BORIS IN SWITZERLAND

A well-brought-up young wolf encounters friends, foes, and felonious behavior at an exclusive Swiss boarding school in this stand-alone sequel.

Installed at Lausanne’s Institute of International Excellence for a term while his parents tend to family matters in the wake of a distinctly passive-aggressive letter from Great-Aunt Orfilia (“Please do not be worried. I am not at all hurt. So there is absolutely no need to come and help me while I recover from my recent accident”), young Boris Greycoat soon sniffs out several mysteries while receiving sneering comments about dogs from snootier members of the thoroughly internationally diverse if otherwise human student body. But he receives warmer welcomes from other schoolmates, notably wheelchair-using Chinese German Lotta Chan. As it turns out, there is chicanery afoot, involving the school’s priceless collection of paintings. The way Gifford prepares readers for the exciting denouement is nothing short of artful as Boris reads up on the history of forgery and renowned associates of artiste and fellow wolf Ludwig Vulpinard (whose Munch-inspired The Howl becomes a particular favorite). Along with lots of spot art interspersed with larger snowy Swiss scenes, the author also tucks encounters with lebkuchen (defined in a footnote as “Love cakes—unbelievably delicious spongy gingerbread and jam cookies”) and other delectable desserts into her tongue-in-cheek tale, not to mention multiple reassurances that wolves are amiable company so long as they are kept well enough fed to prevent “Unfortunate Incidents” involving sheep or chocolate.

A delectably sly howler.