Fog a Dox

by Bruce Pascoe

Albert Cutts is a tree feller. A fella who cuts down trees. Fog is a fox cub raised by a dingo. He's called a dox because people are suspicious of foxes and Albert Cutts owns the dingo and now the dox. Albert is a bushman and lives a remote life surrounded by animals and birds. All goes well until Albert has an accident.

This is a story of courage, acceptance and respect. With a gentle storytelling style and finely crafted dialogue, Indigenous cultural knowledge and awareness are seamlessly integrated into the narrative.

Genres: Young Adult, Australia, Fiction, Contemporary, Animals, Childrens, Novels

Audible Audio

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Bruce Pascoe was born of Bunurong and Tasmanian Aboriginal heritage in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Education. He is a member of the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative of southern Victoria and has been the director of the Australian Studies Project for the Commonwealth Schools Commission.

Bruce has had a varied career as a teacher, farmer, fisherman, barman, fencing contractor, lecturer, Aboriginal language researcher, archaeological site worker and editor.

He won the Fellowship of Australian Writers´ Literature Award in 1999 and his novel Fog a Dox (published by Magabala Books in 2012), won the Young Adult category of the 2013 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.
Source: http://brucepascoe.com.au/about/

Reviews

[Dr. des. Siobhán · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute little story build around a bushman and his dox Fog - a fox that grew up thinking he was a dog. Just like this word play, "Fog a Dox" combines a multi-layered story effortlessly incorporating Indigenous heritage with beautiful insight into dogs, foxes, men and nature. (And they mentioned a wombat - I love wombats.)

[Louisa Karmouche · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful little book! A really nice take about a man and his animals. The visuals Bruce conjures puts you right in the mountainous bush.

[T’Layne Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely children’s/ mg novel. Beautiful, thoughtful, adventurous and moving. I loved this little book. Highly recommended.

[John Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. So much going on for such a small little read. I read it as a metaphor of Indigenous Culture across much of Australia, hidden away or not fully expressed by a colonised country. Just one of quite a few deep themes running through this story. 🦊🐕🪓🌳

[Emkoshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mum recently went to a reading given by Bruce Pascoe and came home with a signed copy of this sweet little tale, which she then sent to Canada for my birthday. It had me at the first line: 'Albert Cutts was a tree feller. A fella who cuts down trees'; I'm currently living in the middle of a forest with a former tree feller and so it was very appropriate! I haven't been back to Australia for two years now but reading about all the native wildlife and trees, as told in a gorgeous and lyrical vernacular, made me very nostalgic and excited for my return this December. Lovely book, lovely front cover.

[Katg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I read all week & that's six books! Loved the characters the atmosphere, the appreciation of fogs/ foxes, so well written like all his fiction -should be read by everyone, 12 years and up, read it in half a day but it stayed with me & took me away all at the same time! When someone asks did you go away on your time off I can say 'Yes- to forest & a river & a place full of birds & quiet, honest, friendly reality'.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, but lovely story I would especially recommend to dog owners or nature lovers.
The author manages to portrait a humorous, yet surprisingly convincing picture of the canine's inner world, as well catch the affection shared between man and dog in such a pure and subtle way, it made me tear up at some parts since I have grown up with dogs myself. Beside that, the entire relationship with nature and especially with the dox (fox-dog) is written with love, care and an undertone of humour,but without over-romanticizing anything - the fox remains a fox and does not magically turn in what we know our dogs to be, which is wonderful! Although he does describe the budding love and devotion between Fog (the fox) and the protagonist, Pascoe does not support the illusion that one can easily domesticate wild animals- as tempting as it may seem. They might seem to adapt to our lives in some degree, but will stay their own masters which the protagoninst is aware and very accepting of. He doesn't even once force the idea of ownership on animals.
Towards the end of the novel the story's pace and tension increased surprisingly, shifting towards darker themes, but since it would give away to much I don't want to go into detail about that.
Although I have to admit I had to look up handful of words - turning out to be either Aussie slang or bird names - I would still recommend it to children and adults all the same.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet little young adult fiction.

[Kathy Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous story about difference and acceptance, self worth and knowing who you are and respect. This has so much potential in schools and in the curriculum.

A book worthy of reading, and studying, with grades 2 all the way up to 12. So many layers and concepts to discuss and explore.

Grab it, read it and hold it in your heart ❤️

[Despi O’Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Read it and discussed with year 4 students. Was a tough text for them but had really good discussions about friendship, judging others and caring for earth, animals and others. Language was rich so we could look at different ideas used by the author. Loved it!

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce really does have a way with words. Another beautiful book about human nature, looking after animals and each other and not judging a book (or a person, or a fox) by its cover. A great read for all ages.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for Year 7 English. Can be read and understood on a number of levels

[Cate Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Civics and citizenship studies in the NSW primary curriculum covers Australian society and values, with environment and sustainability included. Fog a dox by Bruce Pascoe is fantastic for character development in the environment noticing bird sounds and people as well as prejudice and values. Quoting Pascoe's Albert and his thoughts, page 45 "But people can't abide anything different and many can't relax until the difference is destroyed"..
Its the quiet noticing and listening to nature and differentiating the differences between dog and fox pups, birds, and weather that Pascoe writes beyond my own classroom of chatter and bewilderment when they are asked to find a connection to text in their own lives. Teaching listening is difficult and learning to.move beyond hearing is sometimes incomprehensible.
Thank you Bruce Pascoe for offering young readers a sustainable connection to others!

[Dani Ringrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't expecting much from this little tome going in, but was totally sold on its stunning front cover artwork. A compact story that even intertwined two separate stories effectively. I loved the concept of the novel, as I struggle with foxes as vermin in Australia. Fog, the character, was beautiful and given rightful centre stage. I live in suburbia less than 10 km from my CBD and we've had foxes in our street in broad daylight, and I know once they're spotted the traps and baits come out. The struggle I have is although I agree that no introduced species is good for Australia, there is something different about foxes. I don't know whether its their wily intelligence, their stunning looks, or their exotic-to-me nature, I wish there was a way for them to still be cared for ethically. Landed the ending, and the last line, beautifully.

[Wren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

This was sweet and surprisingly sad.

I loved Fog, what a sweet little creature. The best part of this book was the descriptions of the way humans love animals. As a dog person I was thoroughly swooning over the love these characters had for their animals.

There was an interesting discussion about racism. Foxes are called the enemy because they are different, just as POC are. It was interesting that that discussion was in this simple story.

Bruce Pascoe is a great writer and I enjoyed all the little Aussie words in this book.

[Nancy Valentino]

GREAT BOOK. It’s a short little novella, it’ll take you basically no time to read and every second you spend on it will be WORTH IT. Incorporating Indigenous Australian language and culture, featuring characters who are genuinely good people and a gorgeous plot about Fog (a Dox) - I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Great stuff, honestly, especially if you are looking to read more Australian literature or writing by diverse authors and about diverse characters.

[Cara Whippetwhisperer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. I read this book with my kids who preferred the previous Bruce Pascoe story Seahorse which was a bit more of a mystery, but I just thought it was a beautiful story where Albert's love for his life was translated perfectly. I also find foxes creepy yet intriguing so that drew me in as well. Not giving the ending away but I would have shed a tear if I didn't have to stop and tell the kids to shush. Thanks Bruce.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The dog that mated with Brim was nearly pure dingo, dark like the mountain dingoes are, a kind of golden chocolate with swatches of near-black at the nape and flanks. He was a beautiful dog, sharp as a tack. He'd quiz you with his eyes, trying to learn about you: if he could trust you, whether you were the type of bloke who shot creatures out of arrogance, just because you could, just because you had the power of death within reach.'

[Clive Parkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book! Given by a work colleague as a potential book to teach. So many little ideas that spring out as points of stimulus for creative writing or to pursue for little bites of knowledge. It was fitting that as I read this, also listening to an audiobook of “Limberlost” by Robbie Arnott. The descriptive elements complement one another wonderfully.

[mariella v · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. A great little one-day read. I have had this book since year 4, and every time I'm in a reading slump, I pick it up. This is mainly because I finish it in one day so it gives me a confidence boost, making me want to read more. But it is an inspiring little story about a sick girl, two introverted men, a worried mum, a dog, and of course a dox. Really recommend it.

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rating for me. I loved the relation of Albert and animals. The only thing I didn't quite like was when too many humans got involved. I could have a whole book just about Albert and the animals interacting.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another novella but another one that I really enjoyed.

It was a generally heart-warming, sweet story about love and acceptance. I did find that it was a bit slow and boring in places but, as it was very short, I made my way through it very easily.

[Robyn Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t tell you how much I loved this exquisite book. Such heart and soul. It made me want to weep. It is listed as YA but I would recommend it to any reader, any age. It is beautiful. In addition, an author with a blue heeler (Australian Cattle dog) has to be a good sort 😊🐶🐶

[Sue Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel good, young adult novella about a tree feller (or fella) who saves a litter of fox cubs and rears them with his latest half dingo litter. Most of the foxes return to the wild, but not Fog

[Josh]

Great

[Jacqui Nicholls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely short young fiction book. The language brought the voice to life. Kindness to others no matter differences is key theme.

[Flynn Van Stryp · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible book, had to read for school.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old school bush yarn, delightful.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely little story but the ending was too abrupt

[Lenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a God damn hero!!!!