Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City
Christian McKay Heidicker’s latest book, Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City, follows fox kit O-370, who hungers for a life of adventure, like those lived long ago by Mia and Uly. But on the Farm, foxes know only the safety of their wire dens and the promise of eternal happiness in the White Barn. Or so they’re told. When O-370 gets free of his cage, he witnesses the gruesome reality awaiting all the Farm’s foxes and narrowly escapes with his life. In a nearby suburb, young Cozy and her skulk are facing an unknown danger, one that hunts foxes. Forced to flee their den, they travel to a terrifying new world: the City. That’s where they encounter O-370, and where they’ll need to fight for their lives against mad hounds, killer robots, and the most dangerous of all creatures: humans.
I had no idea Heidicker had a sequel coming out, as I thought Scary Stories for Young Foxes ended well. Yet The City was a pleasant surprise, for it almost surpassed the original, which isn’t something I usually see in the series I read. I liked how Heidicker still touched on the original characters in the first book, but went on a new adventure with the young foxes. I have a soft spot for foxes, so anytime the kits in The City were in danger, my heart rate sure kicked up!
Heidicker did a great job giving the three kits who were listening to the dying fox’ stories more agency, and had them end up saving the foxes trapped on the fur farm. It brought the story full circle and added an unexpected twist. Now free, I like to think the foxes had found a way to make their new life in the forest work, safe from the dangers of the city and the fur farm.
It was hard to narrow down a favourite chapter, but I especially liked the one where the reader learned about Cozy’s past and she got to see her mother one last time. She was my favourite out of the kits and it was impossible not to root for her as she faced countless struggles.
Just like the original book, I loved the artwork inside and the cover. The illustrations added so much to the book.
Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City is a heart-stopping story that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City Rating: ★★★★
I had no idea Heidicker had a sequel coming out, as I thought Scary Stories for Young Foxes ended well. Yet The City was a pleasant surprise, for it almost surpassed the original, which isn’t something I usually see in the series I read. I liked how Heidicker still touched on the original characters in the first book, but went on a new adventure with the young foxes. I have a soft spot for foxes, so anytime the kits in The City were in danger, my heart rate sure kicked up!
Heidicker did a great job giving the three kits who were listening to the dying fox’ stories more agency, and had them end up saving the foxes trapped on the fur farm. It brought the story full circle and added an unexpected twist. Now free, I like to think the foxes had found a way to make their new life in the forest work, safe from the dangers of the city and the fur farm.
It was hard to narrow down a favourite chapter, but I especially liked the one where the reader learned about Cozy’s past and she got to see her mother one last time. She was my favourite out of the kits and it was impossible not to root for her as she faced countless struggles.
Just like the original book, I loved the artwork inside and the cover. The illustrations added so much to the book.
Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City is a heart-stopping story that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City Rating: ★★★★