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A review by katbancroft
Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
4.0
*minor spoilers ahead* This book definitely isn’t one I would have picked for myself, but someone my dad works with raved about it so highly that I decided to give it a go. I’m glad I did. It was fun getting out of my reading comfort zone and indulging in a little spookiness. And though I didn’t love it as much as the person who recommended it, I had to round up to four stars simply because the writing is so effortlessly beautiful. It was like reading the grace of a ballerina.
I also have to commend the author for so successfully walking the line between “heartwarmingly adorable” and “genuinely creepy.” The story drew on classic horror elements, which often made me hold my breath and clench my teeth, but I never felt like it became so dark that it was no longer age appropriate. It was never scary for the sake of being scary, either — every chapter fed into wider themes of personal growth, friendship, bravery and how the truly terrible things don’t always lurk in the dark. And it all pulled together so sweetly and satisfyingly by the end.
The story felt a little slow and even a tad predictable at times, though those patches never lasted long. (And that’s not to say there weren’t a few great twists, too.) I also didn’t totally understand the arc with Mia’s mom. Mia felt abandoned by her mother even though her mother fought for her and didn’t leave her until she had very good reason to believe Mia was dead. I kept hoping for a scene where they’d meet again and reconcile, but perhaps Heidicker’s point was that life and nature aren’t always fair.
A lovely read for kids and adults alike, perfect for a late night while the wind is blowing. This one’s Newberry medal is well deserved.
I also have to commend the author for so successfully walking the line between “heartwarmingly adorable” and “genuinely creepy.” The story drew on classic horror elements, which often made me hold my breath and clench my teeth, but I never felt like it became so dark that it was no longer age appropriate. It was never scary for the sake of being scary, either — every chapter fed into wider themes of personal growth, friendship, bravery and how the truly terrible things don’t always lurk in the dark. And it all pulled together so sweetly and satisfyingly by the end.
The story felt a little slow and even a tad predictable at times, though those patches never lasted long. (And that’s not to say there weren’t a few great twists, too.) I also didn’t totally understand the arc with Mia’s mom. Mia felt abandoned by her mother even though her mother fought for her and didn’t leave her until she had very good reason to believe Mia was dead. I kept hoping for a scene where they’d meet again and reconcile, but perhaps Heidicker’s point was that life and nature aren’t always fair.
A lovely read for kids and adults alike, perfect for a late night while the wind is blowing. This one’s Newberry medal is well deserved.