“On All Hallow’s Eve, Deadwood will bring mayhem to Fernlight. And before the moon sets, the one in Deadwood will vanish forever.” To Clare, an undead fox whose job is to usher souls to the afterlife from Deadwood Forest, All Hallow’s Eve—the night on which all four afterlife realms are open to accept souls regardless of whether they belong there—is the worst night of the year. He’s doing his best not to think about whether this prophecy, made by Hesterfowl, is about him. When Gingersnipes, a badger, arrives at Clare’s door, Clare’s attempts to usher her to various afterlife realms (Progress, Pleasure, Peace, and Pain) all fail. Fearing that the badger’s appearance is connected to the ominous prophecy, Clare visits Hesterfowl, who tells him that Gingersnipes is not a wandering soul but the next Usher, there to take Clare’s place. But Clare is loath to step aside. Accepting his fate will require reckoning with the trauma of his past—especially the car accident that killed his mother and left Clare with a ghastly appearance, which he conceals beneath his cloak. While populated with amusing characters (in addition to the ones mentioned, there are the Pinks, a family of “trashrats” that do business with Clare), this fresh, standalone fantasy packs a powerful emotional punch.

A Newbery Honor Award Book!



A fox and a badger begrudgingly team up to change their destinies in this endearing middle grade novel--perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Applegate.



Featuring black-and-white illustrations throughout, this critically acclaimed novel brings Deadwood Forest to life through both words and art.



★ "Heartbreaking, marvelously funny, and generously redemptive." ―Kirkus, starred review



Clare is the undead fox of Deadwood Forest. Here, leaves grow in a perpetual state of fall: not quite dead, but not quite alive--just like Clare. Long ago, he was struck by a car, and, hovering between life and death, he was given the choice to either cross into the Afterlife or become an Usher of wandering souls. Clare chose the latter: a solitary life of guiding souls to their final resting place.



Clare's quiet and predictable days are met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes knocks on his door. Despite Clare's efforts to usher her into the Afterlife, the badger is unable to leave Deadwood. This is unprecedented. Baffling. A disturbing mystery which threatens the delicate balance between the living and the dead.



Desperate for help, Clare and Gingersnipes set out on a treacherous journey to find Hesterfowl--the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But upon their arrival, Hesterfowl divulges a shocking revelation that leaves Clare devastated, outraged, and determined to do anything to change his fate.