Toaff's Way

Davis Farm #3

by Cynthia Voigt

Meet a lovable squirrel searching for a place to call home in this gem of a story by a Newbery Medal-winning author.

Toaff is a small squirrel full of big Why must I stay away from the human's house? Why shouldn't I go beyond the pine trees? Why do we fight with the red squirrels across the drive?

His sister shrugs, his brother scoffs, and the older squirrels scold--that's just the way things are.

When a winter storm separates him from his family, Toaff must make his own way in the world. It's a world filled with danger--from foxes and hawks and cats to cars and chainsaws. But it's also filled with delight--the dizzying scent of apple blossoms, the silvery sound of singing, the joy of leaping so far you're practically flying. Over the course of a year, Toaff moves into (and out of) many different dreys and dens, makes some very surprising friends (and a few enemies), and begins to answer the biggest What do I believe? And where do I belong?

Master storyteller Cynthia Voigt offers readers a rich and rewarding story of finding one's way in the world.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure, Audiobook, Unfinished

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2018

About the author

Cynthia Voigt is an American author of books for young adults dealing with various topics such as adventure, mystery, racism and child abuse.


Awards:
Angus and Sadie: the Sequoyah Book Award (given by readers in Oklahoma), 2008
The Katahdin Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Anne V. Zarrow Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Margaret Edwards Award, for a body of work, 1995
Jackaroo: Rattenfanger-Literatur Preis (ratcatcher prize, awarded by the town of Hamlin in Germany), 1990
Izzy, Willy-Nilly: the Young Reader Award (California), 1990
The Runner: Deutscher Jungenliteraturpreis (German young people's literature prize), 1988
Zilverengriffel (Silver Pen, a Dutch prize), 1988
Come a Stranger: the Judy Lopez Medal (given by readers in California), 1987
A Solitary Blue: a Newbery Honor Book, 1984
The Callender Papers: The Edgar (given by the Mystery Writers of America), 1984
Dicey's Song: the Newbery Medal, 1983

Reviews

[Scarlett Readz and Runz....Through Novel Time & Distance · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This novel for young readers is a darling coming of age story of Toaff, the adorable munchkin little Gray squirrel. He lives with his mom and two other siblings in a tree when he emerges from their nest-hole to go outside for the very first time. It is winter and he does not know yet about weather and seasons; nor does he know he can jump from tree branch to tree branch. His brother Braff is a little know it all and tells him all about the world out there. Toaff believes him until he finds out for himself that Braff may not have it all right!

The Gray squirrels live by the driveway of a family home and farm. On the other side of the driveway are the Churrchurrs in the adjacent woods. Another type of squirrel described in the story. Both kinds hate each other…or do they?

Toaff learns so much on his first outings. He learns his leaps, he learns how to forage for food and he learns about the humans that live in their house with their two dogs. He watches them often and finds their way of communication interesting. Especially when the mother sings to her baby. But there are strange sounds coming from machines that the man is using to tend to his land. And one day…out of the blue, Toaff finds himself tumbling in his own home as his tree falls over after a bad storm. As he has to search for a new suitable home, he learns that the farmer has a machine that cuts the tree into log pieces for firewood.

This is where Toaff’s adventure really starts. He has to find a new area to live and sometimes it gets dangerous for a little squirrel out there. Will he live in the cherry tree near the human house? Or with mice…oh those stinking mice under the human house? Should he dare to venture across the driveway or behind the house where the Red squirrels live?

As Toaff goes to explore and the seasons change, he makes friends and foes. He encounters birds of prey and foxes, he escapes danger, rescues others in need and endures times of hunger. At last he has made so many experiences, that he can stand up to his brother Braff with the truth about so many misconceptions he had told him about the world around them. And this gives Toaff peace. He makes his home and the farmer actually puts out a feeder right besides his new home.



***



This is a story to enjoy by a proficient reader in the upper elementary age. There are words used that are a bit uncommon that a child has to be able to recognize and in turn interpret like: whuffled, nest-barn, nest-house, Chuckchuks, as well as the languages used by other critters and animals in the story.  

I found this book super adorable and it had a few sweet illustrations in it. There also is a lot of information about the natural world hidden in the story. So as Toaff learns about his surroundings as a little one, the reader learns alongside him about nuts, seeds, fruits, trees, animal bahaviors, animal shelters and maintenance, birds of prey and carnivores and the food & life cycles.

Toaff’s Way is a gentle read for the nature enthusiast and would make a wonderful gift to give a young reader to enjoy.  



I received a digital copy of Toaff’s Way from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!

More reviews here: https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/

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[Karina · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Then he landed on a maple branch that sank gently under him. His bushy tail gave him balance. His sharp nails gripped and he ran toward the trunk, where he sat up on his haunches and whuffled. He hadn't known he could do that. Nobody had told him. The pride of it, and the surprise..." (PG. 1)

This was such a boring book where nothing happened in the life of the squirrel. It was just him trying to figure out his first year and being curious of his surroundings. I skimmed throughout and was so happy when I finished. Did not enjoy it.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey, Newbery committee! You missed this one!

I know, I know, this is a book about animals, and those aren't usually my thing. But this is spectacularly done in that regard: what the animals know, how they learn it, how they communicate. It's impressive.

And the writing, unsurprisingly, is superb:

Toaff understood - of course he did - that a smart squirrel would go back up to his den. He understood it as well as if his mother was right there reminding him. But he also wondered what it would be like to slide along the ice. Slide was a word that went on and on before abruptly ending, as if its paws had gone out from under it.


Missus began to talk, but not in the voice she had used before. This new talking was that long line of sound the color of squirrels' tails, or silver moonlight. Missus talked and talked, winding the line of sound around her baby, and the baby grew quiet.

And there's what Toaff learns, and how, and each day being almost a war with nature; how carefully considered the point of view is, and how there's no traditional structure or end.

This reminds me a little of that Selden book where Tucker ends up in the country: somehow more human for not being about people. Really beautifully done.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet story about Toaff, the little squirrel searching for his place in the world, captured my heart. Black and white illustrations add to the charm of this latest for young readers by Newbery Medal-winner Cynthia Voigt. 5/5

Grateful to NetGalley and Random House Children's - Knopf Books for an advance copy. Opinions are mine.

#Toaff'sWay #NetGalley

[carmen! · Rating 4 out of 5]

i agree with the other reviews that are like "ummm nothing happened in this book". that's true. but, nothing happened extremely adorably

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since spring, where I live, my yard has been full of squirrels and I was beginning to loose my patience with them. Toaff is the leading character in the book Toaff's Way by Cynthia Voigt. Toaff likes to leap from branch to branch and when I began to read this book, leap is what I did into the world of nature and squirrels. Although it is a fictional story, I learned so much about nature and the relationship between animals and I shared some while reading aloud at times to my grandchildren on lazy summer days. I never knew what a squirrel's nest was called, where do they put those nuts and seeds that they run up the trees with, so many questions and many of the answers I read in the book. The book teaches us about curiosity, how it can be constructive, about forgiving and understanding, that there is a time for silence and a time to voice an opinion, about responsibility and being prepared. Most of all it shows us how to be kind to one another and enjoy the beauty of nature surrounding us. I found myself many times in my daily routine, looking forward to getting back to the pages of the book to find out what Toaff was up to and lastly saddened when I came to the end of the book, as I wanted the story to go on so I could follow Toaff's travels. Great book. I have had many conversations with my favorite little people talking about Toaff and our own squirrels in comparison.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable. I loved Toaff the squirrel and his adventures.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

• audiobook • 3.75

My youngest granddaughter loves squirrels. It was one of her first words because when I visited her, we would go outside to find the ‘quirrel’.

I mostly enjoyed the adventures, just not te world building and explanations. It was a bit to tedious and mundane for the young- and the older.

Toaff & Company were a delightful lot.

The audiobook was provided for my listening enjoyment and my review is freely given.

[Red · Rating 2 out of 5]

Voigt has a talent, but it does not feel suited for kids books. She has a great arsenal of onomatopoeia and world-building, but all of it is terribly slow. This can be said for Angus and Sadie as well as Toaff's Way. These books have a lot of nothing that happens. Somehow page after page is full of nothing, clunky dialogue with a ton of sounds, long sentences to cover time passing, but nothing actually happening.

Chapters have maybe one event, things like a tree falls over, so the squirrel living in the tree continues to live in the tree. Nothing changes besides he's living in a tree which has fallen over. Another has snow, the snow changes nothing, they treat it as snow and it exists. Other chapters have him meet a squirrel, it stays for all of three pages, and leaves, changing nothing.

Toaff does not progress in the story so much as he changes location and has conversations with others. A perfect example besides the red squirrel would be the fox chapter. It is treated as Toaff fights a fox when really he makes noises from a branch and then congratulates himself for fighting a fox. Nothing was actually fought but it's held as he did so.

I can't see many kids fully enjoying this book unless it's read to them, on paper it's bland, with someone to speak all the sounds in a classroom or at bed time it could be entertaining, or annoying, there are a LOT of sounds, some of them repeat up to seven times in a scene and most of them are used dozens of times through the book.

2.5 stars, Voigt needs to write some adult fiction, her style would fit there more than it does with children.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet story about Toaff, the little squirrel searching for his place in the world, captured my heart. Black and white illustrations add to the charm of this latest for young readers by Newbery Medal-winner Cynthia Voigt. 5/5

Grateful to NetGalley and Random House Children's - Knopf Books for an advance copy. Opinions are mine.

#Toaff'sWay #NetGalley

[Leonard Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Listened to audio book. Admirable in many ways - particularly in matters of setting. (I would even call this world-building.) Maybe the characterizations were a bit conventional, which is why this didn't feel like a higher-rated book to me.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for this one, a perfect choice as a read aloud for a classroom or home. Toaff is a young gray squirrel who is curious about the world around him. While others of his species seem fearful of change and don't have many questions, he realizes that he's not like them. His mother tells him that this is just how things are when he wonders why the gray squirrels and red squirrels are enemies, but that answer is less than satisfying. After tragedy occurs and he is left to fend for himself, Toaff must choose between staying with Braff, a bossy squirrel who seems to have all the answers, or striking out for himself. During the year that he's on his own, Toaff has many adventures, comes close to death, and makes friends in some most unlikely places. He also finds answers to some of his questions and realizes that being on his own isn't all that bad, after all. Because the book is divided into sections according to each season, readers are provided a glimpse into a year in the life of a squirrel whose dwelling place isn't all that far removed from the humans who become interested in his survival. His story is told with confidence and understanding, and pencil sketches help readers connect with the different squirrels that populate this world. In the end, it's clear that, like some humans, Toaff, prefers his own company for the most part, at least until he can connect with others like him who are not afraid to take risks or question the status quo.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voigt returns successfully to the farm location from previous novels Young Fredle and Angus & Sadie to brilliantly explore what it is like to be a squirrel. One winter after the destruction of their nest a young squirrel named Toaff decides to strike out on his own and answer his own questions about the world. After all squirrels are never lonely, they just don’t mind company for the most part. Along the way, Toaff discovers that some company is better than others! He has adventures in each season all over the farm, finding both squirrel foes and allies while also surviving some perilous predators like raccoons, foxes, raptors, and fishers.

Toaff’s story is compelling, suspenseful, and satisfying and it would be an excellent inclusion in any school or public library collection. Voigt’s imagining of the inner voice of a squirrel is done so skillfully that the reader will not question that this is how or why squirrels behave the way they do. Accompanying illustrations by Sydney Hanson give life to the characters and her cover illustration will draw readers to examine the book for interest. Middle grade readers who enjoy animal driven stories will not want to miss this one and it would also make a great read aloud novel for class discussion. I would highly recommend that school and public libraries add this book to their collections.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toaff is a youn grey squirrel. He is very curious about his world. He lives with his family in a pine tree. He wakes up one morning to discover himself alone. Where is everyone? When he goes outside, he realizes that the tree has fallen over. Since Toaff doesn’t know where they have gone, he fixes the family’s home as best he can. He decides to find a new home. He meets and makes new friends but also escapes his enemies.

The novel is a delightful animal story of a squirrel’s life in his first year of life. The author has successfully shown Toaff’s life through his eyes. Indirectly, the story introduces the idea of prejudice and how it affects one’s life. It also shows friendship in spite of initial prejudice.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Comet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toaff’s Way is a book by Cynthia Voigt. This book takes place in the woods and around the humans houses. The main character of this book was a squirrel named Toaff. His problem is his curiosity, he wonders if he is the only squirrel on the whole farm who had questions about the world and everything around him. His solution is talking about his problems with his squirrel friends. The plot of this book is about Toaff’s adventures in each season, starting with winter and going through all the seasons and going back to winter again. He meets lots of new squirrels along the way including called the Lucky Ones and the Littles. He ends up not being friends with them later because they didn’t get along well with each other. He also makes friends with two dogs named Sadie and Angus. I recommend this book because it is exciting to be reading about the life of a squirrel and you always want to know what is going to happen next. This book made me more interested in learning about squirrels.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't sure what to expect of this story, but I've enjoyed Cynthia Voight's works, The book sucked me in pretty quickly! I have good relationships with the squirrels who frequent my yard, and with squirrels in general, so this wasn't too difficult to get drawn into... A young and inquisitive squirrel sets out on his won and due to circumstances beyond his control, gets shoved into the wider world very quickly. Have to admit, the snowstorm nearly stopped my heart in panic. I hate when the young squirrels in my neighborhood begin to explore on their own. Our name for them is "suicide squirrels" as so many get run over,,, tragic. Anyway, of point, Toaff is a little cutie whose story children (and maybe some adult squirrel lovers!) will enjoy reading about. Bravo, Cynthia for another well written tale!
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Psusan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toaff's Way is a sweet coming of age story about a small squirrel named Toaff who has some big questions along with some bigger ideas. Cynthia Voigt writes with rich prose that bring Toaff, his family and his adventures to vivid life.

Readers of the upper elementary will enjoy reading this story independently. However, younger elementary children will quickly identify with Toaff and become caught up in his story if read aloud to them. I can vouch for this since my grandchildren who have finished kindergarten and first grade enjoyed the story as we read it together.

The publisher through Net Galley provided an ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as charming and moving as Young Fredle, or Angus and Sadie. Voight seems to have a more obvious political agenda with this novel, which plays with belief systems (various squirrels “worship” the crows, the sheep or the holly bushes, seeing them as all-protecting guides) and cultural conflict (the paranoid tension between the red squirrels and the greys mimicking the current right-left conflicts in the US). She also saddled herself with a main character who is an introvert, annoyed by pretty much everyone. This was all a little too much, without the psychological and relationship insights of the previous two books in the series. But still, my son and I never get tired of Sadie, and it’s fun to keep track of how Missus and the baby are doing.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always thought squirrels were ready for a Watership Down treatment like rabbits received. Newbery award winning author Cynthia Voigt must have thought the same thing. In her third in the Davis Farm narratives, Voigt tales the tale of a squirrel name Toaff who is filled with questions and ready to explore the world. Much like Avi's Poppi, this animal fantasy metaphorically tells the tale of the importance of taking risks, exploring beyond our comfort zones, and venturing out on our own. Toaff is a sweet, lovable character and this book would be a great elementary read aloud or independent reading book in the hands of the right intermediate grade reader. It certainly could be featured in a text set of books exploring the genre of animal fantasy or classic tales of animals.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. It has been some time since I have read an anthropomorphized animal story, so it took some adjustment. I wonder what it will be like for readers to adjust to the invented vocabulary and names, but it could be good practice for using context clues. I sensed the underlying messages about different groups getting along. There is a bit of humor thrown in, especially when the animals argue over what is in charge, and the description of sheep building a lake and stopping humans in the road is unique. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grey squirrel story -- it's the kind of animal story where the behavior stays close to natural but they have opinions and myths and reasons. There are links with the Young Fredl book. Toaff is different in that he has curiosity and a willingness to go it alone; his big brother is a bit of an oaf and his sister a pleasant memory. He finds other companions for a while but moves on when they don't share his intellectual interests. The book meanders through a year in an interesting way but doesn't leave much impression afterward.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle grade novel follows Toaff the squirrel through a year on the Davis farm. The plot is jumpy and uneven--much like the movements of a squirrel on one's yard! The characters are a bit confusing with all names ending in F.
Voight includes themes of prejudice and interpersonal dynamics as Toaff learns to form his own opinion of a maligned neighboring species, and navigates living in community with siblings, gray squirrel friends, and other farm animals.
The cute factor of the cover illustration will invite middle grade girls to begin the book. I predict few will finish it.

[Jill Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juvenile Fantasy. Toaff is a young gray squirrel that has to find his way to survive on the farm after a windy winter storm destroys his family’s den. He meets other gray squirrels and red squirrels but discovers he enjoys his independence. He learns from the crows to watch out for the cats. He has a dangerous encounter with a couple of animals. Nice animal adventure. Unfortunately, I was becoming impatient with the story and wanted to be done with it. The yarking of the dogs annoyed me too. Maybe it was just me. Recommend for 4th to 6th grade.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This narrator of this story is a gray squirrel who tries to sort out why gray squirrels and red squirrels are terrified and suspicious of one another without any hard evidence justifying those feelings. He also spends a lot of time sorting out the behaviors and motivations of humans and dogs, including searching for the truth about whether dogs take orders from sheep, or is it the other way around? Finally, Toaff just wants to live a peaceful life in the company of others who also live peacefully. Voigt really speaks squirrel and a bit of dog in this tale.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from a new vendor who send out three books per month, and I was immediately drawn to the cover art! I didn't know until I listed it here that it was book 3 in a series, so I can't speak to how it fits into the overall series - though it seemed to work fine as a stand-alone story.
The illustrations continue throughout, and the story is very linear moving from one season to the next. I thought it was cute, and that it would work best read with an adult or someone who can help younger readers discover the meaning of the squirrel terminology and perspective. :)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toaff is an adventurous and curious squirrel who gets separated from his family after a storm. The year following his loss he takes a journey in which he strives to figure out the world and his place in it. He learns about survival, acceptance, and friendship. Imagining the world from the perspective of a squirrel, this is a sweet and entertaining tale. Toaff will win over readers' hearts. Thanks to NetGalley, I read a digital advanced reader's copy of the book.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Then all four of them, however different they all were, each one from all the other ones, could know the same word."


Powerful, but subtle story about different animals on a farm. Grey squirrels don't trust red squirrels and vice versa. No one knows what the crows are up to, sheep may or may not be taking care of everyone....lessons in friendship, bullying, diversity, challenges, and more all told from the point of view of a curious grey squirrel. I really enjoyed it.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Companion book to Angus and Sadie (published in 2005 and told from the perspective of two border collies on the Davis Farm), and Young Fredle, (published in 2011 and told by a mouse). Toaff is a charming, independent, adventurous gray squirrel curious about the dogs, and drawn to Sadie, and repulsed by the smelly mice. Anthropomorphized farm animals deal with issues of home, family, acceptance, and dreaming big.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great tale by Cynthia Voigt. I very highly recommend this book (and others in this series). They are excellent as audiobooks on long car rides.
Although we didn't have a long ride, we did enjoy these on our daily 20 minute commute to and from summer camp.
These stories may be a little tough for the very young, but perfect for my 8-year old grandson. And they are entertaining for adults also.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this was just going to be a cute tween novel, but it turned out that it was full of philosophy.

I love the way that the author mirrored people's struggles and triumphs in this little squirrel. It was an interesting story on the surface, but for those who are deeper thinkers, it lends to some serious thought.

A very good read for those 8 years and older.