In one of the best-reviewed books of the year, an undead fox named Clare meets a badger named Gingersnaps who turns his life upside down—perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Tim Burton.
Clare is the undead fox of Deadwood Forest. Here, leaves grow in a perpetual state of fall: not quite dead, but not quite alive—just like Clare. Long ago, he was struck by a car, and, hovering between life and death, he was given the choice to either cross into the Afterlife or become an Usher of wandering souls. Clare chose the latter: a solitary life of guiding souls to their final resting place.
Clare’s quiet and predictable days are met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes knocks on his door. Despite Clare’s efforts to usher her into the Afterlife, the badger is unable to leave Deadwood. This is unprecedented. Baffling. A disturbing mystery which threatens the delicate balance between the living and the dead.
Desperate for help, Clare and Gingersnipes set out on a treacherous journey to find Hesterfowl—the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But upon their arrival, Hesterfowl divulges a shocking revelation that leaves Clare devastated, outraged, and determined to do anything to change his fate.---from the publisher
320 pages 978-0316575720 Ages 9-13
Keywords: fantasy, death and dying, fox, badger, journey, grief, moving on, mystery, animals, forests, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, 13 year old
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What happens when you die? Where do you go? How do you spend the rest of the time your soul has for existing? Where do you pass on to?
A knock at the door alerts Clare, a fox, whose job it is to usher animal souls to their final place. He will send them to Pain, Peace, Progress or Pleasure. The animals don't decide for themselves. No, the Afterlife Realm has decided for them.
Soul after soul Clare opens the door, assesses the soul, and then sends them off with the directions to their final home and a salutation, Travel True. Until... until the night a dreaded badger knocks on the door. Her name is Gingersnipes and she is going to be a problem.
Your life is a story and you get to write it. When you're done living it, writing it, making your choices, will you have regret or pride in who you have been and what you have done with your life? These animals have made their choices not realizing they will have a story after they have passed to the other side. This one makes you think about your own story, what you are creating in your own life. It takes us to a place that TUCK EVERLASTING took us. We can become aware of the value of life and the power we have to make our own lives worthy. What a gift!
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
