For those who advocate that middle grade literature is the best, The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest validates that claim. Author Aubrey Hartman’s voice and literary style exemplify first rate craftmanship. In a remarkably short span of pages, she creates a afterlife mythos that has depth for an older reader and accessibility for a younger reader. Clare, the protagonist, and Gingersnipes, an unexpected antagonist and friend at the same time, have the same concerns and doubts that children have; this emotionally hooks the reader into the narrative. Adventure and peril propel the plot forward. With interesting characters galore, this would be a fabulous read aloud book.
This was one of my favorites from the 2026 Newbery Book Awards. Of the 2026 Newbery books, it is probably the one that children will organically be drawn to with its relatable characters, gorgeous illustrations and cover (shout out to Marcin Minor!), themes, and plot pacing. A couple of late twists bring this story to a brilliant and satisfying conclusion. If you are looking for a book with a lot of heart, look no further.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Children’s song about a monster that eats braids, bones, and toes; reference to accident that left a character disfigured, including the loss of an eye and an empty eye socket, brief description; verbal threat of harm; brief scene in which characters are attacked with intent to kill, but fight back by hitting with a board, knocking heads, etc.; mob attacks with porcupine quills, talons, rocks, etc. and chases a character with intent to harm; recollection of a character of being hit by a car and lying on the road dying slowly; destruction of property; injury and near death of a character; character briefly recounts her death by a predator so the predator could find her young; character chases after others, makes it look like they have blood on them, and scaring a group; character is attacked/hit with a branch;
Sex/Nudity: None
Mature Subject Matter:
Abandonment, disfigurement, death, taunting/cruelty, self-esteem/self-worth, purpose.
Alcohol/Drugs:
None
