The Foxman

A young teen, transplanted from the city to the northern woods of Minnesota, discovers an old man living by himself, and a friendship between the two develops.

This one is special, recommended.

Carl is sent to live with his uncle's family in Minnesota by social services. He soon learns the ways of the rural life, the woods, and the harsh winter.
One day when he and his cousin are caught in the woods far from home when a blizzard strikes, they take shelter in the shack of an old man with a

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severely damaged face, who lives in the deep woods alone. The man takes them in, cares for them through the night, and sends them on their way. But soon, Carl starts returning on weekends to visit the old man, whose name is never mentioned. Carl calls him the Foxman, because he traps foxes.
The Foxman's face was hurt in World War I, although we are never told how. And when Carl is home with his uncle's family, old men who were veterans of World Was I and II, sit around telling and laughing at war stories that Carl doesn't find funny at all.
This short book is a war novel. Even though no war is happening, there are no battles or soldiers, apart from elderly veterans, it is a war novel, and one of philosophy. A short, easy reading book, for a deep thinking reader.

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audience: high school boys.This book would be a good wake-up call for teen boys who have glorified ideas about war, especially those who live in the country and are often exposed to fervent patriotism. I'm not sure it would be of much interest to teens who live in the city, and the amount of

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introspection is not the most entertaining (outdoor action might make up for it).

The unnamed protagonist is court-ordered to his Uncle's northern farm after being stabbed by his drunken mother; there is no mention of persistent trauma from the abuse--he still misses his parents. Brief chapters of him learning to fit in, adapt to the hard work and country setting, taciturn uncle & garrulous elderly relatives, bonding with his cousin Carl. The two boys get caught in a storm while out hunting a fox but fortunately come across a remote cabin. Startled by the damaged face of the man who lets them in, they need to accept his hospitality to survive the night. The main character ruminates on this, when they return home, and decides to go back to learn more about the old man, whom he names "The Foxman", but to keep his visits a secret. He tries to make sense of the damage caused by war to The Foxman's appearance with the joking stories the elderly relatives tell in winter evenings about their experiences in WWI.
How the visits ended surprised me, and I'm not sure I think the teen's choice was something that should be put out there as an option one can get away with.

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