Children of the Fox, Kevin Sands
Children of the Fox, Kevin Sands
List: $27.50 | Sale: $19.25
Club: $13.75

Children of the Fox

Author: Kevin Sands

Narrator: Robbie Daymond

Unabridged: 11 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/05/2021


Synopsis

NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH

"This stunning tale of betrayal, trickery, and friendship takes the reader on a wild ride." —School Library Journal

Ocean's Eleven meets The False Prince in this thrilling heist story for young readers, in which five kids with unusual talents are brought together to commit an impossible crime. Failure is unacceptable ... but success could be deadly.

From the bestselling author of the Blackthorn Key series, this magic-infused fantasy brings together a ragtag group of kids to pull off a crime so difficult, countless adults have already tried and failed. Lured by the promise of more money than they've ever dreamed of, five young criminals are hired to steal a heavily guarded treasure from the most powerful sorcerer in the city. There's Callan the con artist, Meriel the expert at acrobatics (and knives!), Gareth the researcher, Lachlan who can obtain anything, and Foxtail, whose mysterious eyeless mask doesn't hinder her ability to climb walls like a spider. Though their shadowy backgrounds mean that they've never trusted anyone but themselves, the five must learn to rely on each other in order to get the job done.

But as Callan has been warned most of his life, it's best to stay away from magic. It can turn on you at any moment, and make you think you're the one running the con game, when in reality you're the one being fooled. Faced with these unsurmountable odds, can the friends pull off this legendary heist, or has their luck finally run out?

About The Author

Since escaping from university with a pair of degrees in theoretical physics, Kevin Sands has worked as a researcher, a business consultant, a teacher, and a professional poker player. He is the author of Children of the Fox and the bestselling Blackthorn Key series. He lives in Ontario, Canada. 


Reviews

Goodreads review by Aaron on July 26, 2021

I was able to obtain an e-ARC of this book from the publisher at a School Library Journal conference, I think it was Day of Dialog. I am a huge fan Kevin Sands' The Blackthorn Key Adventures and had been anticipating the start of this new series for about a year. When my youngest child (11) saw it o......more

Goodreads review by Amita on December 08, 2021

I hate to be the "this is like Six of Crows!!1!1!!" person but this very much is middle grade Six of Crows. Yet as the best books usually are, it's similar in concept while managing to distinguish itself as its own unique story. It's really good! And a lot of fun! Absolutely delivers as a heist (eve......more

Goodreads review by Hailey on October 23, 2021

Children of the Fox is a fantastic fantasy heist novel. Going into this book, I had some pretty high expectations. My brother loves Kevin Sands's Blackthorn Key series. Children of the Fox was being given comp titles of The False Prince and Peter Nimble (two of my favorite books) and Ocean's 11 (I e......more

Goodreads review by Ashley ☾ on December 12, 2023

"Children of the Fox" by Kevin Sands is an enchanting journey into a world where magic, mystery, and misfit kids converge in a daring heist that is comparable to the excitement of Harry Potter. The author weaves a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat as a group of unlikely heroes, each with......more

Goodreads review by Hoover Public Library on January 08, 2022

Sands brings mystery, magic and a pretty major con-job to his first fantasy novel, a story where things are never quite as they seem. [from NPR]......more


Quotes

NPR Best Book of the Year
Amazon Best Book of the Month
Rocky Mountain Book Award Gold Medal Winner
Junior Tome Book Award Winner


★ "In a sharp-witted series opener, Sands crafts an adventure with mythological undertones and a heist framework. The protagonists’ natural chemistry as they learn to collaborate and trust one another helps to ground the epic story, especially once it leans more heavily into fantasy elements, while Callan’s narrative voice adds just the right amount of self-aware humor." 
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Kevin Sands brings mystery, magic and a pretty major con-job to his first fantasy novel, a story where things are never quite as they seem. It’s not easy to create an entirely new mythology, but Sands does a fine job with this first installment in his new series. Be prepared for an exciting read." 
NPR

"This high-energy thriller is perfect for younger fans of Six of Crows, the movie Ocean’s Eleven, and other inside-job narratives. Readers will be sure to delight in narrator Callan’s sharp wit and snappy voice as they are introduced to the rest of the crew and their unusual skills. Cryptic messages, creepy characters, and unexpected but endearing friendships abound."
Booklist

"Sands has created a rip-roaring story full of frantic twists and turns that leave readers questioning what is real and what is not. The magic is believable, and the world is easy to imagine. And one cannot help but root for these young protagonists whose lives have been so difficult and yet who manage to hope for a better future. A fabulous choice."
School Library Journal

"In a world of Spellweavers and airships, a team comes together for a legendary heist...Callan is an excellent narrator, constantly observing body language for tells that reveal secrets as the kids plan an elaborate, multistage operation to break into a seemingly unbreakable location, all with a life-changing financial prize on the line."
Kirkus Reviews


Awards

  • Diamond Willow Award
  • National Chapter IODE Violet Downey Award
  • Red Cedar Book Award
  • Red Maple Award
  • Rocky Mountain Book Award
  • Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards