Leila and the blue fox

Leila is filled with strong emotions as she travels from London to Tromsø, Norway, to spend the summer with her mother, Amani. She feels excitement over seeing her mother for the first time in six years as well as confusion and anger over why Amani chose a job in another country over staying with her. The trip itself dredges up frightening memories of her family's escape from Damascus when Leila was only five. Her inner turmoil is thoughtfully woven into the unexpected adventure ahead of her: accompanying Amani on a research trip to the Arctic to follow a young Arctic fox's epic journey over sea ice. Leila's narrative is intercut with glimpses of the fox's thoughts and experiences as she searches for a safe home. These sections incorporate de Freston's cyan-toned, mixed-media artwork, which captures the vast icy environs. Without being heavy-handed, Hargrave folds in observations about climate change and draws parallels between animal and human migrations. Fans of the creators' Julia and the Shark (2023) will happily find a similar reading experience in this character-driven Arctic adventure.

An Arctic fox leads a mother and daughter back to one another. Twelve-year-old Leila Saleh lives in London with her aunt and cousin. When she was 5, she, Mum, Amma, and Mona fled war-torn Syria; Leila has flashes of memories of life in Damascus and their harrowing departure. Mum's the director of the Tromsø Arctic Institute, and for the six years they've been apart, the pair have grown emotionally distant, making their summer reunion tense. Leila barely arrives in Norway before they set off on an expedition on a chartered fishing boat along with divorced scientist Liv Nilsen, whose own young daughter is visiting from her father's home in Bergen. Miso, the blue fox Mum and Liv have been tracking since her birth on Svalbard, is moving much faster and farther than is usual for her species over shifting sea ice toward Greenland. Her journey offers critical data about the impact of climate change. The pursuit of Miso includes awe-inspiring vistas and wildlife as well as painful schisms and quiet moments of repair and reconnection among the human travelers. Segments from Miso's perspective evoke empathy without anthropomorphizing the wild creature, and striking artwork in blue, black, and white vividly conveys the remarkable setting. This novel lightly, compassionately, and subtly prompts reflection on the interconnectedness of all beings as we navigate life's challenges and the importance of sharing stories and transcending borders. A reverent, wondrous feast for the senses and a balm for bruised souls. (creators' note) (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.