Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The White Fox-James Bartholomeusz

The White Fox


James Bartholomeusz

Medallion, Dec 1 2011, $9.95

ISBN 9781605424620



In Birchford, England sixteen-year-old orphan Jack Lawson is walking with one of his few friends popular Lucy when he sees the glowing white fox; she fails to notice anything as she was babbling in teen speak. A few days later, the pair notices dangerous looking hooded figures stalking the town. The White Fox introduces himself to Jack as his guardian and warns him to remain vigilant. Not long afterward members of the Cult of Dionysus attack Jack and Lucy and his other friend Alex vanishes.



The Apollonians rescue the teens by taking them to the planet Rauthr where elves are at war with demons at a time when the Darkness is spreading across the universe. Although they have doubts that Jack is the savior, the practical Apollonians know he is there only hope to use the magical shards of starlight against the encroaching Darkness.



This is an entertaining quest fantasy written by a teen for a teenage audience. Jack is an intriguing hero who burns beans while living in an orphanage that is more a prison than a home; his sidekick Lucy sums up their escapades together as he is Gandalf the young and she is the karate Kid. Mindful of Michael Ende’s “The Neverending Story” though targeting an older audience, readers will enjoy James Bartholomeusz’s exciting The White Fox while looking forward to more of Jack’s adventures.



Harriet Klausner



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