A Game of Fox & Squirrels

Name: A Game of Fox & Squirrels
Brand: Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd
SKU: 9781250762887
Price: 19.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Jenn Reese

0.0 (0 reviews)

4.08

( 1,565 ratings, 330 reviews)

Summary

After a family incident, eleven-year-old Samantha and her sister move to rural Oregon to live with an aunt they’ve never met. Sam is reluctant to accept her new life until her aunt introduces her to A Game of Fox & Squirrels, a mysterious card game featuring animal characters. Sam becomes captivated by Ashander, a cunning fox who offers her a dangerous quest: find the Golden Acorn to have any desire fulfilled. As the boundaries between magic and reality blur, Sam must navigate hidden rules and risks that could cost her more than just a game. This enchanting middle grade novel delicately explores trauma, hope, and the search for home.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$19⁹⁹

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

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A Game of Fox & Squirrels

$19⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for middle grade readers and fans of emotionally rich fantasy, A Game of Fox & Squirrels is perfect for those who enjoy stories about resilience, overcoming trauma, and magical adventures. Suitable for both personal reading and educational settings, especially for readers who appreciate nuanced explorations of difficult themes wrapped in imaginative storytelling.

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A stunning, heartbreaking novel about a girl who finds the light in the darkness... and ultimately discovers the true meaning of home.

A girl coping with a domestic violence incident is swept up in a board game that may or may not be magical.

Description

A 2021 Oregon Book Award Winner

An NPR Best Book of 2020

A Finalist for the 2021-22 Maine Student Book Award

Andre Norton Award finalist Jenn Reese explores the often thin line between magic and reality, light and darkness in her enchanting middle grade standalone.

"Brings to life, viscerally, what it is like to live in fear of abuse—even after the abuse itself is over. But there is magic here too, and the promise of a better future that comes with learning to let people who care about you into your world." - Alan Gratz, New York Times-bestselling author of Refugee

"A captivating and touching story, both whimsical and emotionally—sometimes frighteningly—compelling." - Ingrid Law, Newbery Honor-winning author of Savvy

"Magically creative and deeply honest, A Game of Fox & Squirrels merges games and grimness in a fantasy tale that tells the truth." - Elana K. Arnold, Printz Honor-winning author of Damsel and A Boy Called Bat

After an incident shatters their family, eleven-year-old Samantha and her older sister Caitlin are sent to live in rural Oregon with an aunt they've never met. Sam wants nothing more than to go back to the way things were, before she spoke up about their father's anger.

When Aunt Vicky gives Sam a mysterious card game called A Game of Fox & Squirrels, Sam falls in love with the animal characters, especially the charming trickster fox, Ashander. Then one day, Ashander shows up in Sam's room and offers her an adventure and a promise: find the Golden Acorn, and Sam can have anything she desires.

But the fox is hiding rules that Sam isn't prepared for, and her new home feels more tempting than she'd ever expected. As Sam is swept up in the dangerous quest, the line between magic and reality grows thin. If she makes the wrong move, she'll lose far more than just a game.

Perfect for fans of Barbara O'Connor, Lauren Wolk, and Ali Benjamin, A Game of Fox & Squirrels is a stunning, heartbreaking novel about a girl who finds the light in the darkness... and ultimately discovers the true meaning of home.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Kirkus awarded a starred review, praising the book as "beautifully written" and lauding the effective pairing of trauma with allegorical fantasy. Publishers Weekly also gave a starred review, calling it a "poignant fantastical allegory" unflinching in its portrayal of generational trauma. Booklist noted it as a powerful tool for working through trauma, while School Library Journal recommended it for elementary and middle school libraries for its engaging blend of genres and realistic issues. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books highlighted the protagonist’s growth and the book's broad appeal, calling it a likable read with a sympathetic heroine.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250762887

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 May 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: St Martin's Press

Illustration: 1-color illustrations

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 220.0mm

Weight: 232g

Pages: 256

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Jenn Reese Young Adult

About the Author

Jenn Reese writes speculative fiction for readers of all ages. Her first novel, Above World, was a finalist for the 2012 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Portland, Oregon, where she revels in the rain, plays too many video games, and works as a freelance graphic designer.

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