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A Game of Fox & Squirrels Kindle Edition

by Jenn Reese (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 107 ratings
See all formats and editions

A 2021 Oregon Book Award Winner
An NPR Best Book of 2020
A Finalist for the 2021-22 Maine Student Book Award
A 2021 Mythopoeic Awards Finalist

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.

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    10 - 14 years
  2. Print length
    222 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    5 - 9
  5. Lexile measure
    660L
  6. Publisher
    Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
  7. Publication date
    April 14, 2020
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  12. ISBN-13
    978-1250243010
  13. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A Evanston Public Library Best of the Year Selection
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year 2021 Selection

“Beautifully written...Reese’s pairing of a realistic depiction of lived trauma with its allegorical-fantasy reflection proves stunningly effective.” –Kirkus, Starred Review

"A poignant fantastical allegory... that presents generational trauma and its echoes unflinchingly." –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Reese spins a tale about child abuse that is touched with fantasy...a powerful tool for working through trauma." –Booklist

"An engaging blend of genres...dealing with realistic issues that will be a solid addition to elementary or middle school libraries." –School Library Journal

"It’s satisfying to watch Sam move from obedience born of self-preservation to being able to defy Ashander in order to protect others...the sympathetic heroine makes this a likable read with broad appeal." ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Once in an age, you read a book that is so true and so lovely that it's as if your own bruised and hopeful heart had come sailing into your hands in book form. A Game of Fox & Squirrels is that book for me. It is perfect. Sometimes magic happens: we needed this story in our world, and now it is here." ―Anne Nesbet, author of The Cabinet of Earths and Daring Darleen

"Hauntingly beautiful, funny, dark and true, and so full of magic and heart. This story will stay with me forever." ―Stephanie Burgis, author of The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart

"Jenn Reese is masterful in her delicate rendering of a vulnerable child navigating the boundaries of family loyalty. The story will quietly burrow its way into the hearts of the children who need it, inspiring bravery and truth. Unforgettable." ―Tracy Holczer, author of Everything Else in the Universe

"An important, moving book about resilience in the face of abuse, and about emerging from a very dark place into hope." ―Sarah Prineas, author of Dragonfell

"The way Jenn Reese illuminates a path to hope through dark times is what makes this book essential reading." ―Greg van Eekhout, author of Voyage of the Dogs

“A Game of Fox & Squirrels overflows with courage, and it’s willing to share.” ―William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of Goblin Secrets

About the Author

Jenn Reese (she/they) writes speculative fiction for readers of all ages. She is the author of A Game of Fox & Squirrels, an NPR Best Book of 2020, a finalist for the Andre Norton Award and the Mythopoeic Award, and winner of the Oregon Book Award. Her other publications include the Above World trilogy and numerous short stories and essays. Jenn lives in Portland, Oregon where she makes art, plays video games, and talks to the birds.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07PH8JTPY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Illustrated edition (April 14, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 14, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 14018 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 125076288X
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 107 ratings

About the author

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Jenn Reese

Jenn Reese

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JENN REESE (she/they) writes speculative fiction for readers of all ages. She is the author of A Game of Fox & Squirrels, an NPR Best Book of 2020, a finalist for the Andre Norton Award and the Mythopoeic Award, and winner of the Oregon Book Award. Her other publications include the Above World trilogy and numerous short stories and essays. Jenn lives in Portland, Oregon where she makes art, plays video games, and talks to the birds.

For more information on her stories, novels, and adventures, visit www.jennreese.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
107 global ratings
Beautiful and important book
5 Stars
Beautiful and important book
This tender, lovely middle grade story captures a tough subject in an effective, accessible way. It felt like a gift, and gets my highest recommendation.
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Top reviews from the United States

Meredith L. Burton
5.0 out of 5 stars Destined to be a Classic: A Masterpiece of Suspense Exploring the True Meaning of Home
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2020
Verified Purchase
Certain books leave you breathless and joyful. They embody beautiful truth and bring healing in the midst of darkness. I especially love when books of this sort are cleverly told using elements of fantasy. A Game of Fox and Squirrels is just such a novel. Using a fairy tale-like premise to explore relevant issues, Jenn Reese has created a masterpiece.
Samantha Littlefield and her sister Caitlin have been sent from their home in Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon to stay with their two aunts whom they have never met. The abrupt move has left Sam feeling lost and bitterly homesick. She will do anything to return to her parents. Sam is a loner and often dreams of being a hero like the ones she encounters in her beloved books. When her Aunt Vicky gifts her with an unusual card game, strange events begin to unfold. Ashander, the charming fox from the game, appears in Sam’s room and offers to help her fulfill her heart’s desire. She must pass some tests in order to find the Golden Acorn, an object of immense power that will grant any wish. Sam decides to follow Ashander’s instructions in order that she might find a way to return home. What happens when each test becomes progressively darker? And, is Sam’s true heart’s desire what she really needs?
Reese masterfully balances light and darkness in this suspenseful and beautiful tale. Each character is vivid and complex, and I loved how Sam’s inner thoughts and desires echo the card game. Ashander is a truly terrifying but compelling antagonist, and his squirrel attendants are whimsical and complex. Birch was my favorite squirrel.
The exploration of child abuse is done in a tasteful way as Reese chose to explore the aftermath of the abuse instead of making young readers experience the actual events. The card game is a perfect mirror of events, so suspense is built as readers try to discover the reason why Sam and Caitlin have had to come live with their aunts. Vicky and Hannah are wonderful characters, and I loved how the women helped each other. Vicky’s vulnerability was heart wrenchingly portrayed, and her love and kindness was palpable. I also loved how Reese made Caitlin, Sam’s older sister, play such a pivotal role. Both girls were so endearing and wonderful, and I wanted to reach through the book and give them hugs.
A Game of Fox and Squirrels is a timeless fantasy that explores relevant issues. I hope that the book receives recognition as it truly deserves to become a literary classic. The book also needs to have an audio edition. A story of finding out what truly makes a home, and a tale of sacrifice and heroism, Jenn Reese’s A Game of Fox and Squirrels is thoroughly recommended! Happy reading, and God bless you all.
6 people found this helpful
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Deva Fagan
5.0 out of 5 stars A gorgeous modern fairy tale
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
This gorgeous story is a contemporary fantasy, in which the fantastical elements allow the reader to explore and come to terms with heartbreaking emotional realities. Featuring a magical card game, a sly talking fox, and a brave girl learning the true meaning of home, this is a perfect modern fairy tale for anyone seeking a light to guide them through dark forests of their own.
2 people found this helpful
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Darth Breather
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, magical, dark and bright at the same time
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
I didn't quite know what to expect from this book. It opens with two girls, 11-year-old Sam and her elder sister Caitlin, being driven to the home of an aunt they don't know, in Oregon. Something went wrong in their home in Los Angeles. The forested home they arrive in has kind but confused aunts who try to make them confortable. Sam is eager to return home; Caitlin is not. Caitlin understands more clearly what went wrong - her father is an abusive parent, and broke Caitlin's arm.
Aunt Vicky gifts Sam "The Game of Fox & Squirrels" - a card game with a dangerous and charming villain, the fox. And then - the fox comes alive and promises Sam a way to go home if she appeases him.

The story is beautifully done. The magic parallels Sam's gradual understanding of the situation, and her coming to terms with her life. It's very readable, and all the characters are in some way sympathetic - even the hens (who are not, apparently, magical, but still attractive). The setting is wonderful - a cottage in the woods, with the two aunts, a neighbor and co-worker, and his son for company. Even the abusive parents, who never actually show up on the page, are both attractive and scary in Sam's memory.
2 people found this helpful
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WV Parent
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and important book
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
This tender, lovely middle grade story captures a tough subject in an effective, accessible way. It felt like a gift, and gets my highest recommendation.
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WV Parent
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and important book
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2021
This tender, lovely middle grade story captures a tough subject in an effective, accessible way. It felt like a gift, and gets my highest recommendation.
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One person found this helpful
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JMT Writes
5.0 out of 5 stars 11-year old Daughter couldn’t put it down
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2020
Verified Purchase
My daughter received this book Christmas morning and finished it by lunchtime. She couldn’t put it down — she was intrigued and clearly engaged. :)
One person found this helpful
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Jeremy D.
5.0 out of 5 stars My 10 year old gave it two thumbs up
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2023
Exciting and meaningful at the same time.
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Daria Pipkin
5.0 out of 5 stars Important book, but trigger warning: abuse
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2020
I've debated for a while on how to review this book. It's well-written and very important. I'm so glad the author wrote this book. However, as a book addressing physical and emotional abuse, I'm cautious in who to recommend it to as it could trigger harmful emotions in some readers--especially if they were to start it and not finish it.
The story begins with Sam and her sister Caitlyn arriving at their aunt's house after an incident caused Caitlyn's arm to be broken and both children to be removed from their parents. The abuse is only shown off-screen in the form of flashbacks. The author does an excellent job of portraying the long-term effects of walking on eggshells, living in fear, trying to please those who constantly change the rules, and having conflicted emotions toward an abusive loved one. While finding her bearings in her new home but ultimately trying to get back to her parents, Sam is given a card game. The game's fox and squirrels come to life, sending her on a quest for the magic acorn and a wish that could get her back home.
I highly recommend this book as a "window" for readers who have not experienced abuse to see what some kids go through, and hopefully learn to recognize the patterns before they may find themselves in any sort of abusive relationship later in life.
If there is a child in your life who you think would see themselves in Sam's shoes (past or present), I recommend asking their therapist before you give them this book, or giving the child several options to choose from, including this book but also perfectly lighthearted escapist books.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Fellwalker
5.0 out of 5 stars One for UK readers (and others) to look our for.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
A Game of Fox and Squirrels is a very special book, stunningly conceived and realised. It speaks from the heart and to the heart. It is surely a must for anyone in the U.K. who is widely interested in children’s literature, as well as for young readers seeking something that will engage both mind and emotions deeply.

At about the same time as this is one published in paperback, Jenn Reese has a brand new MG novel out, Every Bird a Prince. From a writer of this distinction, it has to be worth looking out for.
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