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erine 's review for:
Scary Stories for Young Foxes
by Christian McKay Heidicker
I had my doubts at the beginning. Were these really going to be scary stories? And quickly, I revised that to wonder whether these were going to be too scary? In the end, I found it to be the perfect balance of terrifying and sweet. Similar in intensity to the [b:Redwall|7996|Redwall (Redwall, #1)|Brian Jacques|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327877368l/7996._SY75_.jpg|486980] series, but with pacing for a slightly younger audience.
The way the story breaks up into chilling episodes with (literally) dark interludes means that just when things get hopeless or too awful, there is a brief respite. Illustrations add visual breaks in the story as well. Eventually, all elements blend into what was, all along, one single horrifying tale about the world these foxes live in. From malevolent humans to disease, foul weather, birth defects, and predators, many of the horrors were ones you can see while watching any nature show. But there were... other... kinds of horrors, too. Sibling cruelty, abusive fathers, cult grooming, and parental neglect, that draw uncomfortable parallels to human problems.
But against all of this is the courage of two young foxes and their friendship. And even though the power of love can't surmount every difficulty, it can inspire bravery and make the really hard times a little less devastating. To finish this collection of horrifying stories, the storyteller reminds us readers that the darkest tales can awaken us to the horrors in the world around us, and help prepare us all for what we might face.
The power of stories indeed.
Recipient of a 2020 Newbery Honor Award.
The way the story breaks up into chilling episodes with (literally) dark interludes means that just when things get hopeless or too awful, there is a brief respite. Illustrations add visual breaks in the story as well. Eventually, all elements blend into what was, all along, one single horrifying tale about the world these foxes live in. From malevolent humans
Spoiler
(this was one of my favorite parts: Beatrix Potter as the local wildlife may have experienced her)But against all of this is the courage of two young foxes and their friendship. And even though the power of love can't surmount every difficulty, it can inspire bravery and make the really hard times a little less devastating. To finish this collection of horrifying stories, the storyteller reminds us readers that the darkest tales can awaken us to the horrors in the world around us, and help prepare us all for what we might face.
The power of stories indeed.
Recipient of a 2020 Newbery Honor Award.