Review Detail

Shadow Fox tells the story of Bee, a young girl who lives in a motel by the lake with her mother and Nan, until one day, Nan isn’t there. The fox she was feeding isn’t happy that her fish supply has stopped and isn’t sure of this young girl who isn’t Nan. Finding themselves inexplicably drawn to each other, the story takes our heroes across the lake to a magical island in search of Nan. Is Nan still alive? What is happening to the secret islands of the lake? And is there more to the fox than meets the eye? The author does an excellent job of bringing the fox to life by allowing it to tell the tale from its point of view. The thoughts are clear and understandable while holding just the right amount of clever personality to let sympathy grab hold. Its fear of humans gains depth as more about the fox's past comes to light, and Bee, the young girl, accompanies the fox and gains its trust little by little through her calmer, more open personality. It's a beautiful balance and allows their special friendship to blossom and bloom. There's enough secrets, magic, tension, and even a bit of humor to make the scenes grab and the plot flow.
Messages surround loss, friendship, loyalty, and respect for nature. This last one breathes through most of the story and mixes with the magic to form an enchanting atmosphere. The entire read is almost lyrical, which will connect better with some readers than others. Fans of books with animal narrators, such as The Warriors by Erin Hunter, will quickly devour this one.