Maybe a Fox Paperback – April 18, 2017

This book was purchased as a required reading for my 9 year-old. Before handing this book over, I decided first to read it to make sure that it would be appropriate. Prior to reading Maybe a Fox, I did not believe that I would be as emotionally affected as many of the other reviewers. But, alas, I found myself fighting back tears quite a few times.After reading this book, I can honestly say that my expectations were successfully exceeded. It has been a long time since I came across a children's book like Maybe a Fox. Going in, I think that my views were quite low due to the fact that a lot of children's books that I've read lately have left something to be desired. Unlike so many, there was no vulgarity, no cruelty in the story. The only bit of violence was when a rogue bear was shot at and grazed by a hunter's bullet. I love how the theme of anger was transformed into hope, forgiveness, and acceptance. And, I appreciate how the authors brought to life the personalities of the animals, and drew upon the human sentiments in those animals. Also, I really liked the intricacy of the plot, and how it was developed and built upon.I have given this book a 5 star rating because I found the storyline captivating, and the depth in which it deals with death, hope, and spirituality refreshing. Regardless of age or beliefs, I feel that the imaginative story can be enjoyed by everyone. I am excited about sharing Maybe a Fox with my 9 year-old, and I'm sure that the story will be well received.

MAYBE A FOX by authors Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee is a heart-wrenching story. After older sister Sylvie is involved in a terrible accident at a place called The Slip, Jules, and her father are left to deal with the loss. As Sylvie leaves the earth, three kits are growing in the belly of a mother fox. One of her kits has a special connection called "Kennen." Events unfold and intertwine beautifully leading from grief to healing. The language is poetic and the symbolism is exceptional. MAYBE A FOX will tug at your heart. Have a tissue handy!

I absolutely love this book. I'm a teacher and read it aloud to my 5th graders over the course of a couple weeks, and they couldn't wait each day to continue from where we'd left off from the day before. The overall story is a thought provoking tear-jerker with a satisfying resolution. I'll definitely be reading it to my future students!

I have been struggling to write a review for this book for quite a while as I sort out my reading of it to my 5 year old daughter. It's such a fantastic book that I don't want to do it an injustice.What is at the core of the story? Is it the relationship between the two sisters? Is it the spiritual connection between the fox and the world into which it is born? Is it the connected-ness of the world in which our protagonists inhabit? Is it about love between sisters and between friends? Maybe it's all of it. In that way, it is reminiscent of Babel (the 2006 film).I was hesitant at first to read this to my daughter based on the fact that she, too, has a sister and I wondered if maybe the central element of the story would be too difficult for her at this age, but she handled it just fine. As we started the book, I had my doubts as the story unravels quite slowly; I found the pacing of the first part of the story to be quite underwhelming. However, by the second part of the book, once we are introduced to Senna -- a newborn fox -- the story takes off and grabs you by the heart and doesn't let you go. The pacing of the second and third acts is brilliant and gripping. Night after night my daughter would ask for another chapter after we'd used up our allotted reading time and it was time for her to put her head down to sleep.There is a beauty in the prose that at times is poetic. It's a feeling in the pacing of the words that expresses itself even more so when read aloud. In the first act, it seems extraneous, but by the second and third act, it is beautifully fitting. I think that it may be that by the second and third act, the story hits a very spiritual nature (for anyone concerned, it is certainly not religious -- just spiritual) and it is this aspect that drives the story and the prose. With each chapter and each page, it draws you into the story until the final, momentous crescendo that neatly wraps the story and delivers on the anticipation and promise of the pages before it.Who is this book for? Adolescents? Sisters? Kids? Parents? It's for all of those; it's for everyone. It is a fantastic book that is rich in emotion, spirituality, and, yes, action. It's one of my favorite reads with my daughter this year and I recommend it for readers of all ages!

so i went to the library a few weeks ago and was lookikng through the books and all of a sudden i found this one! from the very first page, i was taken away on a wild and beautiful rollarcoaster of emotions! the writing and the book itself were incredibly beautiful, spiritual, and heart wrenching. it was so good i read it all in one sitting! i reccomend this amazing book to any and all readers! :)

My granddaughter wanted me to read this book. It was a great book. All grandkids and Nana’s should read this together. She is 11 and she loved it and so do i

This a beautifully written book with heart and soul. The spiritual connection between people and animals brings joy and sorrow In this story. It is thought provoking and should be shared.

This book is really good and inspirational .it does have sad moments and is full of death it is good it is really really good I loved this book though it might seem sad at moments I also think it is really good

It's a well-written story but it tips the scales when it comes to depressing. It felt like it was this way just for the sake of being sad, and it did spoil it a bit for me.

It is great book