Take a photo of a barcode or cover
sierra_color 's review for:
Scary Stories for Young Foxes
by Christian McKay Heidicker
I LOVE this book. The writing, the illustrations, even the pages themselves, all add to the experience of reading it! I love how the book manages to make a really unique reading experience by having some pages be darker colors. To me, it added more to the atmosphere and feeling of the book.
I also like how this book carefully balances out the horror/ tragedy of foxes living in the wild. With every winter, there is a spring, with every summer, a fall. And I feel like what really makes this book stand out is that it's similar to [b:Watership Down|76620|Watership Down (Watership Down, #1)|Richard Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405136931l/76620._SY75_.jpg|1357456] but with more of an emotional core. It more so focuses on the "humanity" that the foxes have, and that makes it so much easier to empathize with them. You relate to having to survive, and while you as a reader might not be surviving in the woods, you're still going through it. Whereas with [b:Watership Down|76620|Watership Down (Watership Down, #1)|Richard Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405136931l/76620._SY75_.jpg|1357456] that focuses more on the mythological/ spiritual aspect. This one focuses on the day to day lives of these foxes-- their fears, past, emotional baggage, etc.
The two main characters have distinct personalities that surprisingly go well together. And while they have moments where they fight, the way they solve these conflicts is realistic and well done.
Another thing this book offers is just really good worldbuilding? I know that sounds odd. But hear me out. I love how this book manages to create a language the foxes use. Instead of things like rabies, we get "the yellow" or instead of birds, and other animals, we get outlandish names that the foxes have created. We also get imagery that's foxed based (for the lack of a better word) for example, the sun isn't called the "sun" it's the bright orb in the sky, or we get scenes where certain foxes smell like plants, and those scents are family scents. Or we even get references to how foxes see the world, or interact with it, which I found really cool. It adds more to the story, and not only makes this book stand out, but also makes this book an interesting and unique read. I also like how the foxes are the heroes in the story, using their wits, compassion, senses, and other things, to escape situations.
But! While I love this book, I do have to say that the time period, and how some of the fantasy elements work are a bit confusing. As for the time period, I wish that clues had been put into place to indicate WHEN this book takes place. Whether that's clothes, houses, etc.
And, as for the fantasy aspects.. those were confusing. How were these animals suddenly able to understand this one human? Why? And do these creatures REALLY get their souls sucked out, or is that just a metaphor from the POV of the foxes?
Just... the whole Beatrix Potter thing really threw me off guard. I didn't really get HOW that worked within the story, and why it was put there? I admire the creativity of it, and I love how it portrays the horror of being caged, and not knowing what's happening, etc, but I just don't get some elements of it.
Now enough of the criticism, back to what I love. This book has amazing the main characters, their arcs throughout the story are amazingly written. You literally see the both of them growing up and having to face their fears and trauma. I loved how each character overcame their obstacles, and grew from it. Also, it's so sweet seeing these two foxes have each other's backs, plus, just the way their friendship grew into a romance is so sweet, and really well done! Ollie grows a back bone, and Mia learns to settle down, but not in a way that's forced or anything, but in a way that's essential to her character growth. Both characters achieve their goals and find happiness, just not in the way expected.
Just all in all, I love this book. It's perfectly spooky read, but also a charming one as well. I can't wait to read it again, and to read more works by this author!
I also like how this book carefully balances out the horror/ tragedy of foxes living in the wild. With every winter, there is a spring, with every summer, a fall. And I feel like what really makes this book stand out is that it's similar to [b:Watership Down|76620|Watership Down (Watership Down, #1)|Richard Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405136931l/76620._SY75_.jpg|1357456] but with more of an emotional core. It more so focuses on the "humanity" that the foxes have, and that makes it so much easier to empathize with them. You relate to having to survive, and while you as a reader might not be surviving in the woods, you're still going through it. Whereas with [b:Watership Down|76620|Watership Down (Watership Down, #1)|Richard Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405136931l/76620._SY75_.jpg|1357456] that focuses more on the mythological/ spiritual aspect. This one focuses on the day to day lives of these foxes-- their fears, past, emotional baggage, etc.
The two main characters have distinct personalities that surprisingly go well together. And while they have moments where they fight, the way they solve these conflicts is realistic and well done.
Another thing this book offers is just really good worldbuilding? I know that sounds odd. But hear me out. I love how this book manages to create a language the foxes use. Instead of things like rabies, we get "the yellow" or instead of birds, and other animals, we get outlandish names that the foxes have created. We also get imagery that's foxed based (for the lack of a better word) for example, the sun isn't called the "sun" it's the bright orb in the sky, or we get scenes where certain foxes smell like plants, and those scents are family scents. Or we even get references to how foxes see the world, or interact with it, which I found really cool. It adds more to the story, and not only makes this book stand out, but also makes this book an interesting and unique read. I also like how the foxes are the heroes in the story, using their wits, compassion, senses, and other things, to escape situations.
But! While I love this book, I do have to say that the time period, and how some of the fantasy elements work are a bit confusing. As for the time period, I wish that clues had been put into place to indicate WHEN this book takes place. Whether that's clothes, houses, etc.
And, as for the fantasy aspects.. those were confusing. How were these animals suddenly able to understand this one human? Why? And do these creatures REALLY get their souls sucked out, or is that just a metaphor from the POV of the foxes?
Just... the whole Beatrix Potter thing really threw me off guard. I didn't really get HOW that worked within the story, and why it was put there? I admire the creativity of it, and I love how it portrays the horror of being caged, and not knowing what's happening, etc, but I just don't get some elements of it.
Now enough of the criticism, back to what I love. This book has amazing the main characters, their arcs throughout the story are amazingly written. You literally see the both of them growing up and having to face their fears and trauma. I loved how each character overcame their obstacles, and grew from it. Also, it's so sweet seeing these two foxes have each other's backs, plus, just the way their friendship grew into a romance is so sweet, and really well done! Ollie grows a back bone, and Mia learns to settle down, but not in a way that's forced or anything, but in a way that's essential to her character growth. Both characters achieve their goals and find happiness, just not in the way expected.
Just all in all, I love this book. It's perfectly spooky read, but also a charming one as well. I can't wait to read it again, and to read more works by this author!