A Game of Fox & Squirrels

By: Jenn Reese

Narrated by: Sarah Franco

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

Nebula Awards - Nominee, 2020

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

After an incident shatters their family, 11-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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

"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 best-selling 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)

©2020 Jenn Reese (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

“Beautifully written...Reese’s pairing of a realistic depiction of lived trauma with its allegorical-fantasy reflection proves stunningly effective.” (Kirkus, starred review)

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

"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)

Nebula Awards - Nominee - 2020 

A Powerful Story with Engaging Characters

Jenn Reese's A Game of FOx & Squirrels is a beautiful story. Part fairy tale and part survival tale, this is the story of Samantha Littlefield and her sister, Caitlin. They must stay with two aunts whom they have never met in Oregon after a terrifying incident in their family. Sam feels lost and frightened in this unfamiliar world and longs to return home. But is home really where she thinks it is? When Sam is given a mysterious card game, fantasy and reality collide in a suspenseful quest. Things are not what they seem, and friends might very well be foes.

Reese cleverly explores the trauma that occurs even during the aftermath of abuse. Sam is a delightful character, and the reader is pulled into her mind in an engaging way. This is a book that is impossible to put down.

The characters are engaging, and the narration is phenomenal! I love how Ms. Franco has a distinct voice for each character, particularly her portrayal of the soft-spoken Aunt Vicky and the sly and menacing fox, Ashander. Reese spins a clever tale that explores difficult themes in a creative way. Please give this riveting story a chance. I truly hope it receives literary recognition of some kind as it is one of the most unique reading experiences I have encountered in some time. Happy listening, and God bless you all.