Christian McKay Heidicker's Blog

Unbelievably honored to be on Kirkus’s best books of the century list alongside some of my absolute favorites, Tae Keller, Erin Entrada Kelly, Jasmine Warga, Kwame Alexander, Jerry Craft, Cece Bell, Raina Telgemeier, and Lauren Wolk. Check out the list: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/middle-grade/best-century-so-far/books/

Read by yours truly :)

Out of the City and into the Wild, the foxes continue their spooky adventures today.

I talked with Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal about the new adventure and the value of scary stories for kids. Enjoy.

Finding Hope in Horror: Christian McKay Heidicker is Not Afraid to Scare Kids

PW’s Q&A with Christian McKay Heidicker

Not only is the Foxes sequel coming out tomorrow (August 31st), the paperback of the first Foxes is too! The latter contains bonus content, including more accurate wildlife AND (for the first time in print) the story Beatrix Potter wrote for Mia!

Here are some real nice trade reviews for The City:

“Heidicker’s writing continues to shine, his poetic language depicting scenarios that will be too much for sensitive readers but will more than satisfy those with a taste for gore and tragedy. At times the action becomes more burden than forward momentum, but on the whole, this is a worthy follow-up, with a triumphant end attempting to answer the eternal quandary of safety versus freedom . . . A fur-raising adventure.” —Kirkus

“Readers will white-knuckle their way through a vet’s treacherous office, a dog-food plant, and a sewer, but loyalty and friendship prove sturdy stuff for readers and foxes alike. A frightfully accomplished companion novel that stands on its own.” —Booklist

“Haunting and frightening nature tales of foxes in the wild and in a city, perfect for fans of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox or Sara Pennypacker’s Pax; would be a wonderful text for practicing inference skills.” —School Library Journal

See you all in the Antlerwood.

https://deadline.com/2021/04/lena-hea...

Happy pub day, little books. May the readers who need you find you.(Also, the THIEVES OF WEIRDWOOD paperback is now available!)

Link here! Enjoy!

My birthday seems as good a time as any to have another cover reveal!Behold! It’s out on April . . . something! And the reviews are already glowing:“This second action-packed Weirdwood adventure is as exciting as the first . . . The villains are fantastic [and] the book addresses grief in an age-appropriate, accessible way. The plot twists and the cliffhanger ending will have readers clamoring for more.” —Kirkus“Heidicker treats readers to some involved character development . . . Fans of the first title can rest easy knowing this is a worthy successor.” —BCCBALSO. THIEVES OF WEIRDWOOD is on sale for $2.99 wherever you get your ebooks!Go. Be pleasantly haunted.

Mohammad Murad

A frightened Stranger staggers through the Twisted Antler Wood,Wounded deep and mumbling, his pawprints filled with blood. Three young foxes sniff him out beneath the winter glow.They listen to his gasping tale while sheltered from the snow . . .

Adelaide Tyrol

A Barn holds swaying secrets, hung and dripping from its eaves.

Photo Credit: Ken Williams

A shade plucks foxes from the night, invisible as leaves.

Celine Chamberlin

The Ragged waits for helpless things while grinning in its tomb.

Laura Roady

A cold Machine grinds foxes up and drools them in the gloom.

Roman Roebroke

The clicking teeth of hollow hounds resound down empty streets. The Ladies smear their faces white and lure kits with their sweets. A figure gathers paws and eyes with nimble Rubber Hands. And foxes wake to metal scrapes, their limbs pinned down by bands. Three young foxes knead the ground, uncertain what to do . . .Will turning tail save your hide,when the stories come for you? 8-31-2021Pre-order here .

A frightened Stranger staggers through the Twisted Antler Wood,Wounded deep and mumbling, his pawprints filled with blood. Three young foxes sniff him out beneath the winter glow.They listen to his gasping tale while sheltered from the snow . . .

Adelaide Tyrol

A Barn holds swaying secrets, hung and dripping from its eaves.

Photo Credit: Ken Williams

A shade plucks foxes from the night, invisible as leaves.

Celine Chamberlin

The Ragged waits for helpless things while grinning in its tomb.

Laura Roady

A cold Machine grinds foxes up and drools them in the gloom.

Roman Roebroke

The clicking teeth of hollow hounds resound down empty streets. The Ladies smear their faces white and lure kits with their sweets. A figure gathers paws and eyes with nimble Rubber Hands. And foxes wake to metal scrapes, their limbs pinned down by bands. Three young foxes knead the ground, uncertain what to do . . .Will turning tail save your hide,when the stories come for you? 8-31-2021Pre-order here .