BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSClare is a cross fox who died as a young kit, yet he is also very much alive. As the undead Usher of Deadwood Forest, a silent wood stuck in endless autumn, he greets the spirits of dead animals at his cottage door and helps each one find its realm of the Afterlife, whether Peace, Pleasure, Progress, or Pain. He hides his empty eye socket behind a cloudy monocle, talks to Captain, the giant mushroom in his garden, and tries to ignore the village children who sing every All Hallows' Eve about the monster in his woods. He also believes that if he ever truly dies, his soul belongs in the realm of Pain. Then a trashrat named Nine passes along a premonition from Hesterfowl, the self-proclaimed visionary of Fernlight Forest, warning that on All Hallows' Eve "the one in Deadwood will vanish forever." Soon after, a squat, blunt badger spirit named Gingersnipes turns up in his garden, and no matter which realm Clare sends her toward, the lights lead her right back to his door. With All Hallows' Eve only two days away, Clare decides that he and the badger must find Hesterfowl, even though it means crossing into Fernlight, where he has not set foot since he died. A chatty narrator tells the story, often stopping to speak directly to the reader.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a host use his foot to scoot a dish towel beneath a bear's ghost?
✓ Answer
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
Frabwick the bear spirit ignores the big seat and squeezes into the medium chair, which groans under his weight. Clare slides a dish towel under him, a wise move since the tea Frabwick drinks goes right through him.
- First half
In what book does a fire from bumped lanterns turn out to be a trick, without one singed splinter?
✓ Answer
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
When Clare jumps up and bangs into Hesterfowl's hanging lanterns, the attic seems to burst into flames and he races out, sure his tail is scorched. Outside, the shack isn't burned at all and his tail is fine, and when he glimpses Hesterfowl smiling in the window, he realizes he has been tricked.
- First half
In what book does a rat get his whiskers yanked for wanting to be called Ambrose?
✓ Answer
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
When Clare lays a paw on Nine's shoulder, he is pulled into a Recollection of a huge rat with a tiny tail mocking Nine for wanting a real name. Clare hadn't known he could Recollect with living animals, and he sees that the mushroom business gives a rat without a name some dignity.
- Second half
In what book is a helper who ruins a harvest told, "Come back this instant and try again"?
✓ Answer
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
Gingersnipes yanks a whole cluster of young blushers out of the ground, then promises to get out of the way, the very thing her father told her to do. Clare refuses to let her quit, and on her second try she peels a single ripe blusher out just right.
- Second half
In what book does a badger floating in a river wonder if fish have their own guide?
✓ Answer
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
As they float in the river, Clare admits he doesn't believe he has ever ushered a fish, even though he is sure nearly everything has a soul. Gingersnipes dunks her face in the water and suggests the fish might have their own Usher down at the bottom of Deadwood River.
- Near the end
In what book does someone smear crushed berry juice over his face to look like a bloody monster?
✓ Answer
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
Hiding in a thorny bush heavy with overripe berries near the river, Clare gets an idea. He smears the dark juice over his ear, his eye socket, his mouth and his neck so the arguing children will think he is the monster from their song, and even the narrator admits to flinching.
