FoxHide by John C. Hill

FoxHide: From HillCountry Farm by John C. Hill is a sugar-rush of a novel told through the eyes of an energetic young fox as he grows up wild and free, and learns about life – both the good and the bad.

Exploring the nuances of brotherly affection, risky adventure, hard lessons, and the pain of disappointment, this allegorical story is well-penned and strong in its messaging for young readers. There are long passages of lovely descriptions, and exciting bursts of action, coupled with the constant charm of Pawz, Boomboom, and Strike – characters it is decidedly hard not to love.

Rarely do authors capture the true spontaneity and randomness of a child in full “thought sprint,” but Hill keeps the dialogue and narration overflowing with energy that demands attention. That same whimsy and free-flowing style, however, is also a small source of weakness, as there are a few times when the author comes off as too over the top with the experimental formatting, exclamation points, capitalizations, and overall manic energy in the typeface itself. The stream of consciousness style works, to a point, and puts readers firmly in the mind of the narrator, but it can be an occasionally exhausting ride.

A gentle editorial hand could rein in a few scenes and add more balance, but as it stands FoxHide is a clever and creative long-form parable, and well worth a read.

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