Star - so named because of the star-shaped patch of white fur on his chest - was an inquisitive young fox with a nose for adventure, and a talent for getting himself out of tight spots. When his raids on the farms in the valley, and subsequent ability to elude his hunters, earn him the sobriquet 'Haunt Fox' - "A "haunt" fox was an especially elusive one, a beast with ghost-like qualities," the narrator informs the reader - he becomes the prime quarry for all the eager fox-hunters of the area, from grim woodsman Dade Matson to adolescent farm-boy Jack Crowley. As Star pursues his own path in the wild - ranging far abroad to avoid an outbreak of rabies, finding and mating with the she-fox Vixen, providing for his first family of cubs - Jack yearns to bring him down, thereby winning a reputation as a hunter, and proving the worth of his hound, Thunder. But when the boy and fox do finally meet, the outcome is unexpected...

Originally published in 1954, Haunt Fox is one of Jim Kjelgaard's many stories featuring animal characters - the author's dog books, from Big Red to Snow Dog, are perhaps amongst his best-known work - who are realistically depicted in their natural setting. Although long aware of the author's reputation, I had never before picked up one of his books, and wasn't sure just what to expect. As someone who believes that subsistence hunting is justifiable, but finds sport hunting morally deranged, I was worried that the author would glorify hunting in a way I found unpleasant - that the focus would be on killing the animal as a kind of victory for the boy. What I discovered instead was that, although the author does indeed depict hunting as a noble activity, he by no means finds all hunting or hunters admirable. Dade Matson, who makes his living from the woods, is depicted as a cold and mercenary man, one who has no real interest in the animals he kills, save as a means to earning money. Jack Crowley, on the other hand, is depicted as a hunter who appreciates the cunning of his foe, the loyalty and perseverance of his dog, and the pleasure of the hunt itself. What seems to separate good hunters from bad hunters, in Kjelgaard's view, is joy: Dade Matson's hunt is all about the outcome, the killing; whereas Jack and Thunder's hunt is all about the process, about pitting one's skills against a worthy adversary. And so it is that when Jack finds Star caught in one of Dade Matson's many traps, while pursuing him through the snowy forest, he sets him free, rather than killing him. This was not the outcome I was expecting, and left me with a great deal to ponder. I enjoyed this tale immensely, largely because I found Star, whose narrative predominates, such an engaging character, but also because the unexpected complexity in the depiction of hunters and hunting gave me something to think about. Wholeheartedly recommended to young readers who enjoy animal stories, or to anyone who appreciates tales about clever foxes. ( )

This was an engaging and fun read from cover to cover. Star is a young fox with wits and brains to match or exceed the humans and dogs in his home area. Due to having an uncanny ability to confound those who hunt him, and leaving six-toed tracks in the snow, local trapper Dade Matson refers to Star as a Ha'nt (Haunt/ghost) fox. The name sticks, and those who enjoy running their dogs against a fox take up the challenge.

Realistic, but not explicit, this is a thoroughly entertaining story for kids or adults. ( )

If you read a book by Jim Kjelgaard, it's inevitably going to be about animals and the wilderness, usually involving a boy and his dog. Haunt Fox does have that, with a boy and his foxhound trying to catch the elusive "haunt fox" that is victimizing farms in the neighborhood. However, the book also has whole sections from the perspective of the fox, who is shown to be a clever hunter and excellent about outwitting his foes. Both perspectives are completely engaging and give good detail about the lives of foxes and the hunting of them. Halfway through the book, a reader empathizes with both perspectives and is torn between having the fox win or the boy win. Kjelgaard as always gives a compelling view of the wilderness and the lives of those who choose to live on the inside of it. The ending is handled with as much grace as possible. He acknowledges the attachement the reader has to both and picks the only ending that is really possible from the story's development. If a dog lover hasn't read any of Kjelgaard's books, this is as good as any of them to start with.