The Midnight Fox

Written in 1996 by Betsey Byars, The Midnight Fox is a novel for middle-grade readers that follows the story of Tom, who develops a new connection with the natural world as he visits his aunt and uncle’s farm and learns to adapt to the rhythms of country life, even developing the bravery to keep wild animals from harm.

As an acclaimed American author, Betsey Byars has written more than 60 children’s books that are predominantly designed for adolescent readers. Her work has won several awards over the years: The Summer of the Swans (1970) won the prestigious Newbery Medal, and The Night Swimmers (1980) won the National Book Award for children’s books.

This guide refers to the 1996 by Puffin Books edition.

Plot Summary

The Midnight Fox is narrated in the first person by nine-year-old Tom, a city boy who enjoys hanging out with his best friend Petie, playing games, inventing stories, and making plastic models. Tom is horrified when his parents tell him that while they go on a European trip, he must spend the summer with Aunt Millie and Uncle Fred on their farm. Tom imagines all the terrors of country life and is discouraged to think of all the fun he will miss with Petie in the city.

Initially, Tom has a hard time adjusting to the farm life, but once he starts spending time in a beautiful meadow, reading, writing, and daydreaming, he starts to appreciate his surroundings. One day, Tom sees a black fox. The beauty of the black fox awakens something new in Tom, and he becomes fascinated by her. Tom spends his days looking for the fox, and she grows to trust him. While searching for the fox’s den, Tom discovers the joy of Connecting With Nature. He finds old nests and eggs and sees owls and possums. When Tom finds the fox’s den, he sees her one tiny cub playing outside.

As time goes on, he continues to visit the fox and enjoys sunny afternoons with Fred and Millie’s daughter, Hazeline. He even confronts his fear of swimming in the river and develops an even deeper appreciation for his surroundings. However, Tom’s idyllic days are shattered when the fox kills one of Millie’s turkeys, for Fred becomes determined to hunt the fox before she can kill Millie’s chickens as well. Tom knows that he must save the fox, but he does not know how. Tom tries to distract Fred from the fox’s den, but Fred is an experienced hunter who easily finds the den and the tiny cub. Fred uses the cub as bait to lure in the black fox. He puts the crying cub in an old rabbit hutch and waits on the porch with his shotgun ready. Tom feels conflicted; he loves Fred and Millie, but he also loves the fox and her cub, and he knows that he is the only one who can save them. Suddenly a thunderstorm breaks, so Fred calls off the hunt. In the middle of the night, while the storm is still raging, Tom overcomes his fear of heights, climbs out his bedroom window and down a tree, and runs to the hutch. He breaks the lock and watches as the cub jumps out and runs to his mother, who is calling to him from the underbrush.

Tom hears the black fox’s farewell bark as she and her cub run to safety. Tom is relieved, but he worries that he has disappointed Fred and Millie. Dripping wet, Tom knocks on the door and explains that he freed the cub. To his surprise, Fred and Millie are kind and understanding. They reassure Tom that the fox will be far away and is too smart to return for Millie’s chickens. They never mention the incident again. Tom leaves the farm having made new friends and formed a newfound love of nature. He returns to the city appreciating the pleasure that comes with new discoveries and the growth that can happen while trying something new and potentially uncomfortable.