The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, published in 1962, is the first book of the Wolves Chronicle series written by English writer Joan Aiken. This children’s novel features young Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia as they borrow help from the gooseboy Simon to break free from the evil clutches of their governess Miss Slighcarp. 

Considering how wolves were a threat that slowly ceased to exist as the story progressed, why do you think the book is still titled as such? Do you think they will reappear later? 

How are Bonnie, Sylvia and Simon extremely different in terms of personality, and what are the environmental factors that could have caused it? How did they deal with their differences? Do you think the escape will still be successful if any one of the three is absent in this story? Why?

Many people categorise this book as melodrama. Do you agree? What makes a book a melodrama? What are some of the incidents you found in this book that would justify your classification?