The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman (published 2025) tells the story of Clare, the fox who is an Usher for dead animals to the afterlife, and his search for meaning in his undead existence. Clare had a very brief life, and now he has spent six years in between life and death as he helps animals to crossover to their eternal rest. But now there is an issue with one of the animals in his charge: Gingersnipes the badger doesn’t seem to fit in any of the realms. How can he help her to move on so he can continue his work as Usher? Is he a good fox, or a mean one?
In the world of Deadwood Forest, there are four afterlife locations: Peace, Pleasure, Progress, and Pain. Each animal will fit in the domain that most brings him or her happiness. For all his time as an Usher, Clare worries that his destination will be Pain. Clare’s self-realization is the journey here, as he faces the need to move on himself. He faces fear and hesitation, and his ultimate destination; the prospect of All Hallow’s Eve prompts him to consider selfish decisions. It seems Pain will be his ultimate destination, after all. Clare struggles with the idea of selfish versus selfless, revenge or forgiveness, and fate versus choice.
Clare is completely loveable. His short, tragic life has given him a grotesque appearance, but he has found a way to creatively dress to alleviate discomfort for the traveling spirits that come to him looking for direction. He doesn’t realize his own strength of character and the goodness within him, a concept so many struggle with themselves and therefore will relate to. Gingersnipes is his complete opposite in demeanor, but her loveable cheerful personality shines brightly as she her positively begins to wear off on Clare. Despite my expectations (I’m not as fond of animal undead stories as I am of realistic fiction), I greatly enjoyed reading (in my case, listening to) this book.
The Undead Fox has a second person narrator that occassionally addresses the audience. Along with the “undead” theme of the book, it strongly reminds me of another Newbery Honor book — The Graveyeard Book by Neil Gaiman. That book focused on a boy raised by vampires, so although it doesn’t have anything like the same plot, in some ways the morbid “death” themes of the two books compliment each other as the main characters seek for a place among both the living and the death.
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest is a 2026 Newbery Honor Book.
