From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…

Maybe a Fox

Kathi Appelt,

Alison McGhee

Start date: August 1, 2016

Finish date: August 31, 2016

Discussion: Book of the Month - 2017

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Showing 2 of 11 topics — 405 comments total

Book of the Month - 2017

March Read- Pax
By Kristen · 60 posts · 320 views

last updated Feb 27, 2017 02:27PM

October Read - The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog
By Kristen · 35 posts · 227 views

last updated Feb 23, 2017 12:30PM

What Members Thought

Apr 15, 2016 Dest rated it liked it

Shelves: audio, siblings, sad, middle-grade, animals, death

Is 2016 shaping up to be the Year of Sad or what? (See: Raymie Nightingale and Pax.)

By the way, total tangent, I unofficially dubbed 2015 the Year of the Grandparent: Listen, Slowly, Circus Mirandus, Goodbye Stranger, Gone Crazy in Alabama, Bayou Magic, Sunny Side Up, The Lightning Queen, Great Ball of Light, In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse, Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, and saving the best for (ahem) last, Last Stop on Market Street.

That was fun! I'd much rather list bo ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2016 Mary Lee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: characters, 2016, animals, grief-loss, death

Gorgeous writing. So many threads woven in a beautiful story.

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2016 Susan Dunn rated it really liked it

Shelves: j-fiction

After her beloved older sister disappears, Jules has to deal with being left behind, as well survivor's guilt for having gone into a part of the woods where the girls had promised their father they wouldn't go. She can't face going to back to school and riding the bus without her sister, so she stays home for several weeks. At the same time, a baby fox is born who somehow has a connection to Sylvie. With Appelt's typical touch of magical realism, the animal and the human worlds intersect, and th ...more

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May 28, 2016 Janice rated it really liked it

Beautifully written with characters that live on in your memory. The mystical, spirit animals add a fantasy component that can be a bit hard to accept. There's so much loss, such necessity for adapting to that loss. Now...what child do I know who will love this? ...more

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Mar 16, 2016 Kate Hastings rated it really liked it

Shelves: jfic-middle-grades-4-6

Grades 4-6. Jules and Sylvie are sisters-- inseparable since the death of their mother. Wishing rocks are collected and thrown into a dangerous place where a stream disappears into an underground cavern. It is said that messages are carried to the spirit world.

Tragedy strikes the family again. Sylvie disappears just as a fox cub is being born. A special fox that is connected to the spirit world. A fox that is born to follow and protect Jules. Protect her from what?

Magical realism. Beautiful stor ...more

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Dec 30, 2015 Megan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, slapanawardonthispuppy

Phenomenal

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Mar 11, 2016 Shari (Shira) rated it really liked it

Shelves: childrensbooks, favorites

I am declaring 2016, "The Year of the Fox." Another beautiful, haunting, engaging story featuring a fox. Jules has suffered unimaginable loss in her short 11 years. A fox suddenly shows up and seems to have a message for her. The language of this book is exquisite. It is a wonderful resource for writers' craft. I love the idea "wishing rocks." I am going to look for one right now. ...more

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