From the winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal comes a memorable new work, a novel of singular insight and imagination that transports readers to the...
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Jun 08, 2008
Lucy
rated it: 
Gisella's family lives in the war-torn Old Country. They are simple farmers living simple lives, until her brother is conscripted into the army, and a fox steals some of their chickens. Determined to fix the little she can, Gisella promises to hunt down and kill the theiving fox. And before she goes, her Great-Aunt Tanteh warns her, "never look too long in the eyes of a fox." And so Gisella enters the woods, in which not everything is what it seems and she can understand the speech of
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Feb 18, 2009
Kevin
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Evocative story about the "Old Country" and how magic became relegated to the realm of story. Has the feel of a fairy tale from Eastern Europe.
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Jan 01, 2012
Barky
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 26, 2009
Meagan
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This book was recommended as a read-alike for Graceling, of all things, and I couldn't disagree with that recommendation more. Graceling's appeal lies primarily with its action-packed plot and strong, compelling, sympathetic main character. The Old Country, on the other hand, is modeled from traditional fairy tales and uses those tales to explore the issues of family, humanity, and warfare. It's an elegant little story, in its own way, but fans of Graceling should not read it looking for more
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May 09, 2009
Heather
rated it:
I'm too lazy to try and describe this book. The book was ok...the audio recording was fairly entertaining. I liked the description in the following review:
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6–The bulk of this tale takes place in the pseudo-mythical Old Country. At the present time, Great Grandmother Gisella tells her disbelieving young relative the story about how she had been both a girl and a fox. The complicated telling begins, intermingling rather gruesome civil war imag More...
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6–The bulk of this tale takes place in the pseudo-mythical Old Country. At the present time, Great Grandmother Gisella tells her disbelieving young relative the story about how she had been both a girl and a fox. The complicated telling begins, intermingling rather gruesome civil war imag More...
Aug 16, 2009
Kelly Jo
rated it:
The story of a girl who turns into a fox and a fox who turns into a girl. These two must navigate a world in which families are separated because of war and the threat of ethnic genocide. This is a fabulous modern fairy-tale/fantasy short novel. It is well-written and full of enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. My fourth-grade daughter was unable to put it down once she started reading.
Mar 17, 2011
Janeen-san
rated it:
This book had such great potential and easily could have been fantastic. However, it totally failed to do so. Instead of giving it 1 star, I gave it 2, because of the interesting idea of two characters switching bodies.
That was the only thing that held my interest.
That was the only thing that held my interest.
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Sep 15, 2010
Ms.
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I read THE OLD COUNTRY on the recommendation of one of my students. I have to admit it's an original story and I quite liked the ending. I won't spoil it here, but suffice it to say I liked how the ending wasn't nice and sweet.
The story begins with the Great-Grandmother Gisella arriving for a visit and gifting the narrator with her violin. She then proceeds to tell a story of her life in the old country, how she escaped from the war there and how she used to be a fox. The rest of the More...
The story begins with the Great-Grandmother Gisella arriving for a visit and gifting the narrator with her violin. She then proceeds to tell a story of her life in the old country, how she escaped from the war there and how she used to be a fox. The rest of the More...
Feb 06, 2010
Chandra
rated it:
The Old Country is an interesting fairy tale style parable - a story about a young girl named Gisella who involuntarily swaps bodies with a crafty fox named Flame. Gisella’s quest to find her family and reclaim her girl-body reminded very much of other classic children’s literature quests – namely The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Peter Pan- each featuring a protagonist navigating fantastical, unfamiliar, and sometimes dangerous territory. And, like those, The
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Jul 08, 2011
Kristina
rated it:
The combination of folkloric tradition with the themes of persecution reminiscent of WWII, this book is rich with characterizations, literary motifs, and ideas about the importance of the body.
The frame narrative of this novel allows the fantastic elements of this novel to feel more realistic since it is told almost as a folk tale. The characters and the premise are well-developed and and well-written.
I highly recommend this book!
The frame narrative of this novel allows the fantastic elements of this novel to feel more realistic since it is told almost as a folk tale. The characters and the premise are well-developed and and well-written.
I highly recommend this book!
Jul 30, 2010
Mary-Beth
rated it:
This was an unusual fairy tale style story that read a great deal like a real fairy tale. It was a very quick read and it seemed very allegorical rather than realistic. At the same time it was dark, dealing with genocide, among other disturbing themes. I enjoyed the many animals included in the tale. I think my biggest criticism is the way many events were glossed over extremely swiftly. This goes along with the allegorical feeling of the story. However, it seemed a bit rushed in places and I fe
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Sep 20, 2011
Dracolibris
rated it:
Recommended by a teen patron, it was hard for me to get into this story. It defintely has a different "flavor" than more teen lit I have been reading and was quaint in its own way, but I felt it was perhaps a little too young and simplistic for what i was craving at the time.
Apr 15, 2009
Sara
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 19, 2011
Margie
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One of those amazing books that just has this indescribable something. A certain air, or feeling. Enjoyed by myself, the 7 year old and the 11 year old that listened in for only part of it.
Mar 30, 2011
Roko
rated it:
Buena explicacion sobre lo que esta bien y lo que esta mal según la naturaleza de cada uno.
Nunca mirare a los zorros a los ojos por mucho tiempo.
Nunca mirare a los zorros a los ojos por mucho tiempo.
Dec 02, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
I had really high expectations for this one and was a little disappointed. I did like the ending though which earned it three stars.
Oct 04, 2011
Lauren
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When I first started reading this book I decided that I did not like it, but I kept at it and then all of the sudden it sucked it in! It is a very interesting story about love of family and culture and about learning and self-sacrifice. Very interesting book with lost of odd twists and turns, but great to read and listen to.
Dec 29, 2011
Zack
rated it:
fantastic novella for kids. i plan on recommending it to all 1 children i know. may be a little challenging for kids under 9 or 10 (mainly because of vocabulary), but very cute. could be considered a little too preachy (in its anti-war/anti-racism - which i think is prolly a good kind of preachy), but the older i get, the more forgiving i am of that kind of thing. classic fish-out-of-water story and great fairy-tale-ish structure. seems almost specifically designed for adaptation by hayao miyaza
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Nov 02, 2011
Briannad
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9/21/11
i have just started reading this book i read a couple pages so far but i like it,and the cover is very pretty,
i got this book becuse whene i read the back i read a sentence that made my really want to read, it it made me think a lot.
this book is about a girl she gose hunting for a fox that took her chikens well thits what she thinks. they can all under stand each other so they went on trial that is how far got
i have just started reading this book i read a couple pages so far but i like it,and the cover is very pretty,
i got this book becuse whene i read the back i read a sentence that made my really want to read, it it made me think a lot.
this book is about a girl she gose hunting for a fox that took her chikens well thits what she thinks. they can all under stand each other so they went on trial that is how far got
Dec 13, 2007
Rah~ri
rated it:
Read for my niece a while ago.
She is helping me write this as we speak.
Thought she may be a shape shifter of sorts
and thought she should read up on such things!
I was right.
She takes after me!
She says this is a great book
and I should put it in with my favorite books.
Also she likes monkeys.
She likes this book very much because it is true (it's not!)
and is about Foxes !
THIS BOOK IS COOL!
Feb 24, 2011
Aclaina
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Excelente historia, super conmovedora, con mensaje y entretenida :) una excelente adquisición sin duda alguna
Feb 18, 2008
Sophie
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i am reading this fantasy book right now. I like the way the story was set up- a grandmother telling it, every now and then an interruption from the grandaughter. A war is destroying all magic in the forests as well as the towns when a sly fox switches places with a girl. she has to try to get her body and life back, even if that means being in the enemies hands. excellent book.
