Customer Reviews

The Werefox: Originally Published As Pure Magic

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Young Johnny Dunlap does not really have a friend until the strange Dumont family moves to the dilapidated farm near by. This undated fantasy is set in rural New England, detailing the bonds of deep friendship between two boys, one of whom just happens to be a boy only part time...You have heard of Central European tales about werewolves--humans who are forced to turn into beasts of prey at night. In this less dark version, Coatsworth imagines a less frightening, deliberate (for the sheer joy of night running) transformation from child or adult into a FOX by night. Well known to literary audiences for her penchant for small animals, Coatsworth creates an unusual situtation: can a human boy remain best friends with a boy/fox?

Eager to prove his sincere devotion to the queer French Canadian boy, Johnny risks everything to protect him from fox hunters and to reconcile him with his callous father. I leave you to figure out which one on the cover is the werefox. This is actually a cute, light read which emphasizes friendship, loyalty and good relations with parents and neighbors. Short--only 71 pages with many pen and ink illustrations. Fine for imaginative children up to age 12.

There is no "Satanism" in this book, only magic. Please don't let the above review scare you off from a wonderful children's story.

I read this book under it's original title, "Pure Magic". It is a mostly pleasant, little book with nice illustrations. It is about a friendship between two boys, one of whom is a werefox. Johnny Dunlap (the main character) quickly befriends his new neighbour, Giles Dumont. Johnny notices that Giles and his mother seem rather strange; but can't figure out what is strange about them. He soon finds out that Giles is capable of taking on the form of a fox at will (an ability that runs in his mother's side of the family). Johnny is concerned about the strained relations between Giles and his father, Mr. Dumont. The story is unclear as to why Giles' father doesn't like his son; but it is clear that they don't get along. Johnny works hard throughout the book to improve relations between father and son, and the story does have a happy ending. I think this is a fairly nice book for those interested in werefoxes (stories about wertefoxes can be hard to find).
The only real problem that I have with this book, is there would seem to be some Satanic implications in it. When Giles is describing how he first became a werefox, he says that his mother killed a black rooster and scattered it's blood on the ground, then she said some ritual words of initiation, and finally put a fox-skin belt on him to bring about the transformation. This strikes me as a Satanic ritual, and I think it only fair to warn customers about it (especially parents).