Scary Stories for Young Foxes
Written by Christian McKay Heidicker
Ilustrations by Junyi Wu
Spoiler Alert!
Summary
A 2020 Newbery Honor Recipient!
Christian McKay Heidicker draws inspiration from Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe for his debut middle-grade novel, a thrilling portrait of survival and an unforgettable tale of friendship.
“Clever and harrowing.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Into the finest tradition of storytelling steps Christian McKay Heidicker with these highly original, bone-chilling, and ultimately heart-warming stories. All that’s needed is a blazing campfire and a delicious plate of peaches and centipedes.” —Kathi Appelt, Newbery Award honoree and National Book Award finalist
The haunted season has arrived in the Antler Wood. No fox kit is safe.
When Mia and Uly are separated from their litters, they discover a dangerous world full of monsters. In order to find a den to call home, they must venture through field and forest, facing unspeakable things that dwell in the darkness: a zombie who hungers for their flesh, a witch who tries to steal their skins, a ghost who hunts them through the snow . . . and other things too scary to mention.
Featuring eight interconnected stories and sixteen hauntingly beautiful illustrations, Scary Stories for Young Foxes contains the kinds of adventures and thrills you love to listen to beside a campfire in the dark of night. Fans of Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Auxier, and R. L. Stine have found their next favorite book.
(Courtesy of goodreads.com)
Adult Point of View
Have you ever read a book and had to think about it to figure out why it was so brilliant?
Scary Stories for Young Foxes was this kind of book for me.
On the surface, it’s a tale within a tale, exploring the harrowing experiences foxes might experience. A rather “National Geographic” view, however, it is so much more. I loved how “foxy” the narrative is – I felt like I was in the foxes head, smelling yellow and measuring by tails.
Just as children need happy and sad stories, sometimes they need horror. We live in such a sanitized world, we can forget that there are frightening things out there – and some of those may be the demons haunting children. Finding a story that addresses the darkness for children is rare. So yes, this means that there are stories that may haunt you. And you might be uncomfortable. But it also means, this book is doing its job – to entertain, but also to validate, and maybe even tell some little fox that they will survive.
I see two layers below the top surface.
The next is the layer where we could compare the scary stories to classic horror themes. When you read this see if you can find a vampire, a witch, a ghost, or a zombie. (I have mixed up the order, so you don’t have a bigger hint.) Did you see another classic creature? A swamp thing?
Here’s another layer to unpack: are these really stories about man vs man, man vs nature, and man vs self? Or could they be about disabilities, how we treat others, abuse, and growing up? These themes are explored in books because they are essential for us to decode how to live and to make sense of our world. How wonderful to have a children’s book that does the same thing.
I can imagine a child who needs this book, clinging to it like a raft – or even a piece of ice flowing down a river. I know two children who have read this story. One saw it as an adventure, and wasn’t scared at all. The other hated reading and can’t put this story down because it’s speaking to him on a deep level.
Is this book about everything I’ve listed and more?
That’s my conclusion – this is a book deeper than it appears at first glance. It is a mastery of storytelling. I’m taking off my proverbial hat to Christian McKay Heidicker and his genius.
(Here’s a secret for you: keep your eyes open for another book of scary stories for young foxes. If this one was to understand our world, what will the next one be about?)
Also, I loved the illustrations by Junyi Wu – they capture fear, foreboding, terror, and delighted me. I hope to see more work from this amazing artist.
I highly recommend this story!
Michelle
If you loved Scary Stories for Young Foxes, try reading The Nest by Kenneth Oppell.
Tales Untangled 