Releasing on March 3, The Belly of a Wolf is a moving verse novel exploring the devastating impact of youth suicide. Unflinching, emotional and darkly funny at times, Julianne Negri has written a novel that is a collision of idyllic childhood memories, overwhelming grief and loving friendship set to a soundtrack of classic indie rock songs.
How can you grow up with grief pulling you down?
Red is going back to high school six months after the death of her best friend Wolf. Their friendship began on the first day of Prep, when they were cast as Little Red and Wolf in a school play; ever after their lives were intrinsically entwined as two halves of the same story. Red is defined by Wolf in life and in death.
As she tries to move on with her life, try on new identities, make new friends and explore first love, she is forever pulled back by memories of Wolf and the guilt and shame she feels not knowing Wolf planned to die. Red becomes increasingly self-destructive and questions: can you ever recast who you are in a story?
Julianne Negri is an award-winning writer and library worker living on the unceded land of the Wurundjeri people. Her debut children’s novel The Secret Library of Hummingbird House was a 2021 CBCA Notable and debut picture book, Almost a Fish, illustrated by Evie Barrow, won the 2024 Speech Pathology Book of the Year award. With over a decade of experience working in libraries, Julianne is a passionate advocate for children’s literature. She has followed varied creative pursuits as a musician, film maker, television host, eco-crafter and has five children.
