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The Black Fox of Beckham
Set in the village of Beckham, nestled in the English countryside, where fox hunting has been a way of life for hundreds of years, a rare black fox is spotted shortly before the opening of the hunt season. The Beckhamshire County Hunt Club seizes on the opportunity to exploit a long history of sinister legends concerning black foxes in order to generate interest in the hunt and raise money for a sport that a growing segment of the population regard as cruel. The disturbing stories about black foxes quickly spread through the village and surrounding countryside, igniting rumors of an evil black fox and its witch handler. The master of foxhounds vows to track down and kill the now infamous "black fox of Beckham." But this fox has embraced the guidance of her father before he was killed by hunters. "What makes you different also makes you powerful." Arabella, the black fox, is befriended by kindred spirits: the autistic daughter of the secretary of the hunt, and a reclusive Gypsy widow who is regarded by many as suspicious. The three proudly brand themselves "the peculiars" and promise to end fox hunting in England.
The Black Fox of Beckham is a tale for young adult readers about winning at any cost, superstition, prejudice and being different and the magic of friendship.
The Black Fox of Beckham is a tale for young adult readers about winning at any cost, superstition, prejudice and being different and the magic of friendship.
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2019
About the author
David L. Heaney
3 books28 followersDavid has enjoyed several careers all focused around assisting others with major life changes. He spent many years as a parish minister, several years as a marriage and family therapist and instructor teaching a class on the spiritual dimensions of psychotherapy, and many years as senior executive with a large private company assisting governments around the world with the development and management of their social assistance programs. David earned a BA in Philosophy at SUNY, College at Purchase, a M.Div. from Yale University Divinity School and another M. A. from the University of San Diego in Marriage and Family Therapy. He has always been interested in what motivates people to make dramatic change and believe that we will do for love what we will never do for principle alone. David is a keen observer of the struggles entailed in our “human condition” and hopes that his observations are communicated with compassion and understanding through his writing.
David is the father of five children and three grandchildren and lives with his wife Lynda and their dogs in Durham, NC where he writes, does a little consulting, and visits inpatients and their families at the UNC Hospice Home each week.
Join David on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlheaney/
David is the father of five children and three grandchildren and lives with his wife Lynda and their dogs in Durham, NC where he writes, does a little consulting, and visits inpatients and their families at the UNC Hospice Home each week.
Join David on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlheaney/
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 10, 2019
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
"The Black Fox of Beckham" is a short book which tells the story of three outsiders, a black fox, a Roma woman and a girl on the Autism spectrum. Each of them understands that they don't fit in and tries to find her own place in the world. The book wonderfully conveys the message that different does not mean bad and that no one is alone, no matter what they might feel at times.
With a lot of humaneness and a dash of magic, the characters find each other and make a small community of outcasts, where they are safe from prejudice and lack of understanding.
The message of the book is truly great and for that I'm glad I read it.
What I had more of a problem with was the writing style of the book. I couldn't quite figure out if it was aimed at children or adults, as it went back and forth between sometimes too mature topics and themes, and a style aimed more at children than at adults. Heavy repetition threw a shadow at certain profound moments between characters - for example, in the scene where Fi's father meets our gang of misfit heroes and is trying, for the first time, to see life from their eyes, as people who feel like society doesn't really accept them, and right then, we had to read for the 67th time what Silviana's description of what Gypsy, or Roma, means and how it makes her feel.
As I mentioned, I support the idea that "The Black Fox of Beckham" tries to promote, but I did find it unnecessary to have the same thing repeated over and over again, underestimating the reader's ability to comprehend the character's troubles.
Had I read this book as a child, I would have probably not paid as much attention to the repetitive writing style, which might have influenced my appreciation of it. Nevertheless, I still think that children's books can be equally engaging for grown ups. I do think that this book could serve as a good educational material for children, because it teaches understanding and compassion, not only to other adults, but also to animals, as well as promoting positivism toward people from different backgrounds and people with developmental disorders.
"The Black Fox of Beckham" is a short book which tells the story of three outsiders, a black fox, a Roma woman and a girl on the Autism spectrum. Each of them understands that they don't fit in and tries to find her own place in the world. The book wonderfully conveys the message that different does not mean bad and that no one is alone, no matter what they might feel at times.
With a lot of humaneness and a dash of magic, the characters find each other and make a small community of outcasts, where they are safe from prejudice and lack of understanding.
The message of the book is truly great and for that I'm glad I read it.
What I had more of a problem with was the writing style of the book. I couldn't quite figure out if it was aimed at children or adults, as it went back and forth between sometimes too mature topics and themes, and a style aimed more at children than at adults. Heavy repetition threw a shadow at certain profound moments between characters - for example, in the scene where Fi's father meets our gang of misfit heroes and is trying, for the first time, to see life from their eyes, as people who feel like society doesn't really accept them, and right then, we had to read for the 67th time what Silviana's description of what Gypsy, or Roma, means and how it makes her feel.
As I mentioned, I support the idea that "The Black Fox of Beckham" tries to promote, but I did find it unnecessary to have the same thing repeated over and over again, underestimating the reader's ability to comprehend the character's troubles.
Had I read this book as a child, I would have probably not paid as much attention to the repetitive writing style, which might have influenced my appreciation of it. Nevertheless, I still think that children's books can be equally engaging for grown ups. I do think that this book could serve as a good educational material for children, because it teaches understanding and compassion, not only to other adults, but also to animals, as well as promoting positivism toward people from different backgrounds and people with developmental disorders.
February 7, 2019
*This book was gifted to me by the author.*
“The Black Fox of Beckham” was enchanting. It is a contemporary YA book set in the English countryside sometime before the ban on fox hunting came into effect. The main characters are each a bit different: an autistic teenage girl (Fi), a Gypsy woman (Silviana), and a black fox (Arabella).
When Arabella loses her parents, she narrowly escapes death too. A mysterious badger rescues her, prompting her to set out on a quest to end the cruel “sport” of fox hunting. As she journeys across the countryside, she is seen by a hunting party. This sighting provides them with the perfect plan for generating interest in this controversial sport. A storytelling contest is just one idea for getting support from the villagers of Beckham.
As Arabella continues her travels, she befriends a recently widowed Gypsy woman who has the power to communicate with her. Soon Fi stumbles upon Silviana’s camp and is uncharacteristically comfortable around Silviana and Arabella. Fi’s father used to be Master of Hounds, and her entire family embraces the tradition of hunting foxes. Fi was even looking forward to participating in the fox hunt for the first time, but now that she knows Arabella she has a change of heart. Now it is up to these three outcasts to end this cruel sport for good.
This was a fast-paced, charming book with just a hint of magic. The setting was fantastic, the friendship between the characters heartwarming, and the story about an important issue. I kept wishing that this was the first book in a series.
This was a solid 3.5 ⭐️book.
“The Black Fox of Beckham” was enchanting. It is a contemporary YA book set in the English countryside sometime before the ban on fox hunting came into effect. The main characters are each a bit different: an autistic teenage girl (Fi), a Gypsy woman (Silviana), and a black fox (Arabella).
When Arabella loses her parents, she narrowly escapes death too. A mysterious badger rescues her, prompting her to set out on a quest to end the cruel “sport” of fox hunting. As she journeys across the countryside, she is seen by a hunting party. This sighting provides them with the perfect plan for generating interest in this controversial sport. A storytelling contest is just one idea for getting support from the villagers of Beckham.
As Arabella continues her travels, she befriends a recently widowed Gypsy woman who has the power to communicate with her. Soon Fi stumbles upon Silviana’s camp and is uncharacteristically comfortable around Silviana and Arabella. Fi’s father used to be Master of Hounds, and her entire family embraces the tradition of hunting foxes. Fi was even looking forward to participating in the fox hunt for the first time, but now that she knows Arabella she has a change of heart. Now it is up to these three outcasts to end this cruel sport for good.
This was a fast-paced, charming book with just a hint of magic. The setting was fantastic, the friendship between the characters heartwarming, and the story about an important issue. I kept wishing that this was the first book in a series.
This was a solid 3.5 ⭐️book.
April 27, 2019
I enjoyed reading this YA book. The writing was engaging and the building suspense made it hard to put the book down. Friendship, justice, racism, superstition, fake news and class roles were interwoven with the storyline. I did notice a few misspellings which would lead to me wondering if I was judging the book by something that was not important as paralleled by some of the characters in the book.
February 9, 2019
A tapestry of intrigue, wit, drama and dare that enthralls the reader from start to finish...
We all like to read them at some stage, and many of us are so influenced by a good story that we adopt life changes to match. True stories and biographies are obviously the most inspirational, but there are also fictional stories that can be just as inspiring. And for me THE BLACK FOX OF BECKHAM is such a story.
Fox hunting is a traditional and royal hunting sport, popularized all over the world by the British. Hunting dogs or foxhounds are trained to chase and attack foxes from their hiding places, and these are followed by hunters on the horses.
The nature of fox hunting has strong associations with tradition and social class, and its practice for sport has made it a source of great controversy. There are those who have a moral objection to hunting and who are fundamentally opposed to the idea of people gaining pleasure from what they regard as the causing of unnecessary suffering.
BLACK FOX OF BECKHAM is an emotional, spiritual and poignant tale with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of the fox hunt in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a fast-paced novel that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last. It’s a story of ‘winning at any cost, superstition, prejudice and being different and the magic of friendship.’
The story had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book. It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!
This is a tapestry of intrigue, wit, drama and dare that enthralls the reader from start to finish. A highly recommended read and a well deserved five stars from me.
We all like to read them at some stage, and many of us are so influenced by a good story that we adopt life changes to match. True stories and biographies are obviously the most inspirational, but there are also fictional stories that can be just as inspiring. And for me THE BLACK FOX OF BECKHAM is such a story.
Fox hunting is a traditional and royal hunting sport, popularized all over the world by the British. Hunting dogs or foxhounds are trained to chase and attack foxes from their hiding places, and these are followed by hunters on the horses.
The nature of fox hunting has strong associations with tradition and social class, and its practice for sport has made it a source of great controversy. There are those who have a moral objection to hunting and who are fundamentally opposed to the idea of people gaining pleasure from what they regard as the causing of unnecessary suffering.
BLACK FOX OF BECKHAM is an emotional, spiritual and poignant tale with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of the fox hunt in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a fast-paced novel that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last. It’s a story of ‘winning at any cost, superstition, prejudice and being different and the magic of friendship.’
The story had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book. It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!
This is a tapestry of intrigue, wit, drama and dare that enthralls the reader from start to finish. A highly recommended read and a well deserved five stars from me.
May 10, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. As someone who detests fox hunting I was happy to see the point of view of the foxes who are subjected to this cruel, inhumane "sport". I highly recommend this book for young adult readers and anyone above that level as well. I really think you'll enjoy this book and the lovely foxes (and their human friends).
*I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway*
*I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway*
December 2, 2019
The book had a lot of highs and lows, but the ending was overall very satisfying. The message that was displayed by the main characters was a very good one to point out. I thought that it was something very useful to learn nowadays or remind ourselves. Recommend this book to my fellow readers who like a well thought out storyline.
December 11, 2019
David Heaney did an awesome job at creating this great book! I really liked how it all unfolded and the way it came to end was amazing! It was definitely worth my time to read this book because I left feeling like I am more aware of point it is trying to make. Which by the way, was really nice to read!
December 16, 2019
I really want to check out other books from David Heaney now after reading this novel. It made me see the author has a great talent and making something we have probably read or watched before into something new and refreshing! My gf also read this and we both couldn’t stop talking about it. Fantastic book!
December 17, 2019
The formula for a good book is a great story, having a good set of characters that are interesting, and then leaving the reader overall satisfied. This book had all three! There wasn’t ever a time I felt like putting the book down. My attention was all on the story and how it would end. Such a great book that I’d recommend it to anyone looking to pick up a book, which I very rarely do.
December 5, 2019
What a great read! I’m glad I decided to pick up this book because I couldn’t put it down until the last page! It was seriously that good. A message like that should be reason alone to read this book. But the author did an amazing job as well at putting that message across. I loved it!
December 18, 2019
I don’t think there was every a point in the book I was bored or didn’t want to keep reading. That is pretty rare for me to have. The way everything was coming together in the book, from the problems to how they were going to overcome them, was nicely done.
November 4, 2020
2.5 stars
Good plot in theory, poor in execution. I loved the setting. I loved that there was an autistic character. But the writing style fluctuates and the dialogue is poorly written. It is also rather repetitive and some of the details aren't consistent.
Good plot in theory, poor in execution. I loved the setting. I loved that there was an autistic character. But the writing style fluctuates and the dialogue is poorly written. It is also rather repetitive and some of the details aren't consistent.
March 12, 2022
A bittersweet story, highlighting the cruelty and absurdity of fox hunting, as well as its parallels with witch-hunting. The characters are especially wonderful as they bring to life the unity of the "peculiars".
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews