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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
My friend was pushing me to read this after she had and I wish I had read this sooner. This is the spookiest and emotionally destroying middle grade I've ever read. Loved every moment.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read this book with my sister and absolutely loved it!!!! The way CMH spins these tales and connects them all together is incredible and beautiful. We couldn't help but cheer and laugh together as we rejoiced in the happy ending. For some audiences certain stories may be scary, especially at the beginning. But for older readers it will be just fine :) Would highly recommend to readers who like scary stories, coming-of-age stories, and/or adventure stories. In my sisters words "it is sweet and sappy and scary" all rolled into one tale.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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?)
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.
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?)