This is one book from my childhood that has such a strange past with me. For as much as a I knew about the book and the black colored fox that inhabited the pages I never read it. Yet that was all I needed to know for the book to influence me and to be bewitched by black foxes.... And so it was interest that I had the book recommended to me by a GR friend and chose to pursue it if I could find a copy.

I am surprised that I hadn't continued on and read this book when I was younger for it holds all the components of most of the older books that I had enjoyed. Although the protagonist is a bitter and resentful boy there is an animal who is quite the charming opposite and a beautiful message wrapped up in this growing up and coming-of-age story. It also holds deep emotions that touch the tender soul and is a reminder at least to me for what my own young years sometimes felt like although without the blessing of some of these country stories.

The writing is bright and descriptive while those who enjoy juvenile works will truly enjoy the way the words roll. It is the type of simple writing that brings to the eye so many things whether it might be a vision of the story, an emotion or a memory even as it tucks you up within its pages.

Although the story could be graced with colored illustrations it isn't. The illustrations are detailed in black-and-white yet convey the world that you are reading about. There is a beauty and grace in the fox as she is displayed or the roly lines of her kit.

All in all it is a definitely a winner in my reading history and one I hope to add to my own growing library when I can afford it.

Really, a lot better than I was expecting. I picked this out of my bookcase where my someone had apparently stashed it after my mum brought it home from school to improve one of her tutees' English. I basically started it because I'd just finished my last one, had two days before I moved house, and had already packed what I intended to read next.
It's safe to say I didn't have any sort of expectations. From the name and cover, it looked like it was going to be a bit twee and without much merit, but I was pleasantly surprised, as I mentioned. It's definitely Michael Morpurgo-esque (although as it might predate him, I guess that should be the other way around), and I mean that in a good way. It's a story about a slightly troubled child and a bond with an animal, as many of his are, but there is also some real emotion in the book.
I also thought the way the author described the inner thoughts of the protagonist was really good, and reminded me of just the sort of things I would catch myself thinking when I was younger (and maybe occasionally today too, if I'm being honest). The tone was just right, and they were just outlandish enough to be realistic children's thoughts.
The powerlessness of the main character in the last chapter I thought was also very appropriate, given it's a young boy away from home at a relation's house. It's exactly reminiscent of how you feel as a child when things aren't going your way, especially when your parents aren't there for you to appeal to. The book as a whole was nicely believable, and I didn't have to suspend my disbelief at all, which is often the case with Morpurgo's books.
All in all, a good read. I don't think I'll be searching out more of Byars' work for myself - it wasn't that good - but it was a pleasant read, and I might try my niece on them once she's a bit older. I'm confident she'll like this one, at least.

Captures the mind of a young shy boy; very witty and captivating.

It may have been a good read in the 1960s but it was almost impossible to reconcile the portrayals of women and girls in this book, reading it to my son in the 21st century. All female characters in this book are portrayed as weak, hysterical, or “fat” (aka unacceptable) and one-dimensional. Only the uncle is seen as an expert about anything on the farm, the aunt’s legitimate concerns are positioned as being a useless burden to him. Tom, the main character at one point tells his cousin that if she wants to get her boyfriend back, why doesn’t she just lost twenty pounds, it’s that easy! Then tries to steer the conversation away from her and back to talking about a fox. Zero empathy for female characters, a real glimpse into a culture that gave our mothers and grandmothers so much insecurity about their bodies, minds and voices.

I wasn’t a fan of this book at all as it had animal cruelty in it which I absolutely hate in real life and books. Also the way one of the characters was made to feel as she was a big woman was so awful and that her fiancé broke it off cause of her wait. The only two characters I liked were the two boys as their friendship was so lovely to read about. But living on a farm whilst his parents went on vacation was so harsh and not nice for the young boy as his parents just leave him with family members he doesn’t know. This book wasn’t that good at all. I also struggled to read this book as I once I put it down I didn’t want to pick it up again xxx

The Midnight Fox was first published in 1968, and is recommended for readers over the age of nine. With their beautiful new reprint, Faber & Faber believe that ‘This enchanted tale will capture the hearts and imagination of children and adults alike’.

The novel’s protagonist is nine-year-old Tom, and his story is told in retrospect. His narrative voice has been used throughout: ‘Sometimes at night when the rain is beating against the windows of my room, I think about that summer on the farm. It has been five years, but when I close my eyes I am once again by the creek watching the black fox come leaping over the green, green grass’. Throughout, Tom is an intriguing character, built of so many different elements that he often surprises.

At the start of the story, Tom is told that he is going to stay with his Aunt Millie ‘for two whole months. I felt terrible.’ He is to be separated from his parents for such a long time because ‘they were going to Europe with about fifty other very athletic people, and they were going to bicycle through five countries and sleep in fields and barns’. Tom is very reluctant to sacrifice his summer in such a way, believing that he will have an awfully boring time, and will long to go home as soon as he reaches the farm. It only takes the appearance of a rare black fox to change his mind, however: ‘I could see that her black fur was tipped with white. It was as if it were midnight and the moon were shining on her fur, frosting it.’ For Tom, the summer suddenly seems full of excitement.

Throughout The Midnight Fox, Byars touches upon a lot of things – friendships, travelling, making allowances for others, loneliness and the notion of settling in, amongst others. She has written almost a coming-of-age book in terms of the way in which Tom alters from beginning to end. His perceptions and attitude both change dramatically, and his parents end up picking up a different, compassionate boy to the sulking one they left behind. Nature has been captured beautifully, and The Midnight Fox is such a fitting read for summertime. It is marvellous that the book is now available for a whole new generation of readers to discover.

no no no

This was a touching children's book. A little slow to get going, but it picked up eventually. My 7 year old enjoyed having me read it to him.

Wasn’t sure how this one would be, but I ended up liking it more as it went along. I loved how Tom evolved and his stints in noticing nature. His love for the fox and the inner thoughts (especially those where he compares his feelings to some other far off stories) were especially endearing. Couldn’t stand to think of Hazeline getting married to a boy who said she was too fat though. There are too many fish in the sea.

Good for independent reading as well as a read aloud. Ages 6-10.

I enjoyed the book a lot because of the enthusiasm and heart warming details it has in it. I would most definitely recommend this book to someone who loves animals or adventures.I wanted to keep reading to finish this book because it just grabs your attention with the words it just describes the characters so well and gives so much information and grabs your attention that you wont want to put it down.THe book created a heart warming feeling just a good book that will make you smile. When i read this it made me think of if there is a fox like in The Midnight Fox and it makes you wonder if its true and just think about the book. This book is fantastic if someone is looking for a book that will cheer them up on a bad day or just comfort them its this book because it just shows how each character feels and it shows so much love to an animal and people that it will make you want to hug someone.


The character in The Midnight Fox is Tom. Tom is a very independent young boy he loves to make Lego models and build wild things with his imagination. Tom has been told he will visit his aunts for a month or two. Tom will be on a farm and he doesn't like the idea of milking cows and feeding chickens. The farm is a beautiful place to be during the summer, from its tall trees to it loving animals. Although Tom didn't want to go to the farm he soon finds out that being on an old farm isn't so bad. I believe the climax was when tom discovered the fox and he soon became so interested he would go out by the river just to sit and watch it. Along the way he tom learns that yo cant say you hate something unless you have done it before.

Read aloud to my 10 yo daughter for her upcomingbook club discussion. Such a sweet story that transcends the 50+ years since it was published.

Tom, a 10 yo boy and only child, spends part of the summer on a relative's farm. He misses his best friend and discovers a love for nature. The character development is my favorite part of this book. I teared up in the final chapters, but not because anything died...you have to read it to understand.

Pretty great kids book. Reminded me of "The Yearling" in that same, sad, end of innocence way.