The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest (Newbery Honor Award Winner)

A Newbery Honor Award Book!

A fox and a badger begrudgingly team up to change their destinies in this endearing middle grade novel Featuring black-and-white illustrations throughout, this critically acclaimed novel brings Deadwood Forest to life through both words and art. Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Applegate.

? “Heartbreaking, marvelously funny, and generously redemptive.” –Kirkus, starred review

Clare is the undead fox of Deadwood Forest. Here, leaves grow in a perpetual state of fall: not quite dead, but not quite alive—just like Clare. Long ago, he was struck by a car, and, hovering between life and death, he was given the choice to either cross into the Afterlife or become an Usher of wandering souls. Clare chose the latter: a solitary life of guiding souls to their final resting place.

Clare’s quiet and predictable days are met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes knocks on his door. Despite Clare’s efforts to usher her into the Afterlife, the badger is unable to leave Deadwood. This is unprecedented. Baffling. A disturbing mystery which threatens the delicate balance between the living and the dead.

Desperate for help, Clare and Gingersnipes set out on a treacherous journey to find Hesterfowl—the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But upon their arrival, Hesterfowl divulges a shocking revelation that leaves Clare devastated, outraged, and determined to do anything to change his fate.

• Praise for The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest
  A Newbery Honor Book
  2025 Kirkus Best of Middle Grade
  2025 Publisher’s Weekly Best Books
  2025 Booklist Editor’s Choice 2025
  New York Public Library Best Books of 2025
  Chicago Public Library’s Best Books for Kids
  Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids
  Los Angeles Public Library’s Best of 2025
  2025 BCCB Blue Ribbons Book
  Amazon Top 20 Children's Books of 2025
  Audible Best of the Year, Kids and Family
  Spotify Best of the Year, Kids and Family
  2026 ALSC Notable Children’s Books List
  2026 CBC Teachers Favorites
• Praise for The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest:
  
  "The journey that Clare and Gingersnipes take together made me wish I was a kid reading The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by flashlight long after I was supposed to be asleep in bed. I cannot wait for young readers to fall in love with this story and these unforgettable characters."
  Colby Sharp, educator and author of The Creativity Project
• "Aubrey Hartman expertly braids together a fast-paced plot with lively humor and poignant philosophy in this warm hug of a novel. Soulful and heartfelt."
  Kamilla Benko, USA Today bestselling author of The Unicorn Quest
• "If you could transform into a book the feeling of sitting by a bonfire on a crisp October night with a bright harvest moon, holding a mug of warm, sweet apple cider and listening to the best spooky story you’ve ever heard, you would end up with this book.  It’s pure autumnal, ghostly, whimsical, profound perfection."
  Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of THE SERPENT KING
• ★ "Heartbreaking, marvelously funny, and generously redemptive."
  Kirkus, starred review
• ★ "...a riveting and morally complex tale populated by flawed, fully realized characters navigating realistic emotions."
  Publishers Weekly, starred review
• ★ "To tuck such a deeply felt tale of self-discovery and love in such a delightfully raucous adventure is quite the feat, and Hartman’s sophomore outing is surely a classic in the making. Readers will not soon forget Clare and Gingersnipes—and they’ll be thrilled by the revelation of the unknown narrator and an ending that potentially promises more adventures."
  BCCB, starred review
• ★ "Hartman's animal fantasy is lightly macabre in its trappings but sweet and uplifting in substance, and the conversational narration adds an extra layer of whimsy to the proceedings. This tale of self-love and acceptance makes the most of its unique setting and the memorable characters found there."
  Booklist, starred review
• “Told in beautiful prose and with rich imagery, this is a deep story about death, loss, and grief, but also about compassion, finding meaning, and discovering what one really is made of in the face of the strongest adversity.”
  School Library Journal
• "The dry humor, an amusingly intrusive narrator, and a touch of nostalgia intertwine to create an endearingly strange snapshot of a cottage-core world caught between life, death, and the afterlife."
  The Horn Book