page Turners

I liked how Red has to navigate the world and the mythology about wolf woman

Beatrice
Cottingham High School

This book is great. This was my favourite book. In a world where we have not yet achieved equal gender rights it is really important that this message is being spread around the world. This is a feminist book. It's about women standing up to controlling men and you must read this because this message must be shown everywhere to make a difference to this world. I also love the creativity of changing the story of Red Riding Hood and rather than a damsel in distress she is standing up for women.

Blaise
Bookwizards

It definitely took a while to get going but it was very creative and interesting to read about Red's discovery of her wolf heritage. I enjoyed reading this book and I would definitely recommend this to students!

Annabel
Cake a Book Club

Wolf-Siren is an atmospheric novel that contains fantasy and mystery. The story is about the character named Red, who experiences psychological growth by overcoming the conflicts with the villagers. The novel creates a strong atmosphere and impacts with vivid descriptions and character development. The main Character, Red, is brave but vulnerable, which creates tension throughout the story and keeps the pages turning. I really enjoyed the suspense and emotional elements like magic and the talking woods. The book gives a powerful message of feminism, environmental connection, and the importance of changing the unfair authority. Overall, I think that Wolf Siren is a fantastic supernatural fiction.

Conor D
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Wolf Siren was a hard read because there were no pictures and it felt quite long because of that.

connor
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

A twist on the Red Riding Hood fairy tale that took a while to get going but once it did it rocketed along! There was an interesting set of female characters, all well developed which put the male characters rather in the background. Slight hints of The Handmaid's Tale in that only women could access the woods and one ends up with the woodcutter role of harvesting and bringing wood fuel to the village. Also the women don't seem to get the respect they deserve for what they do and no one wants to get on the wrong side of the Mayor. Loved the Wolfwomen concept and how that developed also a visually impaired author having a visually impaired main character in Red.

Mrs P
Cake a Book Club

I realised the narrator is so similar to the author. I enjoyed the simplicity and idea of the book on how it has an expanded version of little red riding hood. I found it interesting how the roles of gender were flipped and infact the men were the ultimate problem. Yet, one thing i didnt enjoy is the childish behaviour and odd behaviour of the narrator like hiding the painting, though intruiging, I found it confusing and took me to a different part of the story. Conversly, the idea of shapeshifter wolves being in love with humans portraying forgetfulness of identity. In contrast, the beginning fifty pages I found dull because of the simple description and lack of creativity. Yet again, the rest of the book had a more philosophical approach of unity and peace between the forest, wolves and humans, having a more tragic resemblance of hope in war. Overall, fantastic job by the author to take a classic story into a true resemblance of life and change in power. Beth O' Brien did an excellent job.

Esa
Wetherby Prep Book Club

Wolf-Siren is an atmospheric novel that contains fantasy and mystery. The story is about the character named Red, who experiences psychological growth by overcoming the conflicts with the villagers. The novel creates a strong atmosphere and impacts with vivid descriptions and character development. The main Character, Red, is brave but vulnerable, which creates tension throughout the story and keeps the pages turning. The suspense and emotional elements like magic and the talking woods, makes the book more memorable. The book gives a powerful message of feminism, environmental connection, and the importance of changing the unfair authority. Overall, the Wolf Siren is a fantastic supernatural fiction.

Paul
The Lotus Readers

This book wasn't great for me. I think girls would appeal more to Wolf Siren than me. The book is boring at the start, however, later on, it gets more exciting. Even so, I still feel this book just doesn't give me the thrill and excitement that makes me enjoy reading, especially given the fact that the book talks about menstruation, something a young boy like me cannot relate to. Overall, I think this book isn't the best, but it's alright, at the least.

Hamzah S
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I love how this book is just based on Little Red Riding Hood and just in general love the story line behind this book !!

Inisija
Dunraven

I thought this book was a bit slow at the beginning, but as I read more, I found that I really enjoyed it! I loved the way that there were new twists and turns around every corner, and it had a powerful message of acceptance and understanding.

Maya
St Kaths

Loved this book so much, it's equal parts fantasy and growing up. Red is such a unique but relatable character. This book handles sexism head on in a really clever and thought provoking way. Weirdly this book is the one of the first fiction books to go into detail or even mention periods that I've read. I love the description of the sounds and textures that Red experiences, in writing so many writers just talk about the things they can see, but it's so much more immersive with all of the senses.

Lou
BLURB

Popcorn: Popcorn by Rob Harrell was a very informative and interesting book. While it didn't have a plot twist, Popcorn taught me a lot about anxiety and the challenges people might face if they had it. This story follows a boy named Andrew who suffers from anxiety. I loved this book because of the determination shown by all the characters and the way Andrew was able to overcome many difficulties with the help of his teachers, friends, and family. Overall, Popcorn was an amazing book that gave a lot of advice on how to cope with anxiety.

Zaineb
ParkLrc

Wolf Siren: Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien was an incredible book. This book had a wonderful plot twist where the main character finds out that she is actually a wolfwoman meaning that she can transform into a wolf. This book had many twists and turns with a long moment of tension between Red, the main character, and her mum and Red's grandmother vanishing without a trace. It was so exciting to be with Red on her journey through the woods and the mysteries of her family. Overall, Wolf Siren was such a great book with the plot twist and the mysteries.

Zaineb
ParkLrc

This book is very rich with many plot twists making it quite engaging. I personally never got bored of reading, this book, and this book gave me no reason to put it down! It is filled with action so there is always something going on and when there is descriptive bits, it is done right and paints a realistic picture in your head, which for me is important in fantasy books. Onto the topic of fantasy - the detail when describing magic is well explained, making this fantasy book easy to understand and is not confusing. Overall, this is my favourite current Carnegies book, and the one book that will leave a memory in my mind!

Loren
WSFG Carnegies Shadowers

Amazing book full of magic and dark secrets. I really enjoyed reading as it was beautiflly writen. All hail the wolves!!!!!!!!!!!

Ashwin
Hayes Bookstops

I would recommend Wolf Siren to Primary School children because the writing is big enough to understand, simple descriptions and overall a compelling read. Red's first transformation into a wolf was very evocative however, I also like Aerona's transformation. In the Author's Note, I appreciated how Beth O'Brien included her own disability and created Red as visually impaired but learned to overcome the struggle.

Rafa
Chiswick Carnegie

Wolf siren was a good read, hard to put down. The main themes are wolves and female leadership. I would recommend it for a 10+ audience as it is quite dark and includes some mature themes. My favourite aspect was the fact that you discovered the secrets at the same time as the main character. I loved the book and would recommend to those who love mystery and adventure stories.

Lilia
The Mockingjays

The first moment a person finds out she has a disability can be the most dramatic and rock bottom she has ever felt. But there she is, discovering herself throughout the woods, not letting the disadvantages weigh her down. The story “Wolf Siren” made by Beth O’Brien portrayed an alternative version of “Little Red Riding Hood” , that explored womanhood, and the struggle women went through from the corruption of authority figures. The story is highly regarded as very emotional, atmospheric and compelling, embracing self discovery and the connections to nature as the main theme. I have the privilege to say the book really tops it off by representing the protagonist “Red” as a very rebellious, deep love for nature and the unique way of experiencing the world. Red is a character who is unique for seeing the world around her because she is visually impaired. Instead of being limitations, she uses her conditions as a way to commune with nature, visualising the world by light, colour, and movement, allowing her to see the truths that others miss.

Anh Minh
The Lotus Readers

The book ‘Ghostlines’ explores themes of friendship, community and tells us what ‘home’ really means. The way Katya Balen portrays the island of Ayrie in this book was extremely creative and she described things on the island that at first glance seem like nothing but she made it seem beautiful. This book mainly follows the friendship of the characters Tilda and Albie. When Albie moves onto the island, everyone around Tilda believes she shouldn’t be friends with someone like him, however she still gives him a chance. As the book progresses, we start to see how Albie truly feels, and start to understand why he acts the way he does in the beginning. When they go on an adventure to go to a secret island, Tilda starts to see who Albie really is and when something happens on the secret island, Tilda goes to find him and what she sees changed the way she looked at him. This novel also gave me a sense of nostalgia, during moments where Tilda talks about her older brother, Rowan, who left the island. In general, ‘Ghostlines’ is a well written, comforting book and I had a great time reading it.

Gianna
The Lotus Readers

Wolf Siren is an amazing, enjoyable book, with the development of Red’s character. Usually, I wouldn’t read books like this but I actually enjoyed the storyline along with how it retells the story of “The Little Red Riding Hood”, with some twists and turns to it, making us see the main character’s point of view. This story shows us that the ‘monsters’, which was the forest, were actually the ones protecting. However, I felt like the pacing of the story was too slow, as at some parts, I was a bit bored and also the ending could’ve been better, as it felt very rushed.

Sunny
The Lotus Readers

Wolf Siren is a novel that Beth O’Brien wrote by changing the story of Little Red Riding Hood. It tells a story of a girl named Red growing up after having conflicts with people in her town. This book still has the characters in the original fairy tale. There are wolves, a girl, and her grandmother, but the characters are portrayed in another way, which makes the story very interesting and gripping. Also, Wolf Siren has important messages. It talks about feminism, community, disability, and family. Anyone above 10 years old can read this book to find out the importance of these messages.

Dohyeong
The Lotus Readers

I enjoyed Wolf Siren because it was exciting and emotional. The atmosphere was dark and mysterious, which made the story interesting to read. I liked how the main character changed throughout the book and came to understand herself better. Some parts were intense and suspenseful, and the fantasy world felt believable. It feels like the perfect overlap between fantasy, suspense, and dystopian stories. I liked the focus on wolves and how many people thought they were aggressive, but they were just misunderstood. I think the story's mystery is thrilling, and I like this book. I think it would be more developed and comfortable for the reader if the story were set across more than one book, and I would love to read a sequel! Overall, I would rate this book an 8.5/10.

Felix
The Perse Carnegians

Such a good read. It’s a Little Red Riding Hood retelling but so much better. The forest is creepy, the mystery keeps you hooked, and the themes of hardship and courage really make you think. The start is a little slow but it’s absolutely worth sticking with. 4/5.

Ishaan
MTS Northwood

I loved this book so much because I loved how I could relate to Red sometimes and how driven she was to make the woods be seen as a good place. The description in this book was so whimsical and felt very real. When Reds sister died, I was shocked to the core and didn't expect that to happen at all. The most shocking part was that Wilson was at the centre of this tragedy although he wasnt a bad character at the start of the book and I expected that he would stay that way throughout. This book reminds me of this movie called wolf walkers. The main themes in this book was femininity, gender roles, the right to be heard and disabilities. I would definitely recommend it because I feel as though this book is so beautiful and makes you feel so many different emotions. Also, I feel as though people will get immersed in the plot, characters and the setting. I myself forgot that I was reading!

Hareem
Teen Book Club

I was so hooked into this book! I love how well it resembles Little Red Riding Hood but adds a twist on top of it to make it unique! The opening was excellent, it kept me engaged this whole time! The story feels so original. The ending is satisfying and thought-provoking. The themes go super well together, the characters are interesting and engaging. The literary techinques are used so effectively. 10/10.

Kamran
Booky Wookies

I liked the uniqueness of the main character, and how the author brought to life an unrecognised disability. Also, I liked the idea to base it on little red riding hood.

Annie
Esher High

I really enjoyed reading Wolf Siren it was a really great book I really loved the fact it was based of a fairytail but with a twist.

Raphael
SCD Pageturners

I loved this book. I thought it was a really interesting adaptation of the fairytale and I found the concept of an isolated village under a dictator really interesting. I felt that it was really well written and I loved the main characters, especially Red. I would definitely recommend this book to people who like fantasy stories.

Tim
St George’s Dragon Readers

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a truly inspiring and heartfelt book, the plot twists as you read further into this magical book. The storyline is about a 13-year-old girl, Red, who wants to belong, with nature, trees, and wolves. This is my favourite character as she has a powerful connection with nature altogether, she is not afraid of the wolves, even though there are tales of horrors that lie within woods. I loved this read because the suspension rises and emotions pour out of the book as you dig deeper; this book will change the way you think of having a disability, not as a hold-back, but as a privilege. I recommend this book to people that love a roller-coaster of suspense and who love a great twist on a traditional story-line! A fantastic read for 10 to 15 year olds... 10/10!

Tom
The Shady Bookhounds

A beautiful book full of magic and the fight of misogyny. It follows the story of Red, a teenager who is struggling to cope in her society. The book explores different behaviors towards "threats" and women alike. My only criticism is I thought the characters were underdeveloped and there were too many to keep track of, but apart from that it was a good, easy read, that I think most young people, girls or boys, should read.

Evie
TMHS:PageTurners

"Wolf Siren" is a fantasy book that feels real. Beth O' Brien proudly pushes the theme of girl power throughout the story. The book is well written but doesn't use the fact that Red is visually impaired and sometimes forgets about it; in some parts of the story, Red can see facial expressions clearly and can easily see details of people. The fantasy aspect of this story is embedded within the events of her life and makes "Wolf Siren" feel much realer than any fantasy book I've ever read. Overall, one of the best fantasy books I've ever read, and has a very important, and powerful theme. 9/10.

Elliott
Hope Valley Literati

I really liked this book because I like the twist on the original fairytale and the feeling of fantasy and magic being drawn to the woods because I also like exploring forest places. I also liked this book. because I liked how it showed types of disabilities in people because red has a visual impairment according to the author Beth O’Brien so I like how it was very inclusive and how it conquered stereotypes that people with blindness or visual impairment cannot do things I really enjoyed reading this, especially the parts where red and Areona turned into wolves for the first time I thought it was a really good sort of plot twist and how we figured out that the mayor was against everyone and killed Caragh I’m sabotage the village against wolves and the woods convincing everyone it was evil but overall this was a really good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it

Arabella
Lionheart2026

I really liked the book because it showed how red overcame her fear of transforming into a wolf and I liked it because it included some magic and murder mystery. I got really sad at the end because red's sister (Aerona) gets shot by an arrow and then she dies. It was a really sad ending but overall it was a really good book. I rate it 9/10.

Maulik Linesh
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

The book Wolf Siren is a very thought provoking emotional novel. The main character Red is a rebel in her ways a dose t care if she disobeys the villages expectations. Her sister Aerona is thoughtful and under stand Red in a way that no one else quite does. The plot follows Red and how she is pulled to the woods even though she is not allowed. When one of the village wood cutters goes missg she and her friend Dilana are the people who find her. Dead. The style is nothing like I have read before and really does make me think. I am very sad when Aerona is killed unjustly at only 12 years old put as all the good books go there has to be one main character goes. All together I think that wolf Siren is an amazing book and should be study in schools as it is an emotional rollercoaster to say the least.

Edie
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I found the book very interesting and fascinating as it was a kind that I had never read before. I like how the story details that Red also has wolf like abilities and when she realises. I would give it a 8 out of 10 because it was very detailed in it's story and for the plot overall.

Rhiyan
The WH shadowers

Wolf Siren gives a darker, moodier twist to Red Riding Hood, following Red as she gets pulled into a forest full of secrets and half‑told stories while her village panics about a wolf. The writing leans atmospheric without trying too hard, and Red’s mix of stubbornness and curiosity makes her easy to care about. It’s not a huge or complicated book, but it has a nice balance of mystery and emotion, and it leaves you wanting to know more about the world behind the fairy‑tale surface. 7/10

Edison
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I loved Wolf Siren. i thought it was a very good book which really shows the struggles of women and how they get discriminated against because they can do something men cant. I also loved how the main character was blind and another character was deaf as people with disabilities don’t get enough attention in media especially books. The storyline was also great as it took a twist on a classic fairytale and made it something even better. Wolf Siren also showed especially at the end of the book how small acts can make massive differences in the world around you.

Hannah
Tractors

7.5/10 Wolf Siren is an amazing retelling of the common fairy tale Red Riding Hood, focusing on sexism, gender roles and social injustice. Furthermore, the subtle and careful descriptions of Red's visual impairment normalised her disability and ensured that it was just a part of her character rather than all encompassing. I would recommend it to people who enjoy modern retellings of myths, and anyone who is willing to try a different type of fairytale.

Jex
IVC Readers

The book provided an interesting perspective on gender roles and inbuilt patriachy. I found it interesting on how despite women being able to do something men can't, they were still treated as lesser people. The whole story was simple to read and continue without wanting to stop.

Chlo
GreatB00ks

I love the overall themes and the worldbuilding of this story, and how women were discriminated against for being able to do something the men couldn't do. Furthermore, the family tension and dynamics are interesting, however in the beginning of the novel not enough is invested in the description of the forest. As a result, the forest, which is the focal point of the novel, is only a bland area in the mind of reader. Overall , I enjoyed the premise of the story but the execution fell short as I believe there was a lack of description relying on the reader to imagine the surroundings.

David
Elms Shadowing 2026

Wolf siren was a great book. Beth O'Brien did a wonderful job on writing the book. I don't think I've ever come across a rewrite of little Red Riding Hood before and never really been fond of rewrites but this one was very fun.

Aliyah
Elms Shadowing 2026

Wolf siren is a wonderful read. I adored the storyline and Red's connection to the woods. I love the plot-twist at the end! It was completely unexpected as the entire time I was led to believe the Mayor was the killer. I adored the book. My only critique would be that I would have liked to have more of a chance to get to know Areona, just so the ending hit a little harder; but I still loved her as a character.

Genevieve
Elms Shadowing 2026

A beautiful story that reminded me of connection to nature. Humans can be cruel and judgmental, but there will always be those who dare to brave the lightning's glow. I loved the book and it resonated with the selfish and arrogant humans of today.

Nadia
Elms Shadowing 2026

Wolf siren is a brilliant book and would definitely recommend! It shows the struggles of girls growing up and learning how to deal with different types of pain from the menstrual cycle to grief. The way the character of Wilson was presented at first made him seem loving and kind but slowly as the book goes on you begin to get a bad feeling all the way to the point of him being revealed as the murder (or the main antagonist) and then you really despise him. The way it’s shown that women should have the power as they are capable of doing something men can’t it’s still the sexist stereotypes seen in the book of the men being in control, as seen with Caragh and the mayor with her “punishment”. The way Red is seen dealing with her disability is incredible as she does things no one else would expect her to do such as finding her way home on her own so this shows that everyone is capable I should know this because I have family members with disabilities. The end of the book is the most heartbreaking due to the fact one of the most loveable characters, Aerona, sadly passes away (because Wilson murders her) and the way Red’s grandmothers tone is so accusatory after Red plants the acorn and then when she comes to find out Red has broken the cycle it flips to a more gentle and warm tone. Also, the way the character Zac is portrayed as mean, then when he comes by to return what is rightfully Red’s family’s, the painting of a tree made by Aerona, he is then portrayed as scared and timid however, Red openly welcomes him as she says “We are not our relatives,” proving we don’t have to be who people want us to be. This book is overall very inspiring and empowering would 100% recommend to anyone who wants to read a different type of fairytale.

Pippa
Tractors

a 2025 YA fantasy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, featuring a visually impaired protagonist named Red who challenges her village's strict rules to explore a magical wood. It explores themes of feminism, environmentalism, and overcoming fear to uncover secrets about her grandmother and the wolves

lamar m
Lionheart2026

Personally, I thought Wolf Siren was an exhilarating read: certainly a keeper. Set in a community far from modern society, we, as readers, are introduced to a girl called Red, who lives on the outskirts and is unpopular with many. But as the story builds on, we learn this is due to her roots of being a werewolf - something very much taboo and feared in this given world. Key themes explored in this novel are, I would say is sexism as throughout the story, Red is strained from releases and showing her true ability simply due to her gender, which simply isn't fair. I would rate this book a solid 4 out of 10, due to the vividness of the described characters and anticipation. One key factor pulling the book back was the badly timed pace of the story - the buildup was anticipated, but certain actions done by the main character were more than questionable. I would've expected a more finely worked-out plot, but it seems that this is not present. It would've been better if the book were two books, allowing the world to be delved into more deeply and allowing the plot to truly flourish. Overall, this was a lovely read - with a few more years, I'm sure Beth O'Brien is destined to be the next Jane Austen!

Ryan
The Perse Carnegians

Amazing book overall. Fantastic wording and I love how it links to feminism as it shows the power of woman standing up to wolves to make them stand down. My personal favourite character is Red, she has so much courage in this book and so has her grandma. Absolutely brilliant if you want a climax book, I mean it doesn't get better than this! Plots emerge in every single chapter, building tension. Beth has done a great job. It also contrasts with the little red riding hood! One of my favourite fairy tales of all time. Anyone looking for an amazing, climax and fantastic book overalll this is for you! This is the best book I've read in 2026 hopefully you agree too when you read this book.

Angelo
Wetherby Prep Book Club

I thought this book was okay as it showed a girl called Red who lives in an isolated village and how she turns into a wolf as she gets older. I enjoyed how it was a play on Little red riding hood but was its own story at the same time but I found it a bit dull and there was nothing apart from the main storyline being told which made it feel quite drawn out. I like how it showed Red's family and how her mother wanted to fit in with the villagers and didn't want to do anything that could make them upset, which contrasted the grandma who was telling tales of magic and the woods. I would recommend this to someone who likes fantasy and fairy tales but it wasn't for me so I will give it a 6/10.

Robin.O
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

i think its cool how the forest is like her eyes and the mayor being the bad guy was kinda expected but unexpected

Tamera
Dunraven

Hello I am reviewing this book because I have started to read Wolf Siren and it is brillant because it is like a mystery and a shock.

lillyann
Leading In Reading

Wolf Siren is about a young girl, Red, who happens to be the protagonist in a story set in a remote village where women face suppression because of the natural power that they possess and are prevented from making their own choices. Red must find her true personality and powers in order to save her loved ones from the life which she now knows is a life of corruption and conformity. The Wolf Siren is an inspirational book that is intended to display a clear motif of suppression and mistreatment of women specifically in a world where the seem to naturally possess ore power and control. It showcases the broader world and the different norms that others are accustomed to that may seem normal for them but seems absurd and unfair for us. I would recommend this book to those who want to broaden their perspectives and get a better understanding of those who are not necessarily spoken of enough and recognised.

Nurdan
Chiswick Carnegie

The story of Wolf Siren is an inspiring tale about a young girl different from the rest of her community. Red is taught all her life to conform to her village's expectations and "social rules" that put the men on top, even if the best interest of people lay in giving women more power. Discovering a hidden strength withing herself, she must fight against the corrupt leadership to save herself, her friends and her family from continuing to living a life of suppression.

Taira
Chiswick Carnegie

I was drawn into the book due to the blurb. The cover portrays the story effectively with another small phrase embedded into it which does also sum up the book. It took me 12 days to read this book. The main plot was about how Red goes against her mothers wishes and ventures into the forest, connecting with the wolves when told not to. The most memorable moment was when Grandma showed Red that the wolves are harmless. The main themes are Feminism, supernatural elements, adventure and secrecy. I think this book is suited to pre-teens, especially females. I enjoyed how the book is very feminist and highlights the struggles that women face emotionally and physically (the main character constantly challenges her mother’s views and orders given to stay within her line). It teaches young girls to challenge gender stereotypes and express themselves freely. However, it being a direct reference to the story of little red riding hood may put off some people from reading it as it could appear childish. I would rate this book 7/10. I would reccomend it to other readers and think it deserves a Carnegie medal.

Amanda D'cunha
Gibraltar Carnegie Scholars

Wolf Siren, by Beth'O Brien, is a phenomenal book for the age of the book's author. A book about acceptance and connecting with nature, fun to read with a filled-out plot, and good character development. I loved it, I'd definitely say it's worth readin!

Namish
4Shadowers

You shouldn't trust someone just because, you have to know the whole story before you judge. The narrative is from a girl called Red's point of view and it follows her story as she discovers things about herself, her village's past, and what really happened. In my opinion it was a good book as it involves trust, betrayal, and people being too quick to judge when they don't know the whole truth. The book shows the growth of a person, and how it can affect others as well, as Red changes throughout the book, and how the villagers feel about certain events also changes. Red lives in a little village on the edge of a forest, and she loves walking in the forest. The rest of the village is scared of the forest as there are wolves in there, and they have already attacked some huntsmen from her village. Red still goes there, even when she knows she shouldn't, as the wolves don't seem to attack the women. One day, she finds her long-lost Grandma in there. Her Grandma teaches her about the forest, and things that Red didn't know she could do. A year goes by, before her Grandma disappears again. Throughout the story Red discovers what she can do, some secrets, and the whole truth. Red grows up and learns what she must do to finally free the village from their past fears, and to ensure a good future where they can live in harmony with the forest and its inhabitants. It is a good book to read as it shows how you can never be too sure who to trust and you mustn't judge people too quickly without knowing all sides of a story. It also demonstrates how controlling people can be, and how it isn't good to hide your true self just because somebody else doesn't like it or doesn't agree with you for whatever reason.

Alba
Euro Champs

Wolf Siren is a powerful and atmospheric story that feels like a modern dark fairytale. I loved how the book explores the idea that everyone has a "hidden strength" or a wild side inside them. The main character’s journey is all about self-discovery and learning to embrace who you really are, even if it scares others. The writing makes the forest feel alive and mysterious. It’s a short but intense read that reminds us that being "good" doesn't mean being weak.

Lojine
Lionheart2026

Wolf Siren is an intriguing book that transforms a familiar fairytale into a powerful message of female strength. The author creates a forest where the ‘monsters’ are actually protectors and the true danger lies within the village’s patriarchal walls. Red is an unforgettable protagonist, her character is so strong-willed and fierce yet restricted which makes me relate a lot to her. I love her sister and the ending is just so heartwarming but sad at the same time. I love the plot twists and like how the story gives us this really powerful message: "Don't judge when you haven't even been there before."

Nathania
St George’s Dragon Readers

This book was weird. I enjoyed it a bit, but it was rather confusing, though it was alright once you got the idea that it is an isolated village with the only way to leave through a forest, and no one wants to go there, except Red, because of the wolves, but they still go to get fuel. So, Red goes into the woods on the anniversary of her grandma's disappearance - rather silly in my opinion, and then after talking to a witch discovers that she can turn into a wolf. She then goes back to the village full of former wolf hunters, again not a great idea, with the witch - why? Then the woodcutter dies to a 'wolf attack' - it wasn't really. the villagers then hold a secret meeting to discuss what to do with her, but she listens in on it, untill Red's sister decides to walk into the meeting and turn into a wolf. They then have to go into hiding, where they find red's grandma, who is also a wolfwoman. Then they get wood for the villagers because the woodcutter had been killed and so they were running out. I struggle to understand the actions of the people in this book. They expose the truth that the woodcutter had been murdered, leading to Red's sister getting shot with a crossbow - by the murderer, making Red catch him and then he gets put in jail, there's a funeral, and they all live happily ever after. It was nicely written and not too hard to understand, but not a great plot, so I give it a 6 out of 10.

Edward M
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I enjoyed Wolf Siren because it had an interesting plot and characters. I also like how you learn what it is like to have a disability and that it has themes of injustice and sexism and that everyone can make a difference and that everyone can stand up for what they think is right. I also liked the twist on the classic Little Red Riding Hood story because it shows you that maybe the evil wolf wasn't evil it was just misunderstood.

Olivia
Bassingbourn Readers

Wolf Siren is an adaptation of the character Little Red Riding Hood. It’s full of adventure, magic and history, taking place a long time ago. When wolf attacks start to increase in the woods next to her village, Red bravely goes to investigate to find out what’s going on before it’s too late. With her power to command wolves she discovers something special about herself. I found this story to be quite exciting, but similar to other books I have read in the past. It made me think about the hunting and killing of wolves around the world. I would say this is an adventurous book for 9-10 year olds.

Oliver
The Fitzharrys Shadows

As I read this book, I felt it resonate with a younger wilder version of myself that I hadn't really thought about in the past few years. When I was a kid, me and my friends used to pretend to be wolves in the forest, calling ourselves 'the wild things' and causing good natured havoc. I was also really interested in menstruation around this time, as it was before I got my period (10 or 11 years old) I was reading loads of books about it and thinking of it as this kind of personal, powerful and mysterious thing that I knew I would eventually get, and would mean that I was moving onto a new stage of growth in my life. I think Wolf Siren is a very powerful novel. It explores complicated and painful familial relationships amidst finding your own identity and learning about who you are and what you believe is right in a society that may not agree with you, or push you down because you look or think differently.

Zoë
The High Storrs Shadows

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien is an exciting and mysterious novel that mixes fantasy with real-life issues in a very effective way. The story follows Red, a girl who is drawn to the forbidden woods where her grandmother disappeared years before. I liked how the book creates a tense atmosphere with magic, wolves, secrets, and fear in the village, while also exploring themes such as growing up, prejudice, family pressure, and misunderstanding. Red is an interesting character because she is brave but also vulnerable, and her secret makes the story even more gripping. This is a powerful and imaginative read, perfect for anyone who enjoys mystery, fantasy, and unexpected twists.

Yasmine
4Shadowers

An interesting adaptation on little red riding hood though it does stray away from the original story and is for an older audience. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot twist to this tale. A good book with characters with complicated pasts which slowly are revealed to the reader.

Mark
Bassingbourn Readers

Wolf Siren is a revisionist retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a dark twist. In the Prologue the main character, Red, sees her grandmother and she teaches Red how to summon her own wolves. And then, what really kicks the story off is when they find the woodcutter, Caragh, missing and they discover she’s dead. One day when Red is delivering parcels to somebody who everyone thinks is a witch, she realises that she and her grandmother can actually transform into wolves and this is a big secret they have to keep because if people find out it’s true she could be possibly imprisoned. I liked the world building in this story and all the fantasy aspects of it. I liked how characters had really clear goals and motivations and secrets. This also had really key themes for a book like misogyny, family and friendship. However, one thing I didn’t like that much about the book is how the author made Red visually impaired. I fell like it wasn’t that relevant to the story and that it’s just there. But it doesn’t take away how much I enjoyed this book. In summary this is a book that is a dark twist of Red Riding Hood that could be read by people who like wolves or even just fantasy!

Leopold
The Perse Carnegians

Wolf siren is an amazing, atmospheric and beautiful novel. I absolutely adored it. I love how it is written to be similar to Little Red Riding Hood but totally different at the same time. The fact that the main character is a child with a sight problem makes the book feel just that bit more like life. Also, usually children’s novels have a nice happy ending and I love that this book is an exception to that. Highly recommend reading.

Caitlin
Larkmead

Wolf Siren was a gripping story of the beautiful misunderstood wilderness;Wilderness of the tangled trees, wilderness of the rippling wolves and wilderness that pounds within souls. It is of when people brand what they can’t comprehend, evil and dangerous and when people fight what they don’t understand instead of fighting to know more. Born from the pages , characters that blaze inside you , characters that refuse to back down, characters with fire in their hearts and power in their hands. This tale has resonated so deeply within me and I felt a strong kingship with this book and with the woodland magic mentioned within. How when the forest protects itself from harm it is called attack and when others attack the forest it is called defence. How the smallest of things: a wish in the wind, a hope grown in the heart , an acorn in the earth can make the greatest difference. For when voices are silenced , when outcasts are sentences, when tyrants tighten their grip , that is when the wolf rises.

Maya
The Silver_tongues

Shadower's challenge-descriptive piece of writing about a journey using all 5 senses. I was in the car, covering my nose as the stink of something surrounded the whole of the safari park. I felt the car go up the steep hills and as i looked out of the window, rhino's were all over the place and i discovered it was their poop that was stinking up the place. I felt sick, my mum handed me some some crisps to eat, the packet crinkling in my hand. As i ate the spice filled my nose and mouth, spice never bothered me, i liked spice and the feeling of heat on my tongue. I stop eating as i hear my baby cousin crying and i look over, she is adorable. I stroke her cheek, it feels smooth against my fingers.

Pearl
Busy Bee Readers

Wolf siren was an entertaining and enjoyable book. the writing was descriptive and visual . I found the pacing good although it was a little too slow with the opening world building.

Albie
Desborough Books & Biscuit Club

This was a good, well developed and interesting story. I enjoyed Red's characterisation and felt all the characters were very well-written (all had strengths and flaws realistically portrayed). I don't usually go for books like this, but I enjoyed how this was written and the plot. It was fast-paced, immersive and I really enjoyed how the messages of equality and acceptance were portrayed. I would probably read again and I did like how it was written!

Iris
Skipton Shadows

The story follows a 14-year-old Red Riding Hood, living in a quaint little village in the forest. She loves traversing the woods, and despite the danger it possesses, she travels through it anyway. Red soon discovers an 'enigma' within the deep history of her village as the plot becomes thicker than the forest's tree line. I adored the adaptation of Red Riding Hood presented in this story, adding a sparkle of imagination to the original tale. The characters were well developed and the narrative was easy to follow - with the main ideas being understandable and a treat to read overall. Despite its strengths, however, I did feel that towards the end more could have been done with the character of the Mayor, as well as Red's siblings. I also felt that the ending seemed quite rushed and felt a little hollow, with scenes shifting a little too fast. Overall though, I thought it was an amazing book, which I would absolutely read again. (Four stars out of five ****).

Habiba
Rockwood Reads

Wolf siren is a mesmerising book that tells the enchanting story of a girl who feels like she doesn't fit in. It's take on the little red riding hood is really lovely, bringing fantasy and injustice into the storytale. I really loved it and highly recommend it. The character detail was really great and the setting was highly described!!!!!

Faye
Kingdown Wilts

Wolf siren wasn't a book I would typically go for however , I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I really enjoyed the theme of injustice and how the main character Red overcame it. The book did well at presenting new challenges and overcoming them while keeping the book engaging . I liked the pace and the book had a few plot twists which I didn't expect and enjoyed . It was also quite inspiring following the themes of disability , courage and bravery. Something I found quite interesting was how the women were able to go into the forest , which - if done on purpose - was a nice show of typical gender roles reversed. If I had to change one thing I would say the start was a bit slow but other than that I enjoyed this book and would give it 4/5 stars.

Holly
Vista Academy Littleport

I thoroughly enjoyed Wolf Siren; it was extremely well written and very engaging! It also included very important topics like disability, gender roles and sexism. I also loved the fact that Beth O’Brien took the story of the red little riding hood and turned it into something completely new! This book also made me feel a rainbow of emotion and made me cry (which never happens). If I could improve this book in any way, it might be writing different chapters from different characters perspectives. I would definitely recommend this book to children, teenagers and adults alike!!

Jana
The Perse Carnegians

Wolf Siren was such a good book! I loved the themes of injustice and fantasy. Red was such a good main character, with her secretive heritage she makes fantasy much more realistic!

JULIA
Diary of a Wally Kid

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a novel which explores the story of a young girl dealing with identity, belonging and her relationship with the natural world. I appreciated this book because it proposes an interesting perspective on the connection between humans and nature. This enables us to reflect on what it truly means to belong, whether in society or outside of it. Moreover, the atmosphere of the novel is quite immersive, especially through the descriptions of the forest, which create a vivid and sometimes unsettling setting.I also found the story interesting overall, particularly because of its originality and the way it develops the main character throughout the novel. The concept is quite unusual, which makes the book stand out compared to more typical stories.Finally, I appreciated the ending, which is emotional and not entirely happy. It highlights the idea that growing up and discovering who you are does not always lead to a perfect resolution, but can instead involve leaving certain things behind, which makes the story feel more realistic and meaningful.

zoe
4Shadowers

I thought Wolf Siren was amazing because of it's thrilling plot where loads of amazing magical things happen. At the end it is described so well that it almost brought me to tears. This book is so touching that it feels real but the thing is it's not. Beth O'Brien is amazing at writing settings, description and characters. I loved this book and I totally recommend it to readers aged above 11 or 11, it's AMAZINGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lakshmi 7a :)
Weald Tonbridge

"Wolf Siren" was a book that left me uncertain and unsure, I felt that in the moments where the book finally did gain traction it lost it almost immediately, much to my disappointment. The sister's death whilst obviously tragic felt like more of a side note and a means to the end. It was an interesting take on "Little Red Riding Hood" but not one that left me feeling overly impressed nor interested. The plot didn't feel too original and most of it's so called "twists" and "surprises" were predictable. Whilst I appreciate the underlying messages I found the book almost oversimplified these issues and would only be suited for those in younger years. Overall I'd give the book a 4/10, it was alright but definitely not one I'd have chosen for myself or recommend.

Eve
KES Readers

Lojine
Lionheart2026

Wolf Siren: "Seeing Red" This coming-of-age adventure journeys back in time as well as journeying to another place. At the time that Red's childhood is set, humans are still using wood for heating and crossbows for combat. Yet this doesn't hinder the magic of Red's experiences of wolves and nature and injustice. The cruel mayor enforces the lie of the danger that wolves present to keep the people afraid and under control. It's made worse by the fact that the woodcutter's unexplained absence and the shortage of fuel plunges the town into darkness and disguises something terrible. I would recommend this tale to many a passionate reader, who enjoys a delightful community and family legend.

Ruben
Euro Champs

Wolf Siren is about a girl called Red and her family and village. At the start Red's grandma is found after leaving her mum. Later on in the book we learn that Red, her sister and grandma are all wolf women. Meaning they can turn into wolves. This only can happen to woman because wolves attack men but not women. This was a great book and is my favourite out of the shortlist. It shows a strong connection to wildlife and is very interesting.

Samuel H
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I loved reading this book so much! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books that involve girls trying to find where their belong. This book was SO touching, powerful and gripping. It had such a great ending. I have loved every plot twist in the book especially the ones towards the end!

Lukshmi
CSGS Page Turners 26

I loved this book so much! I would recommend it to anybody who likes books about fighting to belong. I found the ending really powerful and touching and I appreciated how the book involved the main character's other senses as well as her sight. I was gripped from the first chapter!

Chloe
CSGS Page Turners 26

I liked the fantasy in this book and I enjoyed the concept of the story. However, I did feel that this book would have been better suited for those in Year 7/Year 8 because I thought the plot of the story went a bit too fast for me and I was often able to predict what would happen next. At the same time, I really liked the message of this book and how Red was never afraid to go into the woods, despite what others thought of it and the connotations that the woods had.

Eleanora
Epsomians

Wolf Siren is a story about Red, a 13 year old girl, who was always going off into the woods. She figures out that she can summon wolves and even change into one. But it all goes wrong when Caragh, the village's woodcutter, dissapears deep into the woods. I enjoyed reading this book because it showed feminism, when the men weren't allowed into the woods to avoid the risk of getting hurt by the wolves, and the fact that it is a remaster of the famous childrens' fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood".

Tarja
GreatB00ks

Wolf Siren by Beth O' Brien This is not the sort of book I would normally go for but I actually really enjoyed the storyline and the main character, Red. I liked how Beth O' Brien let the reader see things from Red's point of view, especially how she navigates the world while being visually impaired. I also liked how she used vivid descriptions to make the forest more eerie and magical while still subtly linking back to the original Little Red Riding Hood story. It did take me a while to get into the book, as the early chapters are quite slow as the mystery builds. Despite this, I ended up enjoying it overall.

Isabelle
Epsomians

I really enjoyed Wolf Siren. I like the mystery and the reality of sexism explained in a way younger people will understand. I really enjoyed the ups and downs and the unspoken magic of the forest.

jess
Diary of a Wally Kid

Wolf Siren is a book full of feminist ideas. There are many details and turns you wouldn't expect to see during certain chapters. It's similar to 'Little Red Riding Hood' in a way, which adds a reminder of childhood. I really enjoyed this book and would love to read it again for the first time.

Anika
Diary of a Wally Kid

I thought Wolf Siren was a boring book that dragged on a lot. The story line wasn't as good as the other Carnegies but it was about a girl called Red who wasn't allowed to go into the woods because of what was lurking within. Overall a bad book, 4/10

Cody w
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I love this book! It has such a good twist on a fairy tale we all know! Its very origional and everybodys not quite as they seem, I think it is a 11+ but I would rate the actual book 9/10!! <3 <3

Arielle
Hasmonean Pages

Awesome book, would read again and recommend to other people.

Natalie
BCS Book Squad

The cover was what first drew me to this books. This is a great retelling of the classic that is Little Red Riding Hood. It has been given a new lease of life and relevance with it's themes of empowerment, what it means to be a woman (menstruation) all while it tackles important topics like gender roles in society. I love that Red has a visual impairment, I think that this is great representation that isn't in many books. The fact that it can be linked back to the original classic and explains why the wolf was mistaken for grandma, Makes it believable. This was a beautifully written, exciting read. I will definitely be recommending to other readers.

Anon
SHS Book Club

Wolf Siren in my opinion is a pretty good book for the Carnegies. Unlike most fantasy books that I have read before, this book was well-written. I like how it explores themes of power, nature and rebellion. This story is basically a great reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood. It is about this girl named Red who discovers a family secret and connects with (rather than fears) the wolves in the forest.

Tahmeed
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Dystopian fantasy book with the main character fighting back. Has a good theme but it could have had another character just to thicken the plot.

Charlotte
Fullbrook Bookworms

Forget the helpless girl in the red cloak. In Beth o' Brien's Wolf Siren, Red isn't just surviving in the woods-she's answering their call. This powerful novel reimagines a classic tale with feminist awareness, exploring what happens when the "hunted" finally find their voice. This book was a mesmerizing read, and I just could not put it down. The story follows Red on her journey into finding her voice, along with Aerona and Delana, who support Red all the way through her exciting, but slightly frightening change. Red and her family live in a small but heavily controlled village, where the mayor finds a way to control everything and everyone in a way that suits himself, but everything changes when Red's emotions take on a mind of their own, and before she knows it, Red is caught up in a world of magic, wolves and wilds. The reader experiences the book through Red's heightened senses to substitute her blurred vision, focusing on touch, smell and sound. This amazing novel was an emotional rollercoaster and hooked me from the first paragraph, making me feel like I was in the book: sad with Red, happy with Red, angry with Red. It is written so vividly that I feel as if I am in her shoes, experiencing the forest through her unique perspective. This is a must-read for anyone who loves a fantastical, magical adventure with a strong heroine.

Maria
Euro Champs

Wolf spirit is a very good book. I like the idea of an almost dystopian village, the backstory of this village feels almost like the founding of Gilead. I like how the author delves carefully into how grief effects us as well as other aspects of human nature. Although this story could be read as a simple child's fantasy or a feminist ideology or an example of living with a disability it could also be read as a much darker and more sociological and psychological story line. It would have been easy for this book to become pure feminist propaganda or a moral story about how disability is not the end of the world but the author has struck a delicate balance between them as well as entwining them within a very enjoyable and thought provoking plot. A 10/10 book probably my favourite so far.

Grace
KES Readers

Wolf Siren is an amazing book to read because it has lots of twists and I like how the woods are described well although Red is visually impaired. There are some sad parts but overall I would say this book is highly recommended!

Teni
Carmel Shadowers

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien is a fairytale-like story about a girl called Red and how she finds out about her family’s ancestral powers. Wolf Siren shows how even people who are different can still fit in as an essential part of the community. I would recommend Wolf Siren to readers aged 9-15 as an adventure book full of growing up and some very new experiences.

Annabelle
The Fitzharrys Shadows

An incredible book filled with life and fantasy guaranteed to touch your heart ( and possibly make you cry!) Every page was so filled with emotion on how Red feels that I actually felt like I was there with her. 10/10 I would recommend to any animal lovers out there with a sense of adventure :)

Sophia
Brookie Reads

'Wolf Siren' is an imaginative re-telling of 'Red Riding Hood' with a strong female lead: Red. There were many things about Red that I enjoyed, in particular it was refreshing to see a protagonist with a disability as Red is partially sighted. The author effectively showed some of the difficulties that Red has to overcome as a result of this, though I might have liked to see this developed further when Red is in her wolf form. As well as this, I really enjoyed the subversion of male and female roles from the traditional fairy-tale- in 'Wolf Siren' women are strong and powerful rather than damsels in distress in need of saving! They are resilient and stand up for themselves and others which is inspirational to see. Whilst there were some lovely things about this text, I do think it lost momentum towards the end of the novel. The reunification of the town and forest was glossed over too quickly for my liking and I would have liked to see more about how the wolves and humans came to live alongside one another.

Ms Austin
Yardleians

I found that this book was great for addressing problems in the real world such as Sexism and Injustice. This story is sort of like a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, following the main character Red as she finds that her family has a hidden secret. If I had to criticise, I would say that Red's partial blindness isn't brought up enough and I constantly forgot about it, but other than this, I really enjoyed this book, particularly the tragic ending as I find it refreshing when it isn't a happily ever after as usual.

Rowan
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I found this book incredible with links to many real world problems like sexism and facing a disability. It also really touched me in the way that it was written and it almost felt as if I was in the woods with Red. This book is an amazing coming-of-age fantasy that I would rate 10/10.

Ernest
TBGS READERS

I didn’t realise how much the world needed this book until I read it! An eye-opening (no pun intended) celebration of feminism and visually impaired people, that delivers a beautiful fairytale narrative. O’Brien centres the story around these paramount themes of empowerment, rather than attempting to disguise them as many middle grade novels unsuccessfully do, enabling readers of all ages to enjoy this beautifully emotive book. Wolf siren symbolises a reclamation of the fairytale genre: from damsels in distress to girls in greatness, and the celebration of disability.

Eve
St Kaths

I found this book outstanding because it was about how we should look after trees better than how we do now and that in my opinion is important to me.

Aurelia
Rainbeau Readers

This book was very moving and powerful. I loved the character development and how it felt real and possible, even though it included magic. I found it an interesting concept, and the twists it held were unexpected yet plausible. I wish the story didn’t have to take such a sad turn - it could’ve been so perfect for the characters. I loved this book, and I would recommend it as a fantastic read!

Mackenzie
Rainbeau Readers

The opening of Wolf Siren is immediately intriguing and effective at drawing the reader in. It shows mystery and tension that makes you want to keep reading. The author shows us just enough detail to make you curious without giving it away immediately. The tone and signs of danger draw the reader in, making it clear that something interesting is about to happen. The story pacing moves at a steady pace and has many moments for thought. There is a of build-up, as it gradually reveals more about the characters personalities and the world their set in. Wolf Siren does well by taking its time, the book allows tension to simmer, which makes key moments feel more impact full. This steadied pace helps immerse the reader into the story. The world created in Wolf Siren is compelling and believable. The author has realistic elements combined with imaginative aspects. This creates a base that feels natural, allowing readers to immerse themselves. The setting and atmosphere are easy to picture, and the events are consistent with the world, making it easy to picture and engage with even after finishing the book. The plot is well-constructed and makes sense. Events follow logically, and the story comes together in a way that makes sense by the end and is satisfactory. Finally, the ending is satisfying and thought-provoking. It provides a sense of closure leaving the reader to reflect on its themes. It was not predictable or simple; the conclusion leaves an impression and pushes deeper thought about the characters’ overall choices. Overall, Wolf Siren is a well-paced and engaging book with an eye-catching opening, an immersive world mixed with fantasy, and a meaningful ending that really sticks with you even after the final page.

Tristan
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I think that “wolf siren” is an amazing book about growing up, finding out things about yourself, and being amazing even though you have a disability. Amazing

Jamie
JGHS Carnegie Reading Group

I thought Wolf Siren was a very good book because I like mystery and I liked the ending other than when one of the characters dies.

Sahar
Southbank Shadowers

this book was very good and was spooky i loved how it came together would highly recommend

poppy
Cottingham High School

Wolf Siren was a great book because it was fun and I couldn't put it down. Every paragraph ended on a cliff-hanger. I was reading until 12:30 and not even realising! It felt like I was in the woods with her. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Ava
Montsaye Shadow Readers

Wolf Siren is an original version of a fairytale, with a vivid atmosphere, and fast pace. It is easy to read, with spaced out lines, making it easy to dip in and out of. Throughout the book, the characters grow, and it makes the reader feel they're with them. All of the characters emotions are detailed and strong. I loved Wolf Siren because it is an empathetic, empowering book.

Sienna
Diary of a Wally Kid

This book is really enjoyable. I love how the author interpreted the story of little red riding hood into the book, it really felt magical. I love this book!

Amelia
Weald of Kent Grammar (Sevenoaks)

I don't normally read this genre of book. I Thought the book was very advanced for the situation of the magical forest. It didn't relate to little red riding hood like thought it would. The twist at the end with Wilson complicated the storyline and the book. Overall it was a great start but the end was sophisticated and was dark ending.

Lilah
Ousedale Olney

This is a really fun, adventurous book that I couldn't put down until I had read the last page. I love how only the women could go into the forest as it gave them some power and kind of rejected the idea of a patriarchal society. It was a great read and my favourite bit was where Red discovered who she truly was. I found the ending very upsetting but thought that it made the book better. I would recommend this book to ages 9-14 as I think it is a good read but older readers won't enjoy it as much. I enjoyed how there were lots of plot twists and found that it made the book so much more engaging. Overall I would rate this book a 9/10 as I found it heartwarming, engaging and a fun read.

Amelia M
Skipton Shadows

Wolf Siren is a fantasy book about a girl called red, who loves the woods and learns a life changing secret after her grandmother goes missing. When I read this book I didn't want to put it down as every page lured me closer in. I loved the fact that the entire woods was filled with magic. The way Red learned about the history of the wolves and how they are misunderstood, caused suspense throughout the book. This book is filled with tragedy and happiness, letting the contrast flow amazingly. I would rate this book 5 stars, and would recommend it to anyone over the age of 10 who loves fantasy books.

Henry
Glossopdale Readers

I really enjoyed reading this book - it gets an 8/10 from me. I loved the world building in this one as the village and woods felt realistic and familiar, as if they could have happened in our history too. Furthermore I also loved the messages this book touched upon and the ending was nicely rounded off with a satisfying conclusion.

Linn
KECHG Shadowers

I believe the book had a lot going on and just wasn't for me.

Cameron
KAEP Lions

Red lives in a village next to the woods and as all fairytales go woods are dangerous, there’s magic and wolves so the Mayor of her village has ordered that all villagers stay within the walls of the village for their safety, except Red is constantly drawn to the woods but why? Wolf attacks have been a big problem in the past so the males of the village have to be protected so only the females are allowed out the village to collect wood and make deliveries but one day the woodcutter doesn’t come home and then mysterious vines block entry into the woods but strangely they allow Red in. Why is the woods accepting of Red? Is Red connected to the wolves? What will that mean for her place in the village? I love that the MC is written with having a severe sight disability because the author also has one. This is a very clever coming of age story mixed with a fairytale retelling. Red hits puberty and her body starts to change and I love how the author does this to fit a magical theme. 4 ⭐

Mrs Ellis
AB Everyone Reading

Red was told by her mother not to go to the woods because they were dangerous and possess strange magic. Back in the village where she lives, men and boys were vulnerable to wolf attacks unlike the women, who the wolves won't attack. It has been three years since Red's grandmother had disappeared in the forest, and Red was determined to find her, no matter the cost. But Red has a terrible secret which she shares with Aerona, her younger sister, and their shared secret could have a devastating effect on their village. I loved this book because it tells you about the beauty of nature when you don't realise it. My favourite character would be Red herself because she is overprotective, stubborn and brave. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys leaning about the powers that animals have in the wild.

Ibsan
The Perse Carnegians

Wolf siren is a really inventive way of reimagining some of the elements of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’. I like the way that no matter what happens to the protagonist throughout, she never stops trying to save her family and the forest. It also puts equality into a fantasy perspective that younger people can connect with in a really effective way. Good pace throughout and I would recommend.

Liam
LSST Library Shadowers

I really love the writing style; it was simple yet understandable as I read through. I think the way the story narrates is really good, one of the best I have far noticed. I also love that I can imagine everything clearly and it's described clearly as well. The story plot is actually really good, I loved it. The end bit kind of made me emotional for a bit but overall, I love this book.

Mikaela
The SBSJs

this book was a masterpiece and made me exited to read many books about wolves . and the girl's personality was beatiful .

lamar
Lionheart2026

I really enjoyed reading it and it was a bit like little red riding hood; where it was set and the plot. I also loved how it showed that being disabled doesn't mean you can't do anything

Zamin
BAS Reading Champions

I really enjoyed this book. I could relate to this book because I love animals and wish I could have wolves following me around like they do Red. Red faced many challenges, like having people say she couldn’t do something because she is a girl, she is partially blind, and she has to deal with becoming a wolf sometimes. This book shows how women can protect others, and how you can grow to be in charge of your own life.

Adidev
The Fitzharrys Shadows

This book was a great book about empowerment. I loved everything about this book and I would definitely share this with others. I had no problems reading or understanding the book, I loved Red's personality and her spirit. I honestly found myself so immersed I was annoyed at all the different characters.

Aurelia
TPS Carnegie Collective

This book was probably my favorite. I have always loved supernatural books since I was a kid. This gives the perfect story about wolf women. It sounds really cool, but i hated how her village treated women. However, I loved how she chased her freedom in the woods.

Kenul
Folkestone Academy Readers

'Wolf siren' is a beautiful tale set in a village surrounded by forest in a world where wolves are feared as monsters. The story follows Red as she tries to change her village for the better. I was lost within the forest of pages in this heartfelt tale and I would recommend it for readers ages 10+.

Anika
Euro Champs

I loved how this book kept up the pace, surprising me at every turn, especially at the end, where they had a plan, then the wall came down, which I liked. All in all, it was a great read, deserving of the shortlist.

Connor F
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

A good book, with lots of plot twists and a very sad ending. Lots of representation of injustice in society and disability. It Would of been great if we found out how the trees were magic and how the village came to be.

Chloe
Hayes Bookstops

Very good, but I would like to see more of some characters and less of others

Curtis
Hayes Bookstops

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a very interesting story similar to the old fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, but in Wolf Siren, it is about a girl who can transform into a wolf, as well as her sister, grandmother and a few others. Also it's set in a secluded village in the middle of a magical forest. Magical because the trees and vines move on their own.

Ethan
Carnegivores

Wolf Siren is a breathtaking adventure from the perspective of a girl with poor sight.This factor was very eye catching to me because it was a unique concept and I loved how the author related to the main character because i feel that when the writers see themselves in their characters, the story is allot more emotional and exciting. Overall, absolutely lovvveddd!!!!!!!

Josie
Chiswick Carnegie

I loved this book! I wouldn't usually pick this book up at Waterstones, but I'm glad I could read it. I found it so insightful and just massively enjoyed it. I stayed up all night reading it and couldn't put it down. The mix of the classic tale with serious issues in a book for 9+ kids was perfect. 10/10!

Freya
WSFG Carnegies Shadowers

Wolf siren review Wolf siren, by Beth o Brien, engages the reader straight from the prologue leaving a sense of mystery as to what will happen. The book follows a character named red and tells her story. As the book goes on red learns her family history and how wolfs were misunderstood and were hunted for sport. During the book red faces many different emotions such as extreme sadness, anger and fear And she also faces discrimination as she is partially blind. The book is written so that the reader is always engaged in what is happening as the book is always intense and mysterious making the reader want to find out more. Beth o brien also writes her sentences clearly and describes the setting very well and leaves readers being able to picture the scene in their head. To improve the book I would develop the side characters more as when I read it, I felt like I didn't know who some of them were. Overall this was a very well written book

William
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

This is a book called Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien. It was a good book about fairytales and little girls. But I think the book is mostly based on Little Red Riding Hood because of the missing grandma and the lumberjack and the mum telling her not to go out in the woods because of wolves. Because of this I would give the book a 4.5 out of ten. There is room for improvement. For starters an improvement could be if it wasn't solely based on Little Red Riding Hood.

Musa
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

SPOILER ALERT I really enjoyed this book as it gives a bedtime story or fairytale a much more sinister twist. I loved how some of the characters were able to turn into wolves which is an ability I would love to have. I got really attached to the characters and was sad when Aerona died at the end. I would definitely recommend this book.

Eva
Diary of a Wally Kid

I recommend Wolf Siren because it is action packed and understandable, and has a really interesting theme. The characters are believable and it has a broad range of emotions especially near the end. The community which Red lives in is held up by trust and repaying favours. Red's unusual bond to the woods is interesting and beautiful.

Florence
Diary of a Wally Kid

I enjoyed this book, although I usually read books of a higher age range. I thought it used powerful language and I became quite attached to the characters. I thought it could have benefited from a bit of romance, though I understand this is definitely just a personal preference. Although the idea was a bit done-before, I think the author still managed to twist the story to make it original. It could have engaged me a bit more as I was intrigued to know the ending but not gripped. Overall I thought this was a good book but not to my usual reading taste, though I know if I had read this a few years ago I would have been extremely passionate about it.

Cassia
Diary of a Wally Kid

A very detailed and heart-warming tale of friendship, fairytales and making sure you stand up for what you believe in. I would recommend for younger audiences however as I feel I was too old when I read it.

Alice
Diary of a Wally Kid

I found Wolf Siren quite good! I mean, when I first glanced at it, I thought it would show a different story. However, as Beth O'Brien has shown me, never judge a book by its cover. I loved the woods, and how I was transported into a world where wolves were your friends and trees were friendly. It was truly Amazing. One thing Beth could do though, if editing it again, could speed up the book in the middle as there is a part where it drags. But other than that I loved it, and it really spoke to me when Aeronna died. Like how DARE Wilson do that to her!

Sherlin
Crypt Bookworms

Wolf siren had an interesting world and themes that told messages of real world issues through a magical fantasy setting and made you consider how the people of an isolated village would act and why whilst incorporating the fantasy elements of a living forest and the contrast of the wolves danger but also warm familial embrace that they provide to certain individuals intrigued me. My only issues are the pacing of the book which threw me off slightly and the simple characters who seemed to be only binary good or bad

Tristan
Horsham BOok HUNTers

I found the characters strangely empty of actual life or interest; it made the book feel more difficult to get stuck into, because there were so many named characters that were all either kind or unkind, with maybe one exception, but no real unique traits of personality. The story had real-life meaning that I understood but could not connect with.

Sophie
Horsham BOok HUNTers

It was an enjoyable and quite an emotional read however sometimes it felt like it unnecessarily continued the chapter on a little to much.

Andrea
Crypt Bookworms

I found this book such an amazing book with a great message. I loved Red's connection to the forest. I also liked how this story came from the authors own experiences and the story of little red riding hood. I will recommend this to everyone. loved it! Pippa

Pippa
St John’s Book Groups

I really enjoyed Wolf Siren, its my absolute favourite so far! I love the idea of doing a twist on a fairy-tale story. I like the way Wolf Siren keeps the idea of fairy-tale in the book by making the woods magical but mixing a idea of "real life" into it. I also thought the book had a amazing range of vocabulary. I felt some of the story line was unnecessary but its a good book overall. I will definitely read again!

Ava
Kingdown Wilts

I loved the atmosphere of this book, the fantasy was very interesting and the fact that the main character had issues with her eyesight made her feel unique and made me feel connected to her even more. The way that the emotional scenes were written was so intriguing. I didn't expect certain things that happened; later, I realised how so many things were foreshadowing it. I loved: the characters, the setting and the plot of this book so much as they were incredibly well written.

Coey
Kingdown Wilts

4/5 It's a good book and the topic it covers is a real issue but it does it in a way that it is still an entertaining read. You can tell it's based on red riding hood but it takes its own direction, my only problem is the girl is meant to be nearly blind and yet she acts like she can see just fine.

Patrick H
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Honestly in my opinion, I didn't exactly like this book because of the fact it has quite a bit of sexism and ignorance of menstruation for women. It just makes me uncomfortable as for me it's a really important time when you start your periods due to it being your first one. However, the plot of the book is really interesting so I feel like some people might like it.

Shanuka
Baxter Booklighters

In my opinion in thought that Wolf siren is an amazing book I thought the book had some amazing vocabulary. If felt some of the storyline was unnecessary but iit was a good book still.

Evelyn
Ousedale Olney

There were lots of twists and turns that made me never want to put down the book I got so engrossed in it when Aerona died I cried it was so moving I could never guess what would happen next it was such a shock when I found out that Wilson was a murderer definitely 5 stars I LOVED it

Ellie
Ms Dodd’s Carnegie Team

When I first opened Wolf Siren, I thought it'd be like any old book. With the usual ups and downs, round and rounds of some action, then an ending. But... I was wrong. Oh boy, I was wrong. So fatally wrong that if the fact of my wrongness came up to me and said what I first thought, I would say it was lying. Wolf Siren, is no doubt the best book I've ever read. It is a beautifully tragic parody of the famous fable Little Red Riding Hood, and it also includes as its main animal my favourite animal, a wolf. Also, its main character, Red, shows many of my physical and emotional traits, such as: - Eye impedance - My free spiritedness - Love of the wild, trees and the outdoors in general - My reckless bravery - Love of my siblings - As I mentioned before, my love for wolves - Feminism - My favourite colour is, surprisingly, red (I'm not joking, it is) - I am also nearly 13. - The menstrual cycle If I were to give this book an out of 10 mark, I would say a 11/10 for the reason that, yes, I'm good at math, but I just love this book so much. I would put this book ahead as the winner, and the best thing was it got me so hooked that all together I spent about a day reading it. As I said before, I love his book.

Fatimah
BAS Reading Champions

It was interesting reading how different their society is from ours. I really liked how the book was written and enjoyed reading the parts when she was in the woods as it was like I was there myself. Throughout the reading process, I got zoomed into the book, flicking page after page and curious what would happen next because cliff hangers kept coming and I wanted to keep reading.

Sophia
KES Readers

Such a great book - it shows how human fear can make people judge very quickly and easily - it also shows the power between men and women which we can relate too as it has happened in our history. The female main character discovers something about herself which she finds hard to understand but with the help of the woman around her, she gets through it. This book also shows how sexism can and still is around, even in fiction.

Natalia
Horsham BOok HUNTers

My Journey a New Day A loud band as the car door closes and the wind ruffles my hair. My bag feels heavy in my hands. More shouts the door squeals open the rush of feet on gravel a forgotten item needs to be found. The boomb of the bass as the radio turns on. I am squashed in the back, a warm head on my shoulder, a car hug. I smell the fresh sea air as we race to start the day. I taste toothpaste and the promise of a new day.

Hazel
Atlantic Awesome Readers

I think Wolf Siren is the best book I have read so far because of it's strong storyline and well-thought-of characters. It is set in a village near a wood; nearly every one is scared of the woods because of wolves; every accept Red. This story explores ideas like sexisim, disability and injustice. I like how the magic of the woods guides Red, and the mysterious powers of the wolfs. I loved reading it! 10/10!

Eleanor
Bassingbourn Readers

The gravel scrapes loudly beneath my feet and bright green leaves contain white speckles of blossom hangs on the branches a neat carpet of bluebells carpet the forest ground these are my favorite flowers so i stop and linger for a while come on keep going i am told and i give a light jog to catch up a person walks past and the smell of a cigarette scorches my nostrils after a long time i reach the place we are going for lunch it is loud hundreds of shouted conversations blend with scraping forks and the rancid scent of alcoholic beverages pierces my mind

Eirlys
Atlantic Awesome Readers

Challenge Activity ‘I felt the cold breeze through my coat the wind was filled with the sound of children running around parents yelling I raised my eyes from my book only momentarily to be struck with the gloominess and boringness of reality and wonder if only briefly how fun it would be to be in one of the thousands of books I've read i smiled i always do so when i find something funny i pulled of my glasses and the world went blurry by my side my brother was chucking pieces of bagel on the road for the birds and each one was scooped up by the white blurs i saw which were the seagulls i put my glasses back on and let my mind drift as it does now adays to my own imaginative world which I one day wish to publish then i hear the excited cries of children and turn to see as the bus pulls up’

Elisha
Atlantic Awesome Readers

I would have started this review with “This is how you write a book!” if it wasn’t for one thing. A really good book, in a genre which I like, I thought that this was an excellent read. The characters felt like real people and actually developed throughout the story. I do feel like some of the development was a little bit forced, but it was realistic. Additionally, the descriptive elements were great, using all the senses. 9/10! This review isn’t over, however… The Prologue ruins the book. So the protagonist, Red, is meant to be visually impaired - no spoilers there, it’s said in the second page of the prologue - but Beth O’Brien does hardly anything with this. She uses this element at the beginning, saying that she couldn’t properly tell her grandmother’s facial expressions. She also can’t see the ground clearly. Here are my issues with this: she can clearly tell the Mayor’s facial expressions later in the book from a distance - it is hinted that her visual impairment is not short-sightedness as at the beginning she sees stuff in the distance and close-up as blurs - and whenever she stumbles across a forest floor she says she can’t see the ground clearly through the thick vegetation. Overall, the Prologue makes the book worse, earning it a 7/10 with the Prologue.

Thomas
Hope Valley Literati

I loved how this book introduces a huge twist on such an iconic fairytale! I found the plot very hooking and I kept wanting to read on. Personally, I found that the story was very easy to read, however it remained extremely interesting throughout, I didn't deem it as predictable. I loved how it exposes the political Issues within a patriarchal society, and explores how important the most disrespected people are to maintaining order in a society. Overall, I found this book to be quite interesting and fantastical and a great original idea, crammed full of metaphors and gripping ideas! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this type of story.

Finnley
Tenbury Page Turners 26

Wolf Siren was a gloomy, dark, mossy read, shot through with touching moments of human connection, sisterhood and honesty. I loved the sparse yet beautiful prose, how Red’s character slowly gains confidence building up to a moment of intense courage, standing up to the infuriating cruelty of the mayor (I think a metaphor for male control of female bodies?). One thing that I was slightly confused about was finding out that Red, like the author Beth O’Brien, was visually impaired – this wasn’t mentioned clearly in the novel (I may have missed it however). Maybe its subtlety was purposeful; O’Brien makes a compelling argument that shapes a character’s experience quietly, woven into perception, atmosphere, and limitation in ways that reflect real life. Overall a great read.

Cook
IVC Readers

This book is a retelling of the story 'Little Red Riding Hood', in which the main character, Red, is partially-sighted. Despite this, she is still drawn towards the forest that her mother warns her not to go in, and with the disappearance of her grandmother within it, she is even more eager to uncover the forest's secrets. In my opinion, this is a good read. The writing style is descriptive yet easy to follow and Red is an adventurous and resilient protagonist, but still has her flaws which makes her a lot more realistic as a character. I think it is also good representation of visually impaired people and overall I liked this book.

Lyra
Vista Academy Littleport

A heart-warming story about connecting to nature. I really felt a deep sympathy for the main character and the way she has always been an outsider. I strongly recommend this to any readers who like magic and nature.

Gaurava
The SGS Book Bandits

I really enjoyed Wolf Siren and it is my absolute favourite so far. The author is very descriptive and sets out the village very nicely. But what is even better is the woods. I love the idea of magic and the trees keeping her on the right path, which is a great adaptation of the original Red Riding Hood . Overall 8/10

Toby
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

This book definitely brings out thought provoking themes (I.e. feminism or identity and belonging) that shows that it is more than just a fantasy book. Its main character “Red” is strong and brave, and her being visually impaired makes it have a feel of inclusivity. But the lows to this book are that there is some quite dark theme tied into it as well. And especially in the first chapter i found it quite hard to continue reading as ( in my opinion) the chapters are quite long and not much happened. It overall a good book though.

Bella
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Reading Wolf Siren was an amazing experience. The unique viewpoint not only educated on reality but also beautified the aspects of life in a way that cant be seen by all. The writing style was clear and comfortable and I was able to easily visualise all events with details even through the unique eyes of Red. The acknowledgment to the power of nature over man was conveyed to be helpful and sheltering instead of daunting like many of the villagers mistook it to be. The unexpected plot twist had me even more intrigued and increased the amount of praise I had for this book as I realised I had been easily mislead. When the end came to a bitter-sweet conclusion, it not only was hopeful but also realistic, reminding readers that people’s actions cannot be controlled, but there is still hope in seemingly agonising turns of event. Wolf Siren includes themes of loss, identity, adventure, belonging, friendship, and the natural world which makes it extraordinarily interesting even for older readers. I loved this book and will be reading Beth O’Brien’s other book as well to experience more of her writing.

Meerab
Carnegie Shadow Judges MEAC

This is a great book about how people who are different in a society can be punished in a world were one man controls the village. The mayor controls who goes in and who goes out and if you go against him you will be punished. I really like it because it reminds people not to be ignorant and believe everything you hear as it may lead to your life not feeling right.

Arthur
The Fitzharrys Shadows

Amazing, loved it! Too good, so much drama. I didn’t expect the ending….

P
Ocklynge Readers

This was a wonderful book but I really felt that there were quite a few loose threads and unexplained loopholes. First of all, wolves are meant to have amazing sight but if anything, the main characters sight worsens and she practically becomes legally blind. But the ending... I really wouldn't have it any other way but Aerona's death needed a little more attention than it got. Zac's stance on Red Tammel made sense to start with but he did need way more character development before he ever apologized to her.

Tasmia
Yardleians

This book was about sexism and feminism. I found the plot interesting but all the rest of it including the writing was quite boring. It was sub-optimal and was VERY slow paced. I found the magic and the forest to be interesting at least but I honestly found the girl who was reminiscent of little red riding hood to be an annoying character to say the least. 4/10 quite boring.

Elliott.H
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a powerful novel set in a small village surrounded by a forest. It follows Red, a girl who loves the forest and everything inside it. It includes many of the same themes and significant things as Little Red Riding Hood. The Village got famous for hunting the wolves inside the forest, but then they fought back. Wolf attacks kept happening to the point where they had to stop going into the forest altogether. They only attacked men though, this meant that women had to be the village woodchopper and the person standing watch in the watchtower. Red goes into the forest all the time, but is told by her mother that because men couldn’t go into the forest girls and women had to pretend they couldn’t either. Despite this, Red kept going in and she met her grandmother who had dissapeared when Red’s mother was just older then Red. Meeting her grandmother revealed something Red’s mother never wanted her to know. I really enjoyed this book because along with it being a great story, it is also a very powerful feminine novel. In the village, girls are expected to hide their period and not go into the woods because men think that womens’ problems are impolite at best and disgusting at worst. The main themes shown in this book are identity and connection to the environment. Througout the whole book, it hints at little red riding hood. I would recomend this book to anyone ages ten to fifteen, especialy to girls. I think everyone who reads it will enjoy it.

Greta
Helkats & Hardbacks

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien is a modern take on little red riding hood with a twist of some mysterious magic. The plot hooks you straight into the story as in the opening the main character (Red) finds her lost grandmother, only for her to abandon her all before chapter 1. The plot was fast as it quickly dropped you into a tense opening and throughout the book it’s a build up towards an unexpected ending with an epic sacrifice. Red, who is visually impaired talks to herself a lot to show she is curious and a good thinker contrasting other characters. The author’s style is immersive because they focus on sounds and textures not just what things look like making the atmosphere more real. One of the themes in this book shows how fear can be controlling, this is showed as the mayor of the village uses fear to his advantage to keep people in order.

Alfred
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

This book is about a girl who lives in a secluded village in a forest with wolves. It reminded me of Little Red Riding Hood because the girl goes into the woods even when she is not supposed to. I thought the book was good because it taught about how when people don’t understand something in life they go to great lengths to call it evil. I think the book is called Wolf Siren because the village has bells and alarms to protect themselves from the wolves but also because the sirens in Greek myths try and lure people in. The girls’ mother tries to stop her from entering the forest because of the magic because the villagers don’t understand the magic in the forest.

Owen
The Fitzharrys Shadows

Carnegie book review: Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien Wolf Siren follows a girl on a dangerous journey of self-discovery, though its slow opening makes it hard to engage at first. While there are occasional moments of action, much of the story moves at a calmer pace to explain events and character development. The plot becomes clearer toward the end, though some loose ends remain; overall, the ending is fairly satisfying. The characters are interesting and somewhat realistic, especially the narrator, who resembles Little Red Riding Hood. However, some characters’ actions feel unclear, and the focus on the protagonist’s visual impairment and physical changes may not appeal to all readers. As a fantasy, the characters can feel less believable, making immersion difficult, though their interactions are convincing and reflect a patriarchal society. Themes of identity and self-discovery are central, alongside representation of disability. The writing is clear and descriptive, but not especially impactful, making the book engaging at times but not memorable.

sam
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Wolf Siren is a fantasy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, except she has an unknown connection to the magical forest, from where her grandmother disappeared from years ago. Then she needs to confront the corrupt Mayor, while keeping her own secrets safe, in order to save the community. Overall, I quite enjoyed how this is a coming-of-age story, but is twisted to explore the themes of femininity, misogyny, and going against the oppression and corruption of the powers-that-be (represented by the Mayor). I didn't enjoy how 'Red' had no companions on her journey, yet her closest loved ones are the people who want to report her to the corrupt Mayor. However, this did result in creating sympathy from the reader - wishing that 'Red' had someone to trust and rely on. I loved this book - I would recommend it and read it again. (**** out of five).

Aleena
Rockwood Reads

The themes of power, injustice and menstruation were prominent throughout the book, giving the readers a clear storyline to follow. Despite this, the plot line had twists and turns which kept me on my toes, and excited to read the next chapter. I finished this book within 4 days, and wish there was a part 2! The ending is bittersweet, and provokes thought beyond what is said in the epilogue. The chapters are a decent length, and do not extend too long than necessary. This is a fantastic entry for the Carnegie Shortlist, and I would not be surprised if it won! Would definitely recommend, especially when looking for a slightly mature book for slightly younger audiences.

Aanya
HoltReaders

This book was really good! Whilst I think it was probably better for a younger age range like 12-13, I still really liked it. The chapters were quite long, but it was still gripping. I loved that it brought up important issues that are often stigmatised, like menstruation. Disabilities were also a strong theme throughout the book and I loved the take on Red Riding Hood with Red being visually impaired. I also liked the strong sense of feminism throughout. Overall, I think it was a really important novel with a strong empowering message for young girls and that everyone should read it! I would give it 4 stars!!!

Emily
HAEC Books and Biscuits Carnegie Shadowers

It’s a good book with a new spin on the classic fairytale Little Red Riding Hood. However, I found that towards the end of the book there was a lot of events all at once, so it was quite full with Red’s sister’s death, the welcoming of the wolves, the locking up the murderer and the epilogue with a 4-year jump. It was very moving at times especially with the death/funeral bringing together the whole village community.

Iyesha
Cottingham High School

Wolf Siren is a book that I would recommend to people of my age group and older since some of the plot could be confusing to younger readers.

Theo
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

When I started this book, I was first expecting a slight twist to the childhood story that I grew up reading. It turns out, it was better than I had anticipated. This story is about a girl named Red and in her town, she isn't allowed to go into the forest and is forbidden, but she goes anyway. Later on, she starts to uncover the secrets why and what the mayor is telling them isn't true, and she herself finds out something that I found was very unexpected.Throughout the story, I became more attached to the book and was unable to put it down. I quite enjoyed how the author had portrayed Red as a character as she had a vision impairment and how girls are able to relate to the struggles and injustice that we face as a whole. Personally, the growth of Red as the book progressed was inspiring, she had to face lots of challenges to be able to be where she was at the end of the story, being able to embrace her true self which is why I had found the book empowering to young girls who feel like they have no power in the world and feel that their voice isn't heard. Overall, Wolf Siren is a very good book and I highly recommend it to young and teenage girls who want to read a book that they can relate to.

Mahi
Xenial Readers of Rushey Mead 2026

Wolf Siren by Beth O' Brian, is a really good book about the popular fairytale - Little Red Riding Hood and how it was portrayed as a suspenseful story of a little girl called Red and how she tries to visit her grandmother by going through the forbidden woods of which her father was murdered by wolves which led to the mayor forbidding all men to enter the forest to prevent the worst whereas women who are thought of as lower status are expected to obey the mayor's harsh rules, but Red ignores all those warnings and goes in... The characters and settings were amazing and I really loved the forest itself and how they incorporate feminism and injustice into what seems an innocent book. Amazing book - recommend to people who like fantasy and fairy tales being retold.

sumaya
Xenial Readers of Rushey Mead 2026

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a gripping and imaginative novel that blends mystery and fantasy in a way that appeals to all readers. The story follows a partially sighted teenage girl who discovers a strange yet powerful connection to wolves, which draws people in, creating both excitement and tension throughout the book. Personally, one of the most effective aspects of this thrilling tale is its setting. O'Brien uses detailed descriptions of the forest's eerie atmosphere. This reflects the main character Red's scepticism as she begins to change and learn more about herself. The theme of identity is very strong, as the protagonist struggles to accept who she is. This book is highly relatable for teenagers struggling with feelings of not fitting in, which helps readers connect with the story on a deeper level and guides us through a thought provoking book, which is inevitably is all about finding your place in the world.

Neha
Xenial Readers of Rushey Mead 2026

I reccomend the book Wolf siren because I feel like its a quite interesting book for children or any aged people who enjoy mystery and a kind of book with meaning. The book is about Little Red Riding Hood (Red) who is blind and lives with her mother after her father went missing in the forest. Her mother forbade her from ever entering the forest but she was actually familiar with the forest and the trees guided her showing trust and the kindness the girl has given to them for a forest that allegedly makes men disappear or killed. It is a fantasy book and is a darker version of little red riding hood and backstories of each character. Overall, it is an amazing book for children who enjoy a fantasy fairy tail of dark versions of its original story

Jessica
Xenial Readers of Rushey Mead 2026

The book Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is similar to the little red ridding hood but with a twist. The main character of this book is Red who is forbidden from going in the woods but she is a bit of a rebel. Her mother tells her the woods are dangerous as the villagers say there are known to be magical wolfs there. So far I have really enjoyed this book as the language is challenging but also simple which I think is really good for young readers like me. Additionally, there are a lot of strong themes such as belonging and learning to trust others which can be really relatable to readers. I also found this book quick paced and has many unexpected plot twists which I found helped me engage with the book. I would strongly suggest this book to people who like fantasy or fairy tales but also people who like books with a lot of plot twists.

Diya
Xenial Readers of Rushey Mead 2026

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brian is an interesting and gripping book that is very appealing to teenagers because of its great use of language that explains the story very well. It's very similar to the story of little red riding hood but it's a darker and more in depth version of it. This book is about a girl named red who feels like an outsider or more like disconnected to the people around her. she feels a deep kind of connection to the wolves in the forest. Red has a disability, she is partially sighted but thought the book was seen as a positive because she is seen as a more powerful and strong willed character. The setting in this book is tense in some parts and its also very mysterious. I really liked this book because of the details and the hook it has on the reader but some parts of the booking like the few final chapters feel rushed and not in depth but overall i would recommend this book to other people and i would also read it again.

krishna
Xenial Readers of Rushey Mead 2026

I think Wolf siren was a very good book in terms of plot as the mysteriousness of the forest always made me turn the page and I believe the book clearly shows how Red matures throughout while also learning about the woods and her past.The ending was good but also quite unexpected to me but I still felt satisfied as I read the last page.red being visually impaired makes the descriptive language very varied but I wish they expanded more on it.But other than that it is a very good book.

Shiv
Xenial Readers of Rushey Mead 2026

I think that Wolf Siren was a complicated read. I don’t think that it was complicated grammatically or how it was worded but the characters were written amazingly and the majority of them were complicated, which I think is a good thing because personally it made me connect with them more. The actual book was written beautifully. Although in the beginning I found it a bit slow but that might have been me because I like reading book with quite also of mystery and action in! But I’ve realised that it was important to include detail about the characters but also with the woods and the wolfs because it makes you appreciate the ending a bit more. I really felt close with the characters such as Red and her sister (who were my favourite characters) and I also felt angry with the less likeable characters which shows how well the book was written. Overall I have enjoyed this book even though it’s not usually the type of book I would typically read!

Beatrice
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Wolf Siren was a very enjoyable book to read, it had a nice amount of pages, the plot was exciting and the characters had great personalities. One thing that I really liked about this book was that the main character Red is half blind but she still shows characteristics of being strong and just as capable as everyone else. One thing that could've been better in this book was the pacing, as I found myself getting lost in the great amount of detail this book has. But at the end every piece of this books comes together and makes a lot of sense and I though this was quite clever. The book is also written in 1st person so I got to know the main character Red quite well, and it is set in this small village surrounded by magical woods. In the woods there are wolves, but everyone but Red and a few other people think that the woods are dangerous, so Red has to try and defend the wolves and the woods. I thought it was a bit unexpected that the ending wasn't what I thought it would be and that felt better than me knowing what's going to happen. Overall I like the characters, I like where its set, but the pacing could've been better in my opinion.

Arthur
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Wolf Siren is a story about a girl named Red, who is visually impaired, that loves going to the woods and feels a connection towards wolves and nature. The main theme about this book is feminism and fantasy as the story revolves mostly around heroines and magic. The plot varies in speed throughout the book but generally gets quicker the closer to the end you go. As mentioned before, most of the characters in the book are women and most of the men are portrayed in a negative light, one of them being a boy called Zac, who goes through a character arc. He starts off bullying Red but becoming likable at the end. The story ends with the destruction of the village walls, and the fleeing of the cruel mayor. Personally I think some sections of the story just need more explaining or just don't make sense, but I would say Wolf Siren is a decent book.

Sam
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I really like Wolf Siren and the main character Red. I love how she summons her wolves and the magic of the forest.

Marwa
Dunraven

I thought the book was an average read, because I found it quite slow, and the themes didn’t really interest me. I found there were big areas in the book where not a lot happened, which made me less enthusiastic about reading it. However, I did like how the main character Red was visually impaired, and I thought it was good to have a disabled main character. It was also interesting to see how she saw the world in comparison to someone who wasn’t visually impaired, and how she picked up on things that others might not have. I also liked how the author described the forest, making it seem mystical, but also creepy from the perspective of some of the characters in the book, like Red’s mum. On the other hand, especially in the middle of the book, the pace was very slow, and it focused on Red’s thoughts, and not much action. So overall, I thought the book was average, but for people like me who like fast paced and action-based books, I would not recommend it.

Lucy
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Although I like the idea of a retelling of a fairytale, I did not particularly like this book. The plot was slow and some of the characters were childish. A few events seemed unnatural but they needed to happen for the story to continue. There are mysteries to solve, but the book often felt boring. Despite this , I liked the themes of nature and feminism. Red having sight issues is interesting to me, because, in Red Riding Hood, Red could not see well enough to recognise that her own grandmother was a wolf. While I was reading this book, I wondered what time it was set in. Overall, I think that this book is too emotional and the plot was slow and sometimes boring, however I did like the incorporation of elements from the fairytale Red Riding Hood, and the strong themes of nature and feminism. If I had to rate this book out of 10, I would give it a 6/10.

Ella
Ink & Insight

Wolf Siren was a fantastic book with drama, murder and great use of vocab. I especially. Liked the wolf siren alarm because in this chapter it happened in the middle of the night and made such a dramatic kind of dramatic feeling. Towards the end it very dramatic with red and her sister running away and transforming into wolves. I felt quite sad when the woodcutter was killed by Will who wanted to frame Red and the wolves. There were lots of plot twists towards the end which I really quite liked. I got really sad when Will and Zack kill the wolves including Red's sister. Towards the start it was quite slow and calm to being very dramatic to the end. My favourite thing about this book is the amount of mystery in it from when the woodcutter died to the veins appearing very good. Overall a great book with a wonderful story.

Esah
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Red is in the magical forest and she meets her grandmother, but her grandmother leaves her. 3 years later, Red is having her first cycle, it doesn't go too good with her mother who always argues with her. Red keeps on going out to the forest for a glimpse of grandma. While sneaking back home, Wilson, the village baker, asks her to go to Ms Blaeberry, the witch, to drop off a parcel. When Red comes to her, she said that she didn't want the parcel but to talk to Red. Ms Blaeberry tells her that she's a wolfwoman, and Aerona might be one too. She comes back scared of mother finding out, or the tyrant mayor will have punishments for them. Disaster struck when the wolf siren goes off. The village gathered up in the hall and notice that Caragh, the woodcutter, wasn't there. People were angry that their wood wasn't there. Soon a sweep was sent out. Red and Delena found her dead. It was said this was a wolf attack, except women weren't attacked by wolves. Red saw a wolf in the village. It led her to where Wilson and Zac were. The duo accuse of Red for the vines surrounding the walls, and Wilson grabs her. The wolf comes to defend her, and Zac shoots it. The next day the village has a meeting where Red and Aerona sneak in, but Aerona transforms into a wolf in the middle of the hall. Then they sneak out to the woods with Delena. They meet grandmother and find out how Caragh actually died. They come to the village and accuse Wilson of murdering Caragh, and Red shows his pink cloth splattered in blood. But as Red turns around Wilson shoots Aerona and kills her. The villagers are outraged and drag Wilson to the prsion cells. Mother is heartbroken and Red plants a acorn on Aerona's grave. The vines finally unwrap themselves from the walls and now the tree line shows. Four years later Red lives on happily ever after. I liked this book as it has a good meaning to it.

mahiru
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Wolf siren was a really interesting book to read, with the plot being a clever twist on the original fairy tale. The book was an insight into the fairy tale, masterfully re-creating the story from Red’s point of view. O’Brien focuses on the fact that whereas in the original tale of red riding hood, the wolves were evil and scary, she portrays them as loyal companions of Red, who are misunderstood by the rest of the village. The story was a dramatic and slightly mysterious read, although I felt that Aerona’s death was slightly unexpected, it created a beautiful ending to the story.

Zoe
The Perse Carnegians

I really enjoyed reading Wolf Siren. The plot was pretty slow to begin with but then it suddenly became really fast as the main character (Red) was told that she could transform into a wolfwoman. After this, the story became more and more interesting, with the death of the woodcutter, the vines that appeared, Red and the others escaping the village, Red finding out that Wilson killed the woodcutter and Red’s sister (Aerona) saving Red but dying in the process. The ending was quite sad in my opinion as it was Aerona’s funeral and Red’s grandma leaving her forever and leaving hints that she was going to pass away of old age soon. I liked the theme of wolfwomen and a female main character, I liked the way she was portrayed and how she acted in the book. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Wolf Siren and will recommend it.

Jonas
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Wolf Siren is an ingenious tale with clever and thoughtful echoes of Little Red Riding Hood. I was particularly touched by the way the author—who is visually impaired—describes her experience of the world through the character of Red, who is also visually impaired. The characters are vividly and convincingly drawn, which makes it easy to become emotionally invested in the story. At its core, this is a feminist novel, rich with strong female characters, and that was something I especially enjoyed.

Celine
Sandroyd Bookivores

I really liked 'Wolf Siren'. Its surprisingly easy to get into, and incredibly difficult to put down. I liked how the story explored more traditional, almost indigenous women in a fantastical way. I liked how it portrayed the woods and the wolves. The storyline was also very interesting, with possible references to the fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood. All in all, A 5 starread.

Anya
Carnegivores

I would give Wolf Siren a 4 out of 5 because it is well written, but I don't feel that there is any main goal or reason for what is happening. I enjoy the mystery intertwined within the novel, who did this, why did that happen? I really like Aerona’s personality as a bright minded character always looking for adventure and to have fun. I think this book would be good for supernatural adventure readers aged 9-12.

Henry
The Fitzharrys Shadows

I loved reading this book. The way it beautifully intertwined aspects of the common red riding hood tale and morphed it into a wonderful story of fighting through struggle and learning to embrace differences instead of hiding them was done masterfully well. I also really enjoyed the setting of a small village and seeing how that, and what happens there, compared to my own life in a city. I would definitely recommend this book.

Sophie
KECHG Shadowers

I have really enjoyed this book, it was a great read. I very much enjoyed the ending and although the start was good I think it could have been better. 8/10

Lizzie
Hope Valley Literati

This book was a very good nature filled book. I loved reading this and it was such a nice storyline. I would definitely recommend this book.

Nadia
St Kaths

The book Wolf Siren was a slow read I found. I wasn’t properly enjoying it until nearer the end, when it started introducing plot twists, other ideas of fantasies and I felt it became a lot faster. The theme of magic was continued throughout the book, in the narrator's village, magic being a burden. I enjoyed learning about the main character, Red, struggle with fitting in and conforming to all rules. I enjoyed feeling like I might have related to Red, as a young person who’s not even really discovered who she is, trying to find answers, I know I’m not solving a murder or a crime, but Red also solved smaller, deeper mysteries; like properly feeling and understanding grief. I liked the style of writing, with small details like shorter chapters, engaging readers and making you feel like you are getting somewhere. As I said, I preferred the style nearer the end, when it became more serious and about solving and understanding answers. The plot twists really hooked me, as instead of being quite obvious from the beginning, they were surprises that just made me want to find out more, leading the book to grow on me as it neared the end.

Ren
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I read this book for Carnegie and I have to say, the ideas that this book has were great. Some of my favourites things about this book are the fact that it has a female main character, it’s a something we need to see more in modern books. Also, the chills I felt reading this book was immeasurable, the description set all the sections of the book amazingly, I was so engaged! However, one major flaw this book had, the plot, we’ve had slightly more darker versions of fairy tales before but if you have read darker versions of fairytales before, the idea may seem a bit stale to you but for me it wasn’t new it was written well. The backstory behind these characters it’s very engaging, I wanted to read on. Also the ending was amazing, filled with tons of emotions. As an overall rating, I’d give it a 3.5/5, it definitely had the potential to be higher but the idea dragged it down heavily but overall, it was a pretty solid read. Would definitely recommend this to someone.

Huxley
Plumites

I might not have much to say about the book, but I did enjoy it. It was spoiled for me, but I still really liked reading it because it was good.

Lorin
Carnegivores

I really liked the spin on the story little red riding hood but how its not the same but has its own twist. I also really liked the representation of disability and the themes of protracting nature, the fear of the unknown and female empowerment

Hannah
9y4

To go against the tide, I did not think 'Wolf Rider' particularly scintillating. I found that though the story was a good twist on the original Grimm's fairy tale, the plot was, in its simplest form, not wholly original. It was the same story of a child in their early teens, discovering they have magical powers,then being outcast and punished for it by their isolated, and often autocratic and fundamentally flawed, society. I also found that the reasoning behind, the protagonist, Red's magic was seemingly unfounded - perhaps I simply missed it, but the lore behind the magic in this world is almost completely unexplained. Those small details that are included, however, are introduced to the reader later on than one might expect. The lack of subtle hints toward this magic near the beginning of the book, completely drops us in the deep end (not in a good way) when Red suddenly morphs into a wolf. Red's emotional attachment to her brother was unproven as well, being mentioned only minimally, and even then her love for Luki is not stressed significantly. This I found disappointing seeing as it was somewhat important for the plot. However, I did enjoy the story told (if a little unoriginal), and Red's character arc was interesting to watch unfold. I particularly enjoyed a quote on (I think) page eighty-two of the book, detailing how Red's mother had "put two and two together, and decided to forget the number four." Overall, I thought it was a decent enough read, but not one I would pick off the shelf, nor would read again. 5/10

Rory
KES Readers

I really enjoy the idea of fairytales with a different ending and this book is an amazing representation of those sort of things. I really enjoyed it!

Sage
Lit Legends of Swavesey

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien is a compelling addition to a school library’s fantasy collection, offering a fresh and thoughtful reimagining of the familiar Little Red Riding Hood tale. Told from a new perspective, the novel weaves together themes of power, identity, and feminism within a richly imagined and magical world that is likely to appeal to younger secondary readers. The protagonist, Red, possesses the unusual ability to control wolves—creatures that are feared and hunted within her village. This creates a strong narrative tension, while also introducing meaningful moral questions that encourage readers to think critically about fear, prejudice, and responsibility. Red’s internal struggle between obedience and independent thought is particularly well developed, making her a relatable and engaging character for students. O’Brien’s world-building is a notable strength. The setting is vivid and immersive, enhanced by background stories and subtle references to the original fairy tale, which can help spark students’ interest in both classic and modern storytelling traditions. One aspect to be mindful of is the pacing of Red’s journey; she spends a significant portion of the novel without a clearly defined goal, which may challenge some readers’ engagement. However, this also provides opportunities for discussion about character development and narrative structure in a classroom or reading group setting. Overall, Wolf Siren is an enjoyable and accessible fantasy novel that would suit students, particularly those who enjoy magical worlds and character-driven stories. It is a worthwhile recommendation for students who are fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings.

Mrs Ward
BCS Book Squad

Beth O’Brian twisted Little Red Riding Hood into an exciting novel about feminism, injustice, unity and personal development. It still has the woods and the wolves but now it has a thrilling plot about making the change that you want to see in the world. Although the ending was sad, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to friends. 9/10 Amazing book!

Sara
Chiswick Carnegie

Brilliant! A twist in a fairytale. My favourite bit is her meeting her grandmother. It's such an emotional part. If you like fantasy and fairytales this is for you.

Janelle
Book Lovers Unite!

I really loved this book although it is quite sad because it portrays females in a needy way however i love it as it shows feminine resistance and girl power!

Kyra
SCD Pageturners

The book I read was called wolf siren and was written by Beth O'Brien. In my opinion, the story was very engaging and hooked me in. Each time I closed the book to take a short break, I was tempted to immediately reopen it, as though it were an ‘ancient artifact’ that I had unburied like treasure. The storyline felt like an emotional rollercoaster, which made me enjoy it a lot more than normal. This story is based on a girl, called red, who is attracted to the forbidden forest outside of her village, then found out she was a ‘werewoman', which proved why she felt connected. Turns out, she had also found out that her grandmother and younger sister were also ‘werewomen', which was a surprise to her. If I had to rate this book out of 10, it would be a 9/10.

Jahïla
Euro Champs

First of all, I’m gonna say that this is probably my favourite book in the shorts list. It’s a book that based on Little Red Hood story but develop it a lot.At the beginning, I actually found that it’s a little bit not that interesting so I’m kind of wanna give up but after I read couple chapters and I found out that the book is so interesting. It’s not like a normal book that has some fun things happened but tell something that can really affecting in our real life and as a person who always think a lot I can say that it’s like a suggestion or a truth of life . it’s a book that not very catchy at the beginning, but after you read it, you will keep thinking about it and you’ll find out how interesting it is.Finally , if I would score it out of 10, I will give it 8. And I would absolutely recommend this book my friends because how thoughtful the story is.

Christine
Lit Legends of Swavesey

I may not have finished reading this book but I already love it. It is basically a twisted version of red riding hood, and I love twisted versions of fairytales.

Beth
Bramcote College Library

Wolf siren is a very good book. I like that it is a twist of the fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood. It is quite similar to Red Riding Hood - in the way that Red Riding Hood is not allowed to go into the woods - but also very different!

Emma
Dunraven

Ava-Mai and Bloss' favourite bit was when she discovered that she could turn to wolf however got sad when red's sister got shot. This book is an amazing read and would really recommend to other readers.

Bloss & Ava
HHS 2026

Wolf Siren was an overall amazing book.It is not your typical Little Red Riding Hood. It is set in a village that has shut itself off from The Wood. The Wood surrounds the village and cuts it off from the outside world. In this village the Mayor has total control. Red and her family are Wolf Women: women who have the ability to change into wolves (this happens once you have had your first period). Unfortunately, Beth's little sister transforms for the first time in front of everyone. The end of this book is sad but hopeful. This was an amazing book and I would rate it 10/10!!!!!!

Sophia
The Shady Bookhounds

I liked this book overall and I thought the message about feminism and nature was very powerful. Also the fact that even young children can read the book is especially positive since most young girls around the age of 10 often experience identity issues, especially around puberty. I also liked how nature was linked into all this and how it showed the message that nature protects people who take care of each other

Danuji
GreatB00ks

I honestly didnt know what to expect when I chose 'wolf siren' to read but I was blown away on how much I liked the book and I love how its basically a modern and remodeled novel version of the famous tale of red riding hood .

Scarlett
The Shady Bookhounds

The book Wolf Siren, written by Beth O'Brien was one of the best books I ever read. I always thought that I hated fantasy but this book proved me wrong. What I loved about it is that the amount of fantasy ans reality is evenly added throughout the whole book. The main character, Red, confronts many relatable teen difficulties such as relationship difficulties, puberty, pressure and even sexism. Lastly, my favourite aspect in the book was the originality of how Red's village works and "survives". I recommend this book to anyone that loves unexpected turns, a bit of fantasy and misunderstood characters.

Anna
4Shadowers

liked the idea of it being a crooked fairy tale and the magic however i didn't really like the implementation of the cycle.

Ari
Belsize Stories

This has been my favourite book from the shortlist, so far! Red's grandmother has vanished and the villagers have been separated from the woods. But Red has a secret, she is a wolf-woman in a village that hates wolves. I have rated this book 5 out of 5!

Olivia
Montsaye Shadow Readers

I really enjoyed this book because it references the significance of gender roles and menstruation. Although the book is simply written, it flows satisfyingly and is very easy to read. I found it relaxing and pleasing. Finally, I also equally enjoyed the disability representation which made me realise the likelihood of little red ridding hood having a vision impediment as she couldn't recognise her grandma to be a wolf!

Abigail
Elms Shadowing 2026

The book was gripping and eerie, almost unsettling but in a nice way. The book dealt with a lot of strong themes (misogyny being one, as the men tried to take control of the women) but my personal favourite was the portrayal of disability. Red, who is a teenager, doesn't see her visual impairment as a problem but rather as a power. This was really empowering for me personally, but especially for readers who can stonger relate to her, this would be really aspiring and inspirational.

Anusha
KECHG Shadowers

I really liked this book, the adaptation of the fairytales were really interesting. I thought the characters were compelling, and I really felt like I was there with them in the book. The themes were handled well, they never felt forced into the story. The only part I didn’t enjoy so much was the ending, which I felt was a bit unnecessary, although it was still well-written.

Eleanor
The High Storrs Shadows

Wolf Siren is a powerful retelling that makes you rethink the original fairytale. the story is very engaging and interesting and the characters are beautifully written.

Chloe
The Hinckley Readers

A beautiful retelling of 'Little Red Riding Hood' where the female characters are strong and the wolves are guardians looking after the forest and evil is ignorance and greed. My favorite character was Delana, Red's best friend who remains loyal to Red throughout the story.

BCrisp
The Hinckley Readers

I thought this book was absolutely amazing. Phenomenal. Really, it was filled with adventure and excitement. It was a rollercoaster of emotion and thrill and I couldn't wait to read the next chapter. I think this book should be available for everyone and I definitely recommend it.

Arya
Rainbeau Readers

The book, Wolf Siren was an enjoyable book overall. Although it started with a slow plot, it built up getting more exciting. The ending was perfect even though it was sad, it was an ideal ending to the story. The themes of sexism and hierarchy in society were explored in this book. I think these themes are important to talk about especially in the current day as talking about things the women go through is often not seen as important. The main character Red, goes through large changes in her life during this book. I believe this is to reference what young girls often go through. I think this was very interesting and different because often authors don’t talk about things that young girls go through, but rather things that relate to less people. Although I enjoyed this book, I did not like the characterisation of Red, (the main character) as I felt there were too many layers and problems happening. I did like the side characters, because they had less going on with them and more chance to think about the characters as people rather than all the issues going on with them, like Aerona or Delana who had more personality too them. There wasn’t much humour in this book which I thought was fitting as the book had more serious atmosphere. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a more serious book and explore the different things that people go through.

Richa
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

This book is a phenomenal read for feminists. It is based on a female's way of showing their true selves instead of the way they are told to conduct themselves. Personally, I found this an amazing read but opinions can differ. Thank you for writing this womanly-independent book Beth O'Brien!!

Anna-maria
Baxter Booklighters

At the start, everything was a bit jumbled but it did get better. It was a good book altogether except the end basically went as a fairytale ending: everyone lived happily ever after. Other than that I quite enjoyed it once I got time to get into it. The author could make a sequel for another one.

Teddy
Cake a Book Club

I found this book eye-opening, both literally and metaphorically as I was made to see the world from the point of view of someone with visual impairment. The first person narrative was highly effective as the reader could then understand the reasons for the protagonist's decisions and how her emotions influenced her actions. It was also interesting to see a different take on ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ and refreshing for the timeless tale to have been flipped on its head. I found the tagline on the cover: “inside every good girl is a wolf” very alluring and intriguing, before I even read the book - very effective. I loved the narrator's descriptive writing: she made the story and atmosphere vivid for the reader and also made us more aware and more understanding of people not only with visual impairments, but also people with invisible disabilities. Reading this book has definitely made me more conscious of what people may be going through and how they are impacted by the way they are treated just because they are 'different'. I think that my favourite character was Aerona, as she was willing to sacrifice her own life to save her sister’s. This story is full of passion and you can tell the love that has been put into it. Very well written and eloquent. Powerful themes. Another extremely captivating read which is dramatic and slightly ominous. An ultimate story of love and loss. Highly recommended.

Alexandra
Shelf Indulgence by JCG

I thought this book was absolutely stunning! It had a very exciting plot. I liked the huge plot twist at the end. This book had themes of adventure, wildlife, family and animals. 10/10

Amelia
SHHS shadows

This book is about a little girl who is trapped in a village to be 'safe' from the dangers of the woods. The men are not allowed to leave the village walls because of the wolf attack that resulted in the loss of many men, however it was only men who were attacked. Red the main character loves to go into the forest even though the villagers find it unsafe. She must find a way to show the villagers how the forest is not their enemy. I particularly liked the very nature heavy theme, and how not all animals are fighting for no reason they just do it to defend themselves. It shows a different side of things, and how there will always be two sides of a story. I liked the ending scene, the sad scene was very well written and it made me cry a bit I couldn't help myself. Then the calmness and the peace Red came to with what happened was very nice and refreshing to see her accept it instead of keep it to herself. The thing I disliked a bit about this book is that it was a bit harder to get the images of the scenes into my head, I believe it just needed a bit more detail. Overall a great book capturing the way nature can feel, not just us humans and how we must care for the earth if we want it to care for us. I recommend it to young adults as it can remind them to be kind to nature and the very emotional scene at the end can be a bit much for younger children. Great book!

Red
Vista Academy Littleport

I really enjoyed reading Wolf Siren because it explores fairy tale conventionality, disability, family, prejudice and many other interesting topics. In the author's note at the end, I think that O'Brien made a valid point about how hardly any fairy tales feature disabled characters, although then again I suppose that most fairy tales are more meant to relay the adventure than delve into the characters themselves. Wolf Siren does both beautifully: the characters felt real and the plot was engaging. To talk more about the characters, I think that there was a good mixture of those whose situations and relative opinion on the society that they lived in were explored well and those that were also needed as plot devices to move the story along. In terms of the plot, I found Red's discovery of her unique ability and the prejudice that she faced due to the people's fear of the wolves to be a good and meaningful parallel to real life: no matter who it is that is actually opressing you, you will always fear most those who you are taught to fear, unless others stand by you in challenge of corrupt authority. If there were one thing that I could change about the book, it would be not to spend too long making a few characters into the 'villains', as such, because I think that although they are essential to the overall storyline, it would have suited the narrative well to keep most people in that grey area between good and bad, especially when it comes to how you act as a community towards other communities or individuals.

Matilda
Bassingbourn Readers

This book was an enthralling read. I found that the story was well structured and tied together nicely. The pacing struck a good balance between being too fast and too slow, and the way the characters handled emotions such as grief added depth to the already exceptional atmosphere of the book. One of the things I liked most was that the world the author created didn’t feel too similar to other books I’ve read, making it a unique and memorable experience.

Theo
Rainbeau Readers

I enjoyed this book. Despite it not exactly correlating to the little red riding hood it is a good variation of it. I felt excited about the start and it looked like it was going to be a brilliant book, however for me it become repetitive of her becoming a wolf and being with the wolves and her wanting to help. I felt that there was too much on her periods. Finally a spoiler here but I felt like Aerona didn't need to die, it just wasn't necessary.

Seb
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Other than there being a wolf in the forest the book is nothing like Little Red Riding Hood!!! I loved the beginning, especially the alluding towards female empowerment but it suddenly went a bit 'Twilight', with people turning into wolves. For me, it went downhill pretty fast. That Red was partially sighted added to her character but it did feel like token disability inclusion. Too much period talk, no need to kill Aerona. Overall an OK read but not as good as it thinks it is.

Debbie
Ousedale Olney

I absolutely loved wolf siren! Loved the twist of red not having good eyesight and I just loved the book overall it was so good! I would definitely recommend this to other people and I would absolutely read it again! :)

Heidi
Carmel Shadowers

I loved the theme of feminism and gender inequality, the fantasy/ magic elements also added to how amazing this book was. It has an extremely empowering message behind it there were definitely some heartbreaking scenes towards the end. I also really liked the fact that Red is partially sighted, yet that doesn't limit her which I think can be inspiring to other people who struggle with similar issues. This book, in my opinion, is a 10/10.

Amelie
NDHS Book Group

For the vast majority of this book, I found it difficult to read. Not because the language was too complex. Not because it made me too emotional, though in fairness it did have an enjoyable level of emotional depth in parts. But because it was so painfully boring. The main ideas of this book were empowerment, injustice, and gender roles, to which I think Beth O'Brien overall presented well. You could tell what the author was trying to portray with ease. As I was reading the book, I was thinking ,'this book should really be condensed!' But as the boom went on, every little detail unravelled itself into one big idea. Unfortunately, this is all the positive feedback I have. I didn't connect with a single one of the characters, especially Red. To me, Red seems immature, childish, and disobedient. I feel as if I am definitely not a member of the target audience for this book, but I feel the book and Red would appeal better to a younger age range. I don't feel this book should have been shortlisted for this reason, and because of its amount (or rather lack of) excitement. I will be honest here, because the book did keep me on my toes. For about 2-3 pages near the end. The rest of it was Boring with a capital b. While there were some 'exciting' events, I didn't enjoy them at all, because throughout the book Beth shows a lack of character development that makes me feel for a character. Overall, I would rate this book a 4.6/10. However, I am confident that if this book was presented to a younger age range, I am sure many people would rate this a 10/10!

William B
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Hi, as a 13 year old girl, i can say i really was completely entranced by your book. I read it in a day !The main caracter is a most stong and courageous young girl i have ever had the pleasure of discovering. I also love the descriptions of the forest. It brought the book alive for me. I may be biased as i have always been obsessed with forests and woods : the freshness of the breeze, the feeling that everything’s alive, late at night and the twittering of birds.It’s an exceptional feeling that i can say with confidence you found and stuffed in a book. I also noticed that the descriptions did not describe things as much as just feeling it gave or the touch which is also a thing i appreciated. If i have to be critical however as a mature ,i hope, child , i do not think things are resolved as easily as in your book. I have read many dystopian and other history books and things tend to never really end ; effort can always be made. This is why i found it to be rather easy to only blame 1 caracter in the end ; i believe it is the society itself that must be changed . There are not always selective people at fault. I do agree that for a children’s book , it is quite a beautiful ending. Many tears were shed.

Celeste
4Shadowers

Do you relish reading books packed with mystery and fantasy? If so, 'Wolf Siren' is the perfect book for you. This novel, set in an intriguing village full of secrets, revolves around disabilities, clearly shown in the main character Red, a short sighted teenager who feels a deep attraction to the mysterious woods beyond her village boundaries. Moreover, this heart-warming tale tackles feminism: in Red's village, women are presented as strong and courageous. For instance, Caragh Pent, a female woodcutter, braves the woods every day even though she is confronted to the threat of the savage wolves said to populate the area. I really enjoyed this magical, compelling, and immersive tale; I found that every character was beautifully presented, as well as the original plot. The suspense was so great that I could not release the book until the end. However, it is my opinion that the start of the book was somewhat confusing, due to the absence of explanation when something unepected happened. For example when 'Red summons her wolves' for the first time, the reader could feel perplexed, since there was no previous mention of Red having any connection with wolves. Overall, I would greatly recommend this unique version of our best-loved fairy tale 'Little Red Riding Hood' to pre-teenagers in search of a moving tale full of magic and suspense.

Eva
4Shadowers

The plot was somewhat fast-paced, featuring numerous twists and a tragic ending in which Aerona died from Wilson's crossbow. I liked the theme with magic, and despite Red being somewhat disabled, she still perceives. The main characters are definitely interesting, especially the mayor who controls the village through fear, and Red's grandmother, who can be very mysterious when returning to the village after disappearing. I also admire how the wolves aren't mindless, murderous, but rather more intelligent, only killing for the wood's sake. There was a lot of description and dialogue, which was very good in places like at the end. I also think that the use of short, sharp sentences was perfect, where there were not too many but enough to hold the suspense. The long descriptive sentences were also useful to build a picture of the words in my mind. There was not much humour, though primarily because the book is about darker fantasy like the deaths and the mayor controlling the entire village through fear of the woods and wolves.

William
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Wolf Siren is an enjoyable book full of mystery and brilliant characters. I thought it was an excellent take on the original fairy tale 'Little Red Riding Hood' especially because of the way the author Beth O' Brien developed Red's character as the story progressed, as she became somewhat of a leader to those who wanted to fight for justice alongside her. I also particularly liked how the story incorporated themes of feminism and patriarchy, as it was more satisfying every time Red and the other characters overcame challenges to stand up to that prejudice. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book as I felt it was a well written, engaging story from start to finish.

Olivia
Skipton Shadows

This was a very enjoyable book to read. It really felt like I could emphasise with Red, and the themes were uniquely interesting.

Zack
Crypt Bookworms

Wolf Siren is an intriguing book which takes the story of Red Riding Hood and spins the simple concept of a wolf hiding in the woods into a full book. I found the fact that Red was partially blind an interesting concept but at some points it felt like she could see perfectly fine and, I sometimes forgot she had this disability. I liked the fantasy element of the book and felt it was well integrated into the world. I felt the ending was a bit rushed but overall I found this book interesting and would recommend.

Benjamin R
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

The wolf siren is a great, fascinating and intriguing story. It follows a girl called Red, who loves the magic and the mystery of the forest. Throughout the book she has to hide her true identity and her love for the forest and the magical wolves that linger there. Although the ending was sad, I thought that the book was a great fantasy story.

Rafferty
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I loved this book! I pained for red when everyone seemeed to be against her, celebrated when her grandma came back, shocked as she transformed, cried when aerona died and utterly invested in her story. I love how beth takes a classic fairy tale and puts her own unique twist on it - once I read the author's note at the end the whole thing about red needing to check the path carefully made so much sense. At first, I didn't think that I would enjoy the book that much assuming it was for a younger audience like birdie but it had me gripped after a few chapters and I binge-read 2/3 of the book in ONE day. The setting and charecters are described really well and I like the subtle allusions to red riding hood. Murder, fantasy and magic this book has it all! Beth discussing real world issues such as sterotyping and patriachy in an easy to understand way. The book is carefully crafted and an enjoyable read - 4.01/5 stars. If I had to choose a book I wanted to win it would be this and I will definitely recommend this book to fellow readers

Emaan
Carnegie Shadow Judges MEAC

I loved this book! I pained for Red when everyone seemeed to be against her, celebrated when her grandma came back, shocked as she transformed, cried when Aerona died and was utterly invested in her story. I love how Beth takes a classic fairy tale and puts her own unique twist on it - once I read the author's note at the end the whole thing about red needing to check the path carefully made so much sense. At first, I didn't think that I would enjoy the book that much assuming it was for a younger audience like Birdie but it had me gripped after a few chapters and I binge-read 2/3 of the book in one day. The setting and charecters are described really well and I like the subtle allusions to Red Riding hood. Murder, fantasy and magic this book has it all! Beth discussing real world issues such as sterotyping and patriachy in an easy to understand way. The book is carefully crafted and an enjoyable read - 4.01/5 stars

Emaan
Carnegie Shadow Judges MEAC

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a book that thoroughly explores the themes of Patriarchy and Adventure through multiple characters' experiences, including the protagonist, Red. Patriarchy is explored in Wolf Siren through the Mayor, who sends Caragh Pent to be the town's woodcutter after she refused his proposal for marriage. Her sentence was due to be 1 year, but it was later extended to 2, which shows the power of men. The Mayor also gave out rations in the village due to the location, a clearing in the woods, providing a lack of food available. He also has the power to reduce the rations for those who disobey laws or does things the Mayor disapproved of, but the real question is: Who will halve his rations? Adventure is explored in this novel through the character of Red. She absolutely loves the woods, and she can think of no happier place. Red is also visually impaired, and the trees in the woods help to guide her to where she needs to go, creating a sense of security and safety in the woods, which is not what the Mayor described the woods to be, which also makes her question the reliability of the Mayor. Towards the beginning of the novel, Red makes a delivery to Ms Blaeberry, who is suspected to be a witch by the men of the village, but the women meet her in her little hut in the woods anyway. Ms Blaeberry teaches Red about her grandmother's past and her secret powers of being able to turn into a wolf. To conclude, Wolf Siren is a book that explores the themes of Patriarchy and Adventure through characterisation and experiences of these characters. Wolf Siren is a 10/10 book that definitely deserves this award, and the hard work and effort that has been put into this book is clearly shown.

Sara
Mansell Library Reviewers

This book was a fantastically written nod to Little Red Riding Hood. I loved the main character, Red, and how the story reflects the world we live in. For example, in society, when women can do something that men cannot, it is often not openly discussed. In the book, this is shown through the forest, which the men of the town cannot enter because of the wolves. I also liked how, throughout the story, I felt as though I was discovering everything at the same time as Red. Alongside the plot twists, which were always just around the corner, this made it a really enjoyable read.

Amelia
Rainbeau Readers

A truly inspiring book about how just a small amount of difference can seem terrifying, but if you accept it it becomes beautiful. I love the inclusion of women growths, for example the cycles and how the pain is mixed with Reds cycles and transformations. I didn't like the ending where Aerona died, because she was my favorite character. But then again Beth O'Brien shows the sisterly love and trust between Red and Aerona that it makes it almost lovely. But I still cried... I love the depiction of Delaware because she is described in a green dress with a white t shirt underneath, and she is described with her head nearly always in a book, to that I can relate. And so that is why she is my second favorite character. I adored this book and the moving story inside it, and I really hope it wins the award because Wolf Siren and Beth O'Brien definetly deserve it. In memory of Aerona.

Theia Watson-Rose
USH Readers

While it is really positive to include themes of disability, feminism and menstruation in stories, I felt this one did not portray it well. The disability felt like tokenism, and there was way too much about periods. I did not connect with the character at all, because Red, despite being 13, acts in a childish and immature fashion. There was plenty of drama, twists and turns so this book may appeal to reader who enjoy this kind of format. I would give this book 1/5 stars and recommend it for ages 12+

Lottie
Beacon Thursday Book Club

Personally, Wolf Siren is a book with a very original story full of mysteries. I found this book quite interesting as the story opens in a interesting setting, with interesting caracters. I kind of like the fact that it is inspired of the story of Little Red Riding Hood but still keeps the story unique. However, in the beginning, the book takes time to really start and become appealing to the reader: but, the real suspense starts and the book is magic. I deeply recommend this book to people fond of mysteries.

Amaury
4Shadowers

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien is an engaging fantasy novel, telling the story of "little red riding hood" but from a different perspective. It is a great book, with themes like feminism and power driving it's setting as well as a whimsical a magical world. Red, whose ability to control wolves creates both tension and interesting moral questions, with wolves being hunted and feared by all her village for the chaos and danger they have brought. The book does a good job of showing her internal conflict as she struggles between following orders and thinking for herself, making her feel realistic and easy to understand. I also really enjoy the background stories we get with this fantasy world and found the setting extremely well imagined and described along side the referneces to the original fairytale. One thing I would comment on however would be lack of fixed goal for Red lasting quite a long time in book, with her finding herself without a specific goal. Despite this, the book is still extremely entertaining and captivation but possibly aimed at a lower age range then my own. Nevertheless, i still really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves to read fantsy.

Megan
4Shadowers

The Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien is an interesting and slightly spooky story that blends folklore with real emotions. O’Brien creates a strong atmosphere in the woods, describing Red’s view as a blur of autumn colours. The main character, Red, is a feisty girl facing the challenges of growing up, learning who she is, and figuring out where she belongs, which makes her easy to relate to. Some parts of the story are slower, but this helps build the mood. Overall, The Wolf Siren is an engaging read, especially if you enjoy a touch of mystery and a darker tone.

Charlotte
The Perse Carnegians

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would definitely recommend it to other people who haven’t read it yet. I think that my favorite moment in the book was when Red first summoned her wolves. I loved this moment because it felt powerful and it made me feel that Red finally had people in her life who wouldn’t judge her and would be by her side no matter what. If there is anything I don’t like about the book, it is that Aerona’s death was a bit sudden. I think, though, that it is countered by the haunting beauty of her funeral, which is a fitting ending for a simply beautiful book.

Iris
The Perse Carnegians

Wolf Siren is a heartfelt book about a girl called Red-who has a red coat- based off Little Red Riding Hood. Red loves the wood and it almost calls for her. She has a relationship with the trees and 3 years after her grandmother disappears, when she is 13, she discovers that she is a Wolf woman. The medieval village she lives in is against the woods as wolves only attack men and boys and women aren’t seen as equals. Red, her sister Aerona and her best friend Delana escape into the woods. My favourite character is Aerona because she is optimistic and creative. The book is action-packed and filled with gender equality statements. It is definitely a book for older readers and is currently one of my favourite Carnegie books so far. The author also writes elements of her own life in as well, being visually impaired like the main character.

Kirsty
Vista Academy Littleport

This book absolutely blew me away! I rate it five stars for its heart warming language. My favourite character was Aerona because she is literally just like me, we are both silly and fun and she is amazing at her art pieces. My favourite part in the book was when Aerona, Red and Delana went to the woods to hide from the villagers and when Aerona shapeshifted into her wolf form. The bit that made me cry was when Aerona got shot from Wilson with his crossbow and I was crying just like Red. Another thing I like about the book was that Red is like Little Red riding hood but the wolves are good in the story. My favourite wolf was Ida because she was so energetic and playful. I recommend this book to people who love nature, fantasy and wonder!

Charlotte
Euro Champs

I just finished reading Wolf Siren and it was sort of like a roller coaster because some parts felt really intense and fast, especially when there was action or danger, but other parts slowed down and made you think, which I didn't mind. The plot was mostly about survival, power, and a bit of war between different groups, and how people use others, which was interesting even if it got a bit confusing sometimes. There wasn't really anything about technology or drugs, it felt more like an older, harsher world where strength mattered more. The main character, Red, was someone I liked but also got annoyed at because she didn't always understand her power, and that annoyed me a bit. The ending was a bit sad but also a little hopeful. The writing was easy to follow and not too complicated, and I liked that it focused more on her thoughts. Overall I think it was a good book, maybe a bit heavy, but still worth reading.

Jake
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I picked up Wolf Siren expecting a simple fairy tale retelling, but what I found was a beautiful story about reclaiming your own power. Beth O'Brien’s writing is amazing , making the forest feel like a living, breathing character that is both suspenseful and welcoming. I especially loved how Red’s visual impairment wasn't treated as a 'disability' to be fixed, but as a unique way of experiencing the world and its magic. It’s a quiet, fierce, and deeply emotional book that explores the bond between women and nature in a way that stayed with me long after the final page. Truly a beautifully emotional book to read

Isabel
Vista Academy Littleport

WOLF SIREN The book I am reviewing is Wolf Siren. Wolf Siren is a book that once started is difficult to put down. It is so irresistibly magical, that I feel it could draw in anyone from any background into the same mysterious world Red shares with her family, village and most importantly wolves. It is a fast-moving book, which I love, each chapter unfolding into its own mini story, all featuring themes of magic and nature alongside a mystery filled with twists and turns. However, I did not connect very well with the main character, Red, a girl of thirteen who is partially sighted, but has the incredible ability of being able to change from woman to wolf and vice versa at will. The reason for our incompatibility was that I often struggled with her childish behaviour and naivety impacting the story in what I thought was a negative way. It polluted and confused the story line and left it feeling a little unfinished. However, I did bond well with the other characters in the book, especially with Red’s sister Aerona, and I particularly enjoyed the style of writing used in the book - short charismatic sentences. So, in conclusion, an enthralling book despite being a little rough around the edges in some respects.

Georgina
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Wolf Siren - Beth O' Brien This is not the sort of book I would normally go for but I actually really enjoyed the storyline and the main character, Red. I liked how Beth O' Brien let the reader see things from Red's point of view, especially how she navigates the world while being visually impaired. I also liked how she used vivid descriptions to make the forest more eerie and magical while still subtly linking back to the original Little Red Riding Hood story. It did take me a while to get into the book, as the early chapters are quite slow as the mystery builds. Despite this, I ended up enjoying it overall.

isabelle
Epsomian Shortlist Shadowers

This book was a fabulous, engrossing book (so engrossing that I read it all in one day)! This book is a unique tale spreading with it a certain awareness of disabilities such as blindness and partial blindness relating to the author but is a show of how different nature can look and feel to different people. Another one of the morals I detected was that though you may be afraid or may feel scared, you should try to understand the situation first and not everything is as bad as it seems.

Maryam
HGS Book Club

it was a very interesting read with good pacing, the representation of menstruation and women's struggles or feeling out of place made the story more powerful and helps normalize these feelings. overall very good read would recommend.

Alisha (C)
LSST Library Shadowers

A wonderful story of fighting for freedom, feminism and some very magical woods. We thought it was an amazing book and it was really easy to feel connected to the characters and their experiences.

Thalia
Carnegie Shadow Judges MEAC

A wonderful story of fighting for freedom, feminism and some very magical woods. We thought it was an amazing book and it was really easy to feel connected to the characters and their experiences.

Thalia
Carnegie Shadow Judges MEAC

I loved this book and its twist on Little Red Riding Hood. The way the subject of periods was incorperated, Red's visual impairment and the deeper themes of femininity and gender roles. The characters and settings were amazing and I really loved the forest itself. Felt sad after I had read the book because it was all finished. Would reccomend.

Elsie
St Kaths

I really liked this book because it had tons of ups and downs. For example, it was good because it retells the little red riding hood story with a bit of a twist. What I really loved was the magic in the woods and wolves .The fact that there was a cliff-hanger at the end of most chapters was really good in my opinion because it kept me reading more and more of this book. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to people who like fiction and fantasy.

Clara
Euro Champs

I really like books which put a slant on fairytales and such so this book looked very interesting. I unfortunately didn’t get to read it in time but hope to read it in future.

Sage
Lit Legends of Swavesey

Wolf Siren is a beautifully written, empowering, feminist fairytale that tackles themes of sexism, disability and personal development. The story follows the perspective of Red, a visually impaired teenager with a love for magic that can make her feel isolated. Her curious nature and sense of justice leads her on brave journey to uncover the corrupt heart of her village. I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and seeing them develop alongside the plot. With plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested, I would absolutely recommend this book to all!

Evie
Carmel Shadowers

Red lives in a village that blocks out the forest because of wolf attacks, but she loves going into the woods and seeing the wolves and nature. I think this book is good and easy to pick up. Some parts you can predict what will happen next but there are a few surprising parts. Overall I think it is quite good and would recommend it.

Lydia
Larkmead

Red is not allowed to go into the woods. Everyone knows that they are dangerous – because of their strange magic and the wolves that is around there, but Red finds herself curiously drawn to the woods and the place where her grandmother disappeared without a trace three years ago. When the woodcutter fails to return home one night and wolves are spotted close to the village fear drives a deep and dangerous divide between the villagers and the nature they live alongside. I didn't really enjoy this book because it didn't interest me.

Michelle
Vista Academy Littleport

I really enjoyed Wolf Siren. It was really interesting to see how much growing up can change you and how it can affect everybody differently. I found the end really sad when Aerona sacrificed herself for Red. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would read it again.

Anya
Shelf Indulgence by JCG

Wolf Siren was interesting. I found that there was no real reason or effect of Red being visually impaired other than for a similarity with the author, on the other hand though, I found the sexism theme an important aspect of the book.Overall, I felt that thare could have been much more development, as it felt a bit disjointed at times. 5/10

Elijah
Vista Academy Littleport

I really liked this book! I found that it was an innovative twist on the classic fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood, that focused more on empowering women rather than a scared little girl faced with the wolf. I also found it interesting how the roles were essentially reversed- in the original fairytale, the wolf is the antagonist and the woodcutter saves the day, but in this version, the wolves were the protagonists and the woodcutter was the one being shunned. My favourite part was Red describing her reaction to getting her cycle for the first time, and thinking that she was going to die! One small inconsistency I found was that Red was allegedly visually impaired, but until the author told us this, she seemed to see things just fine. However, in general this was an excellent read with a moving plot.

Jackie
The Perse Carnegians

Wolf Siren was definitely my favourite Carnegie book so far, and I really enjoyed the exciting mystery plot, which made me want to keep reading more and more. The fantasy elements, like the wolfwomen and the magic of the forest, made it even more thrilling and intriguing. Although the ending was quite sad, I would still give it 5 stars because it was an incredibly fun read. I would recommend it to everyone.

Hannah
Rainbeau Readers

An enticing book about societal ideas. The use of empowerment allows the reader to see the shift to show the development of the individual in the read. This book encompasses the important themes of modern society in a fairytale that anyone could read. The book is of medium length, hence would take a longer period of time unless you are a fast reader. This means that the book is good for most readers.

Kaleb
Folkestone Academy Readers

‘Wolf Siren’ by Beth O’Brien is a brilliant book. It retells the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood in a brand new way. ‘Wolf Siren’ encourages the reader to question the world around us and to not just accept what those in power have told us all of our lives. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys books that show a new perspective on a traditional tale.

Isolde
HHS 2026

Wolf Siren is one of many Little Red Riding Hood variations and in my opinion, it is one of the better ones. At the start the book was more exciting than books usually start. I enjoyed the little references to fairy tales best the beginning as well. The book, especially the trees' magical powers. Magic is something hard to include in stories without them getting too powerful, but Beth O'Brien did it well. I liked how Red had impaired eyesight but that did not take over the story and often I forgot about it. The ending was both happy and sad, but leaned towards happy in the epilogue.

Aidan
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Red is a partially blind hero whose disability is portrayed as a unique perspective, with her wolves acting as her guide, making her a fully empowered character rather than a victim. The Secret: Red frequently visits the woods where her grandmother went missing, discovering that the wolves are connected to a deep secret that could damage her family's reputation if revealed. I enjoyed this book because the main character, Red, is partially blind, but in the book this is shown strength, brain power, and a unique way of navigating the world rather than a weakness. She is described as brave, loyal, and smart, with wolves in the forest acting as her allies.

Patrick J
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

This book is a well-crafted book. It talks about a girl called Red and she goes into the forest even though she is not allowed. She knows the reason yet still does because of the lots of magic and wolves that are there. This book also has sexism and injustice as the girls must work in the forest as men get attacked by the wolves. I found this book calming and relaxing with the tone just seeming so peaceful in my head. The part I liked about this book was when she thought she was going to die after being on her cycle. For the reader, it could be funny but for her family, it could destroy how the family is known. The best-case scenario is that it is impolite and the worst-case scenario…Let’s just say that it is disgusting. This book was really good, and I personally have to say it was an enjoyable read. If I could, I would read this book over 100 times and I believe it should deserve that. After the amount of work Beth O' Brien put into this, I know why it is on the short list.

Ihsan K
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien is a haunting, atmospheric reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood - and I absolutely loved it. It has that eerie, misty quality of The Village (yes, the film), where fear and superstition hang thick in the air, but it’s also full of heart, courage, and compassion. Red, our heroine, is partially sighted, and her perspective gives the whole story a fresh, intimate depth. The way O’Brien describes the forest - alive, watchful, almost breathing - is gorgeous, and the connection between Red and nature feels sacred. I especially loved how disability isn’t treated as a limitation here, but a different way of sensing and understanding the world. The story balances mystery and folklore with family and friendship. The relationships are rich - especially between Red, her sister, and her grandmother - and I loved how the book slowly unravels its secrets about the woods and the wolves. There’s also a quiet feminism running through it: women as guardians, truth-seekers, protectors. It’s short, accessible, and beautifully written, perfect for Year 6–8 readers who enjoy magic, danger, and emotion woven together. My only wish? That it had been longer as I wasn’t ready to leave the woods when it ended. Lyrical, empowering, and quietly fierce.

Mrs Naden
Lostock High Readers

Wolf Siren is undoubtably one of my favourite books from my experience as a Carnegie reader. The main story that ebbs and flows through the imaginative river and mystery of the forest that separates the village. It starts of with an unfortunate tragedy of the death of reds' father. This is shortly followed by the disappearance of Reds' grandma. This is the same grandma who taught Red how to flow in the woods and summon her wolfs. The whole story goes up in flames at the end when the town discovers who she and her sister ( Aerona ) really are. They are wolfwomen. Previously thought to be extinct, they reveal themselves to the village and in doing so discover a nasty secret of the baker called Wilson. He killed the woodcutter and placed himself at the forefront of the investigation. Bloodshed and murder follows as Wilson puts an arrow throw Aeronas' heart. Tragedy strikes but the village is better off without its barriers and secrets.

sam w
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Enjoyed the book very much, the fantasy and wonder of being able to transform into a wolf mixed with the end of bitterness when it comes to the loss of a family member made me tear up. Amazing plot, as the mystery makes you want to read on more and more.

Alisha (O)
LSST Library Shadowers

I thoroughly enjoyed Wolf Siren. The magic of the woods and wolfwomen was really intriguing and I loved the twist with Red and her grandmother. The book follows the main character of Red who is mostly blind and I think the description of the way she saw the world was beautiful. She lives in a village on the edge of a forest where the mayor and system is corrupt and sexist. After wolf attacks on men in the wood, only women are safe to go in yet it is looked down upon and seen as very unusual to go in the woods. To add, the job of being a woodcutter is for only for the outcasts. I think this is a great way of teaching young children about what society used to be like and what it shouldn't be like through a story. The wolves and the wolfwomen were probably my favourite part of the book and Red being able to summon her wolves was very interesting. Beginning the book was a little hard at first because it wasn't that interesting but by the end I couldn't put the book down.

Valentina
Chiswick Carnegie

I enjoyed the plot line for the book and ending but it did make me cringe at points

Cece
Cake a Book Club

Wolf siren is a book about 13-year-old Red finding the true magic of the forest whilst also holding a secret of her own. My favourite part was when she found out what really happened to Caragh (the village woodcutter). Even though I liked Red, my favourite character is Red’s best friend, Delana because she is kind and faithful and loves to read. I would recommend this book to people who like magic and fairy tales as it is based on little red riding hood. I would also recommend it to people who are passionate about injustice and sexism.

Ailsa
Vista Academy Littleport

Wolf Siren is quite a tricky book to review. Personally, I really liked the plot and the setting, and I thought it had a strong ending. The characters felt realistic and lifelike, even though the story includes magic. I also loved the storyline because it felt unique. However, on the other hand, I found that the story moved quite quickly, especially at the beginning, which made it a bit hard to keep track of at times. The main character, Red, was very well written, with clear feelings and motivations, which made her easy to understand and relate to. The themes of feminism and disability are shown strongly throughout the book and are key parts of the story.

Alba
Rainbeau Readers

A tale about how a girl who has to bear a deep secret about her grandma and how she struggles due to her being a girl and has a big theme of feminism but is a bit too informative with the story plot line.

Ayaan
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

FIVE STARS!!! It was a really fun and interesting book to read! I couldn’t put it down and it had an awful lot of twists I wasn’t expecting! I absolutely enjoyed it and totally recommend to anyone and everyone. It isn’t gory or anything, so feel free to share with younger siblings!

Kayla
SCD Pageturners

I loved wolf siren I thought that it was a meaningful book. I really enjoyed uncovering the hidden message that being afraid of what you don't understand will only make you more afraid. I enjoyed travelling with Red as she explored this uncertain period in her life and her resolve to fix and solve a problem that had impacted the people in her community over many years. I would recommend this book to many people. It is a book about respecting and loving each other even through our differences.

Bethany
The Broxbourne Readers

Wolf Siren is not your typical "Little Red Riding Hood" retelling. Beth O’Brien has crafted a world where the woods aren’t just a place of danger, but a place of belonging. The protagonist, Red, is a wonderfully complex character—she is visually impaired and navigates a world that often tries to limit her, yet she finds her true strength and magic among the wolves. The themes of female empowerment, disability representation, and the connection to nature are woven together beautifully. I loved how the author used the "wolf" as a symbol for the parts of ourselves that society tells us to hide. It’s atmospheric, slightly dark, and incredibly moving. A must-read for fans of feminist fairytales.

Peace
Vista Academy Littleport

This book is a quick and easy read and it was enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the connections to little red riding hood and that sometimes we don't see everything so we just fill the rest in as best as we can. People from all age ranges can enjoy this but I think its mostly aimed towards 9-12 year olds. Red is a great character who sees things differently to everyone and deeply cares for her family. I also really like the magic involved in the story and the pure determination and courage shown in the book.

Alyss
Ousedale Shadow Chasers

I think "Wolf siren" is amazing. The story line of this book is wonderful and the simple, yet effective description really adds to the fantastical, fairy tale feeling of the story. This book retells the well known fairy tale of "little red riding hood" in such a way that it stays utterly recognisable to the original tale, yet is an entirely new and enthralling read that discusses important themes of sexism, fear and loss. In short "Wolf siren" is a wonderful novel about magic, mystery, misunderstanding and most importantly: WOLVES.

Ivo
The Shady Bookhounds

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a truly inspiring and heartfelt book; the plot twists as you read further into this magical book. I loved this read because the suspension rises and emotions pour out of the book as you dig deeper. I recommend this book to people that love a roller-coaster of suspense story line! A fantastic read for everyone... 10/10

Tom
The Shady Bookhounds

I thought wolf siren was a great book, it was exciting, fun, and had a good balance between sad and happy. Wolf Siren is a twist on the classic fairy tale red riding hood where the main character has a severe visual impairment but learns to live with it. I think this is a good book to read for anyone between 9 and 15 although there are some sad bits.

alfiec
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

This book is about a girl called Red and she lives near a forest with her mum, sister and brother. One day, she is given the revelation of a big secret so she has to cope in the town. She has to show people that magic isn’t so bad. The main character was Red. I thought she was very brave. My favourite character would have to be the grandma as she is wise and very nice. I really liked this book because it’s like red riding hood but with a good twist and I thought it gripped me.

Evie
HHS 2026

I think the storyline of this book is wonderful and the simple, but effective description really adds to the fantastical, fairy tale feeling of this amazing little red riding hood retelling.

Ivo
The Shady Bookhounds

One of the most empowering book I have read all year! I loved all the feminism and how the story plot grows. Although I think that they could keep Areona, I enjoyed getting to know all the different characters and all the personality traits, especially Reds. But I think that the ending could include what happens to Wilson it would be better but overall I really enjoyed it.

Imogen Humphrey
Ousedale Olney

I really enjoyed this book as it had a really good story line and narrative. I thought that it had a good outlook on society and I think showed a unique view. My only criticism of the book is that it had a bit much going on and despite the great themes they all were fighting in the book. But, overall I loved this a think it has a good shot at the prize. Would read again.

Henry D
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is easily my favourite Carnegie book out of the the 4 I have now read. Wolf Siren is about a girl named Red who is 13 years old who has the power of magic to summon wolves and can transform into wolf. The story is set in a massive forest inhabited by wolves with a town in the centre surrounded by a forest that lives. I love this book as it includes outcasts, wolves and understanding. Even though Red is visually impaired she shows that even the most insignificant people can become known and powerful. In total I would give this book an 11/10 from how good of a book, storyline, setting and how it really got me hooked on every page.

Sylvan C
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Wolf siren was an excellent book filled with lots of plot twists and a heartwarming meaningful story about acceptance and change. The book is very sad at the end and quite an emotional read.

Indi
Shelf Indulgence by JCG

I really enjoyed reading 'Wolf Siren'. I thought it was really interesting to understand the world from the viewpoint of someone who struggles with visual disabilities. Their reality is conveyed through vivid descriptions using colours. For example: what it is like having your period or losing someone you love. I was also able to connect with the story more deeply because it's in first person narration and everything felt more immediate. For me, this narrative style also gave me a better insight into Red’s thoughts. Overall a great read!

Philippa
Shelf Indulgence by JCG

An enthusiastic and empowering book for women - a read about sexism as well as gender roles. I believe that it is an excellent fairytale format for people to read and to understand as it allows people to change even in the circumstances of a book that is fiction. The length of the book and size of the text means that its a shorter read to avid/quick readers however to most it's an excellent length to read over the course of a few sessions. For anyone who is interested in fairytales who want to see a major point discussed, this is a perfect book for you.

Kaleb
Folkestone Academy Readers

Wolf Siren This book is the best book I have read this year so far! I loved the themes of feminism and representation of visually impaired people. I really liked Aerona and Grandmother because of how they weren't ashamed of being wolf women.

Kit
Booky Wookies

Overall, Wolf Siren is a fantastic book, which has both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments throughout. Red lives in a village which shunned the wolves and the forest many years ago, but Red loves spending time in the forest with her wolves. It is a well written book, and I was always left wanting to read the next page; no parts of it ever bored me or made me lose interest. Wolf Siren has memorable characters, exciting magic and a fantastic message of how we should embrace nature and not let fear rule over us. In conclusion, I really enjoyed Wolf Siren and would recommend it and definitely reread it sometime.

Louis
The Fitzharrys Shadows

I found Wolf Siren to be a bit flat. The plot was just never really fully established so there was only a small storyline to go off which didn't provide enough for me to get hooked. If the plot was developed a bit more I think it could drastically improve the book. As well as this, the link to the fairy tale "Little red riding hood" was honestly pointless as it added nothing to the story and was just there as a gimmick. However, I liked the setting and idea of the book as it could have a really good storyline. The character building was also done very well with a lot of focus on Red's relationship with her mother and her mental battle as to whether she should listen to her mother or the call of the trees. In addition to this, the implement of female empowerment was well structured and conveyed the message well alongside the more subtle point that disabilities don't have to hold you back, which is shown in Red's visual impairment. I also liked the ending as it conveyed a lot of the emotion built up throughout the novel and tied up the loose ends of the wolves and the relationship between Red and her mother. Yet I think a nicer idea would have been to foreshadow a different event at the end, as a sequel would easily be doable and would match really well with this book as it could develop Luki as a character, who is not shown much there. Overall, the plot was underdeveloped and really lacked depth but the setting was good and the characters were well developed. Plot:4/10 Characters:7/10 Setting:7/10 Style:6/10 Total:24/40

sevan c
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I really liked the book 'Wolf Siren' because the setting is in a village surrounded by a magic forest. There have been wolf attacks there before but the girls and women have never been killed by any wolves and are the only ones who are allowed into the forest. The main character Red has always been drawn to the forest but when she is 13 she finds out that she is a wolf-woman, meaning that she has the ability to transform into a wolf. As she is realising this, her sister Aerona transforms into a wolf right in front of the entire town and is eventually killed. When Red plants an acorn from the forest on her sister's grave inside the village the forest tears down the walls surrounding the village and the fear of the forest is finally put to rest.

Hendrix
Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Wolf Siren was an amazing book, I loved it from start to finish. I would definitely recommend it to everyone!

Emily
The Broxbourne Readers

I absolutely adored this book, it reminded me of my favourite movie and brought back so many memories of the original story “The little red riding hood”. This book was so good I cried at the end because it made me so emotional at the end when I finished it. Please read it and trust me you will not regret it!!!

Olivia
Rainbeau Readers

The story flows and I loved how the main character had a disability because many characters have no disabilities or physical struggles and Beth O'Brien made sure that you didn't forget the characters disability. I also really liked how the story was based on a fairy tale but instead of being modernised it was set in the same time period.

Henry
St Kaths

Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a book about a 13 year old girl, Red. Her grandmother disappeared 3 years ago, the woods outside the village are magical and Red discovers her ability to transform into a wolf. I quite liked this book, it kept me guessing about what would happen next. My favourite character was Red - even though she was visually impaired, she didn't let that stop her from doing anything. I also liked the way the author described some scenes, she made it feel like you were there in that moment. However I didn't one part of the book. I think the ending could have been explored in a bit more detail because it didn't fully explain what happened to all the characters at the end, especially Red with her powers. But overall I enjoyed this book and I would recommend to others - it was a good read.

Emma
Vista Academy Littleport

At first, I wasn't convinced by Wolf Siren. For most of the book, I found the story to be unfortunately boring but in the final few chapters- the story really became alive. Wolf Siren is about a brilliant girl with a brilliant gift. It is moving and takes you through so many different emotions. The grief I felt was undeniable but the joy was also the same. I only wish that the story started off with a bit more of a kick but otherwise, the novel was fantastic. I read the author's note at the end and I am overwhelmed and deeply in-aw-of by what an incredible person Beth O'Brien is and the outstanding achievements she has overcome. Wow. Thank you for inspiring me to overcome challenges like you had to do, Beth.

Molly
Chiswick Carnegie

Wolf siren is a book about feminism and the power of nature, inspired by the fairy tale of Little Red Riding-hood. The town that Red lives in is mistrustful and scared of wolves and the woods that it is surrounded by. Red, the main character, is one of the few people in the town who understand that maybe the woods aren't as dangerous as they seem... I really enjoyed this book because the themes that it follows are all things that I think are important, for example the importance of living in balance with nature and not being defined by the actions of those around you.

Alexandra
Chiswick Carnegie

In Wolf Siren, the main character of the story, Red, showed many characteristics during this read. Firstly, in a small cottage lived a thirteen-year-old girl who had a great passion in the woods. However, her small village was banned to enter it because of the murderous wolves that roamed between the trees. Red's goal is to stand up for what's right and to protect the things that are closest to her.

Amelie
Chiswick Carnegie

I am very intrigued to read this, the blurb sounds very mysterious.

Meghan
Lionheart2026

I'm excited to start reading this book

Florence
Lionheart2026

i am ecstatic about reading this book. this book looks incredible to read and i am really excited about reading it this interesting book.

Rosie
Lionheart2026

I'm super excited to read this book and it look very interesting and mysterious and reminds me of little red riding hood.

Sienna
Lionheart2026

Good plot that highlights that women can also be the people to depend on, showing that male oppression shouldn't just be accepted. Also how even the smallest most insignificant people, can become something powerful and admirable, and to not stop when you're put down as you can do more than you think.

Julia
Reepham Reads

I very much enjoyed this book. It was well-written, and the font was a good, readable size. I enjoy fairy-tale retellings, and this was a lovely interpretation. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the village, and learning about their culture in the world of the novel. However, I found the ending a bit rushed, although that might have just been me not wanting the book to end! Also, I personally think Red jumped to conclusions a little bit at the end when discovering who the 'murderer' was. That being said, it was a very good book. 5 Stars. Thank you

Clara
Bassingbourn Readers

This is a very interesting book. It takes something we have an idea of and creates something knew. The characters are very good and the story is gripping. Also the setting of an isolated village is a brilliant idea that adds to the atmosphere

Paul
St David’s reading stars

If you like adventures, forests and nature, girl power and mysteries then Wolf Siren is definitely for you. I found this book very inspiring because there are often wise words in some of the dialogue, for example when the main character’s (Red’s) grandmother says, “We do not need to be frightened of something working so hard to survive.” This shows that we don’t always need to intervene or attack if something seems to scare us but simply let it defend itself if necessary. I also like how this amazingly reimagined story of the fairytale ‘Red Riding Hood’ has a visually impaired teenage girl who is based on the wonderful author as the protagonist who just wants to be herself, protect her family and friends and find peace in the enchanting wood beyond her village. Another thing that I love about Wolf Siren is that it includes many genres and characters with lots of detail and backstories, helping to keep the reader always engaged. I would say that this book is aimed at readers aged 10-13 because it includes some violent or emotional scenes, but it’s also interesting to read about Red transforming into her wolf self, which really makes you think about animal welfare when characters try to hurt her. I rate Wolf Siren 10/10!

Mae
Helkats & Hardbacks

Wolf siren is a book about a young girl called Red who is partially blind and has just started her first cycle. Red loves going in the woods despite her Mum’s constant warnings of the danger it can hold. So, when Red is old enough, she becomes a courier so that she can enter the woods whenever she wants without getting told off. However, when Red is going to deliver a parcel to Ms Blaeberry she discovers a secret that if anyone else finds out, it could ruin her family’s reputation forever… I loved this book as the descriptions felt so real and could even imagine how the characters must have been feeling! It was such a heart-warming tale with so many plot twists that kept me guessing what would happen next! My favourite character was Aerona because she was so caring and innocent and didn’t understand what was happening until Red has to explain what’s happening to her. There were so many times when I had to put the book down because I had burst out laughing and others when I was on the verge of crying. This story was so good that I couldn’t even put the book down! I felt like I just had to keep reading and find out what would happen next! I don’t think I have many negative things to say about this book. The only thing is really that I wish something different happened to her sister, so it didn’t create such a dark tone to the ending, but the blossom really lifted the spirit. I would recommend this book to younger readers and people who love fantasy, animals and nature as it is a very nature-based story. I really enjoyed it and would read more books from this author.

Gwen
Vista Academy Littleport

This book is quite different to many dystopian stories. Grandmother being a wolfwoman and human put a really interesting twist on the story because that lead to a unity between wolves and people. I really liked how the book shows humans and animals can live in peace, side by side and is a lesson that we need to learn. The story based of Red Riding Hood was cleverly adapted.

Zeven
Rainbeau Readers

Personally, Wolf Siren was a brilliant read. The book had me hooked in the storyline which is based of a children's fairy tale and it was so gripping near the end. As a feminist, I adored and connected with the characters of this book and the challenges they faced. This book opened me up a lot and for me it was one of a kind. However, the start of the book was dragging the plot a little bit, which I must admit got me a little bored, but it got better the more chapters I read. Overall, it was such a good read and I think it may be one of my favourite books that I may read again!

Afreen
Skipton Shadows

Oh my gosh I don’t have the words to explain how amazing this book is. It may have snuck its way into my top 5 books ! It’s based on the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood and it’s a bit of an explanation as to why she believed her grandmother was the wolf although it isn’t directly linked . It has quite a few unexpected pot twists and I would one hundred percent recommend to everyone.

Poppy bs
HHS 2026

I'm really excited to read this book

Jenny
Orpington Library Younger Teens Group

Wolf Siren is a story about a young girl called Red who is partially blind and has just had her first cycle. She loves the woods, and continues to visit despite her mother's constant warnings. But one day, Red discovers that she has a terrible secret, one that could ruin the only life she's ever known... My favourite character was Aerona because she was so caring and understanding. The characters felt real, and the story was one which kept me guessing what was going to happen the whole way through. My favourite part of the story was when Red met with Miss Blaeberry and experienced her first transformation. The scenes were well written, and the sad scenes made me feel like I was there. Parts of the book made me laugh, whereas some of them made me feel like I was going to cry. It was so gripping, and at points I couldn't put it down! There wasn't much I didn't like about the book - it was one of the better books I've read. My favourite character was Aerona because she was so caring and understanding. The characters felt real, and the story was one which kept me guessing what was going to happen the whole way through. My favourite part of the story was when Red met with Miss Blaeberry and experienced her first transformation. The scenes were well written, and the sad scenes made me feel like I was there. Parts of the book made me laugh, whereas some of them made me feel like I was going to cry. It was so gripping, and at points I couldn't put it down! There wasn't much I didn't like about the book - it was one of the better books I've read. I'd recommend this book to people who like adventure and tales of growing up. I would suggest it for teens because of the topics, but it is a very gripping tale. I loved it!

Catelyn P
Vista Academy Littleport

Wolf Siren is incredible, one of the best I have read, it shows people how someone can be 'different' yet we wouldn't notice because they are resilient and just like us. It also teaches us about prejudices and not everything being as it seems. It shows a brilliant perspective but a different one I would love to see more of. It also uses show not tell which is embedded really well. I generally love fiction and animals but this brings it to the next level. As well as being seen as an amazing book you could say it's a rewrite of Little Red Riding Hood. I love this book because it shows the battles of someone who is partially blind and the battles they fight against people who are in power but are corrupt and people who are supposed to help them.

Maddie
Carnegie@StBede’s

I really enjoyed reading the book. I found the book thrilling and brilliant and by the end I just wanted more. I can safely say it is in my top ten favourites.

Hollie
St Kaths

Wolf Siren, to put it simply, is one of the best books I have ever read. The sheer amount of mystery and magic set it aside from any other book. It tells the story so well and stuffs things like emotion, injustice and curiosity in to constantly keep the reader hooked. Near the end of the book my eyes welled up because of the beauty of the story. This truly is a masterpiece and definitely deserves to be a Carnegie. Thank You

Aiden
Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

This book is about a young girl called Red. She lives in a town with her little sister Aerona, little brother Luki and mum on the outskirts of a forest. However, the town and mayor keep themselves separate from the forest world and what they think is magic as wolves live in there and will target every male. However, Red feels a special connection to the forest and wolves that she thinks only her and her Grandmother have. Red had recently started her monthly cycle but to her and her mum, it meant nothing. But when in the wood with Ms Blaeberry ( who is apparently a witch and holds magic) her body transforms into a wolf. Supposedly, wolf women only exist in fairy tales, but do they? How much will Red have to pay to show that nature isn’t as scary as it seems? The main character in this book is Red. I really liked her character as she was extremely determined, kind, brave, loyal and smart. She always looked out for her family, the forest and her wolves. My favourite character in this book would have had to be Aerona. She is very sweet, kind, caring and creative and is always by Red’s side. I really enjoyed this book. It was extremely captivating and I liked how it was based on the traditional fairy tale “ Little Red Riding Hood”. I think the story line was very smart and I loved how many twists and turns the story took. It was an extremely excellent book, one of my favourites.

Priya
HHS 2026

I like the amount of mystery put into the book it wasn't too much to make me annoyed but it was like a good amount to make you intrigued. There wasn't really much description and when there was it was short and not in depth

Haajrah
HGCSC Library

The book wolf siren is a very intense and adventurous that I would defiantly recommend to anyone who like tension when reading The book follows Red (main character) who adventures into the woods despite her mother warning her about the woods as there known for being full of dangerous magic and blood thirsty wolfs. However throughout her adventures she finds that the woods make her fell at home but along the way a villager is found dead and red is suspected to be involved but red keeps finding dark secrets about her family and why villagers are truly scared of the woods . This book is a great read and keeps making you wonder more.

Rose
The Next Chapter

Very interesting concept, kept me engaged for hours. I loved the plot twists and didn’t see them coming, and the characters relationships. I nearly cried at the end.

Elly
Rad readers

A compelling, feministic retelling of little red riding hood, great twist of the original fairy tale. Emotive and leaving you wanting for more and an ending that left me in tears.

Hollie
Rad readers

Wolf Siren

Beth O'Brien

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