The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle – Victoria Williamson, Kelpies, 9781782504900, 2018
Format: Paperback
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5
Genre: Realistic
What did you like about the book? This story is about the friendship formed between two 12-year-old girls in Scotland. First: lispy bully Caylin who spends her days stealing lunch money from other kids and her evenings caring for her alcoholic mum, hoping no one discovers that her only parent is effectively useless in a deep depressive funk since the death of her grandfather. Second: Syrian refugee Reema who desperately misses home and her brother who has been missing since before they escaped Syria. Her formerly strong and faithful father is not feeling the call to pray and sits in his wheelchair desperately searching the internet for hints of his son. Caylin and Reema both find an injured mother fox behind their apartment and begin to feed her and her cubs. Their friendship grows (in fits and starts) as they come to realize they are both taking care of this fox family.
Anything you didn’t like about it? Nothing. This story is a delightfully nuanced, diverse, thoughtful and even fun/cute story of friendship and learning to be a good person. The ending is a bit overly sweet but it works with the rest of the feel-good story.
To whom would you recommend this book? Really great for anyone who loves a great story of friendship
Who should buy this book? Middle schools, public libraries
Where would you shelve it? YA Fiction
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: April Duclos, Hudson Public Library, Hudson MA
Date of review: 9/2/18
Youth Services Book Review 
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