Scary Stories for Young Foxes (Scary Stories for Young Foxes #1)

Dark and skillfully distressing, this is a story for the bold.

[F]or a certain type of reader--those lost in a battered copy of Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark--this is exactly the kind of book they're hunting for... Kids able to brave the harrowing adventures of Mia and Uly are in for a chilling roller coaster of a read.

An ancient fox storyteller presents eight interwoven tales to seven intrepid fox kits in this inventive middle-grade debut by Heidicker (Attack of the 50 Foot Wallflower). The kits' eyes are opened to real-world trauma as they follow the harrowing journeys of Mia and Uly, two young foxes who encounter disease, humans, predators, hunger, separation, and loss. As each tale grows progressively darker, the kits must question their fearlessness and consider returning to the safety of their mother's side. Heidicker ratchets up the tension as his protagonists encounter poisonous snakes, a rabies-like affliction called the yellow, an abusive fox father, author Beatrix Potter moonlighting as a taxidermist, light body horror, and more. Beguiling, intricate, black-and-white illustrations enrich the text, while the narrative framing device offers distance from the bleakness that Mia and Uly face. Heidicker presents but doesn't fully develop themes of loss and anthropogenic change, and readers may gloss over them as they fly through the swiftly moving story. An entertaining read for those who enjoy spooky animal thrills. Ages 9-12. Agent: John M. Cusick, Folio Literary. (Aug.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"These tales are not for the faint of heart. And once you start, you cannot stop until you've reached the end....Terrifying and wonderful. A nightmare book you'll want to return to repeatedly."—Betsy Bird, Fuse8 Productions

"A weird, creepy and thoroughly entertaining romp for readers of all ages! Highly recommended!"—Jonathan Maberry, New York Times-bestselling author of Rot & Ruin and Mars One

"Heidicker has written the next Watership Down."—New York Times-bestselling author Jessica Day George

"Gather around this collection of finely written stories that will raise your hackles and tingle your whiskers. But reader, beware. The dangers within this book are very real. Fortunately, so is the bravery of foxes."—Matthew Kirby, Edgar Award-winning author of Icefall and The Clockwork Three

"Heidicker strikes a careful balance of horror and suspense, deploying vivid descriptions of blood and viscera along with key moments of unbearably heightened tension...Fans of Parry's A Wolf Called Wander will find the kits' journey to safety compelling, and readers of horror will most certainly appreciate the thrills and chills offered here."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books