Can you climb the hill of the red fox?
Red Fox – the blurb
It is the time of the Cold War. Soviet spies are feared, and secrets are traded. People disappear.
Thirteen-year-old Alasdair, living in London, knows nothing of this world. He can’t wait to start his long summer holiday on the Isle of Skye, away from his mother and aunt.
But things don’t go quite as planned. On the journey, a stranger gives him a mysterious note before jumping from the train. Worse still, he instantly mistrusts sinister Murdo Beaton, with whom he’s staying. Gradually adjusting to crofting life, Alasdair is not prepared for the web of danger and espionage that unfolds around him. Can he trust anyone?
Spies, tatties and the isle of Skye
I bought this book as it is set on the Isle of Skye and there is a hill behind my house locally called fox hill. The fox hill in the book isn’t ‘my’ fox hill but I could well imagine the life Campbell-McLean describes in the mountains as a crofter.
It took me a while to timestamp the book. It’s obviously set around the Cold War era but the cover was such I thought it had only recently been released. Under this misconception I thought it somewhat old fashioned as I was reading (where were the women? How could a 13 year old boy be sent to stay with someone his mother didn’t know) but on closer inspection the book was actually written in 1955. Suddenly it all made sense and I think I appreciated it a little more. I understand it is studied in schools around here and I can understand why. It’s a brilliant book for local setting, being sprinkled with Gaelic (there is a glossary) and being so evocative of life on Skye in that era. It didn’t wow my daughter though who struggled to get past its old fashioned feel and I have to confess I did skip a few pages to move the story on.
Book club questions
+++ These questions contain spoilers and should only be used if you have read the book already!+++
- The book was first published in 1955, did it feel old fashioned or modern when you were reading? Have you read a book set a long time ago that felt more modern in style? What made it more modern?
- Would you have liked to have gone on a train to holiday without your parents? Would you have been nervous or excited?
- How did you manage with the Gaelic words – did you find the glossary helped?
- The book is set around the Cold War era when Russia were at war with America. Had you heard of the Cold War before the book? Have you read any other books about this era?
- Can you follow Alasdair’s journey from London to Skye on a map? Can you find Mallaig where he got the boat? Portree where he landed? What about the mountains that he mentions, can you find the Cuillins?
If you would like to join in with our Children’s Book of the Month keep your eyes peeled when we announce September’s book in a few days time. Our review with book club questions is usually posted on the last Monday of the month and you can check out previous Book of the Months such as Orion Lost by Alastair Chisholm by clicking on the Young Adult/Kids button at the top of our Home Page. In the meantime we would love to see what you have been reading.
