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A review by julleah
A Game of Fox & Squirrels by Jenn Reese
3.0
Sam and Caitlin are suddenly sent to Oregon to live with their aunts after an upsetting incident no one wants to talk about. Aunt Vicky introduces Sam a card game where a fox and squirrels comes to life to help Sam find the Golden Acorn and fix everything that’s upside down - but what if it’s not just a game anymore? What if the fox and squirrels are something much scarier and real? This book is clever and tear jerker but reminds the reader that you are never truly alone - even the bravest of squirrels can find safe family & friends.
Although the protagonist is 11, I would NOT recommend this to young readers. It’s more appropriate for at least 13 and up if not older.
Trigger warning with details - highlight trauma (contains spoilers):
- allegory for physical and emotional abuse
- child abuse is mentioned but not described in great detail. (father intentionally breaks their child’s arm, mother tells their daughters repeatedly not to say anything about the abuse, CPS workers talk briefly with the children and aunts about how they are doing; their mother disrespects boundaries and doesn’t allow the children to have doors that lock and walks in regardless of child’s requests)
- describes some PTSD symptoms including heart racing (Sam calls it the “rabbit heart”). Sam freezes when her sister accidentally drops a glass of orange juice and it shatters. Sam expresses being worried everyone is mad at her or will hurt or abandon her.
- Sam keeps trauma symptoms and fears a secret from family and friends; she gets angry when others try to say bad things about her family because she wants to be reunited. She also receives a letter from her parents but the book doesn’t say what the letter says because the letter is given to the CPS worker; the children never read it.
Although the protagonist is 11, I would NOT recommend this to young readers. It’s more appropriate for at least 13 and up if not older.
Trigger warning with details - highlight trauma (contains spoilers):
- allegory for physical and emotional abuse
- child abuse is mentioned but not described in great detail. (father intentionally breaks their child’s arm, mother tells their daughters repeatedly not to say anything about the abuse, CPS workers talk briefly with the children and aunts about how they are doing; their mother disrespects boundaries and doesn’t allow the children to have doors that lock and walks in regardless of child’s requests)
- describes some PTSD symptoms including heart racing (Sam calls it the “rabbit heart”). Sam freezes when her sister accidentally drops a glass of orange juice and it shatters. Sam expresses being worried everyone is mad at her or will hurt or abandon her.
- Sam keeps trauma symptoms and fears a secret from family and friends; she gets angry when others try to say bad things about her family because she wants to be reunited. She also receives a letter from her parents but the book doesn’t say what the letter says because the letter is given to the CPS worker; the children never read it.