The Hunt for Fang

Tree Street Kids #2

by Amanda Cleary Eastep

Adventures, friendships, and faith-testers . . . all under the watchful eye of a great big God. The Tree Street Kids live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Pine, but their 1990s suburban neighborhood is more than just quiet, tree-lined streets. Jack, Ellison, Roger, and Ruthie face challenges and find adventures in every creek and cul-de-sac—as well as God’s great love in one small neighborhood. In Book 2 of the Tree Street Kids series, Jack and his friends learn some survival skills at the church’s summer camp. They’ll need them! Determined to find Ruthie’s lost cat and protect Jack’s new puppy from Fang, the local wildlife, the kids head deep into the woods. Just when they think they’ve cornered the “enemy,” the kids realize someone has gone missing. Is Fang up to no good? Or will faith and friendship be enough to see the kids make it out alive?

Genres: Childrens, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 6, 2021

About the author

Amanda Cleary Eastep is not related to Beverly Cleary but wishes she were. She is, however, a children's writer, and the Tree Street Kids is her debut series. Amanda knows kids because she's still one at heart. When she is forced to act like an adult, she edits nonfiction books by grownup authors.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“Jack and his friends learn some survival skills at the church’s summer camp. They’ll need them! Determined to find Ruthie’s lost cat and protect Jack’s new puppy from Fang, the local wildlife, the kids head deep into the woods. Just when they think they’ve cornered the “enemy,” the kids realize someone has gone missing. Is Fang up to no good? Or will faith and friendship be enough to see the kids make it out alive?”


Series: Book #2 in the “Tree Street Kids” series. Review of Book #1, Here!


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are read, quoted, mentioned, thought over, & used in lessons/sermons; Prayers & Thanking God (including Jack praying about having a dog and later finishing his prayer outside of church, hoping that “God would hear it just as well”); Church going, VBS going, & sermons/lessons; Talks about God & His creation; 'H's are capital when referring to God but not in the Scripture version used; Mentions of God, Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, answered prayers, & thanking God; Mentions of Bibles & family devotions; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, sermons, hymns/songs, services, worship service, & youth group (including her grandma sneaking caramels to Midge to keep her quiet during church); Mentions of VBS; A few mentions of memorizing Scripture (a friend of Jack’s has “memorized, like, half of the Bible” and adds that he has memorized “Jesus wept.”; This is comforting to another friend who seems uncomfortable going to VBS); A couple mentions of WWJD; A mention of a Christian;
*Note: Jack and his family live next to a cemetery and Jack knows that there’s no such things as ghosts (his sister comments about watching to catch a ghost and keep it since their mom said no to having a dog); Jack’s dad teases him about having a magic wand; The American Indian legend/story of “How the Coyote Brought Fire to the People” is told at VBS; A boy calls his mother “Mothership” as her code name over walk-talkies (twice); Mentions of ghosts; A mention of a boy beating on his chest “like a caveman”.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘duh’, a ‘fish sticks’ (said by Midge when disappointed), an ‘oh my gosh’, an ‘up in someone’s grill’ (said to a bully who is getting in another’s face), a ‘what the heck’, two ‘dumb’, two ‘sheesh’s, and two forms of ‘wimp’; A bit of sarcasm & sass; Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Four close-calls with a coyote (nothing happens besides scaring the main characters); Jack meets the “Tree Street Kids’ enemy number one” which is a boy who calls them “nerds”, is overall mean to and picks on them, & is territorial about the park and woods (when he squeezes a frog too hard, Midge punches him in the stomach as that was advice from her grandma when someone picks on her, but Midge is grounded for doing that); As the bully continues to taunt and make comments towards Jack, he wants to show up the bully and win a competition; Jack thinks that the bully would be more interested in earning a badge in cannibalism than the “Super Steward” badge they’ve been earning at VBS; After Ruthie’s cat goes missing, Jack and the group (minus Midge as this is a mission for big kids) go into the woods to find the cat and hunt down the coyote (we see Ruthie very upset and crying; Jack is concerned that they will be unable to save the cat; Ruthie wants them to kill the coyote and wants vengeance, but another one of the group says that technically they can’t kill anything in a forest preserve; One of the boys is distressed when they go off the trails because his parents said he can’t do that until he’s twelve; *Spoilers* Jack’s dog runs away chasing a scent and when Jack goes after him, the dog falls down a ravine & Jack has the others lower him down to rescue the dog; Jack knows that if the dog rolls down the edge, it could kill him; When they leave the woods, Jack realizes that Midge was following them and goes back to find her by himself; They find each other but have to sleep in the woods and are found but adults the next day *End of Spoilers*); Jack and his little sister, Midge, go outside in the middle of the night to find out what a noise is through the cemetery (without telling their parents and Jack realizes that if something happened to his sister, he would be grounded for life; Their parents are awake when they go into the house and they are given a talk that they no longer live in the country and can’t run off like that); Jack recalls the dog they had that passed away (implied due to old age); Jack finds a dog in a cornfield and wants to keep it, but his grandfather tries to find the owner (*Spoiler* At the end, the owner comes and Jack is sad that he might take Arrow back and will really miss him, but after seeing how much Jack loves the dog, the man decides to let Jack keep him *End of Spoilers*); *Spoiler about missing cat* At the very end of the book, they find Ruthie’s cat in the bomb shelter and that she’s had kittens; She keeps the only female kitten so that the mother and daughter cats can be together (a nod to her mother no longer being in the picture) *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of a bomb shelter (Book #1); Mentions of hitting someone & being picked on (by a bully); Mentions of bullies; Mentions of being grounded; Mentions of coyotes killing and eating pets including puppies (Midge says it’s not the coyote’s fault if people leave “delicious-looking wiener dogs in the yard”); Mentions of a possibly sick cat & not having money to take her to a vet (the friend/girl cries and the friend group does a collection between them for a vet appointment); Mentions of rabies & rabies shots (Jack’s mom warns them about how painful it is and how long the needle is to keep them away from coyotes or other animals with rabies); A few mentions of prisoner of war (pretend); A few mentions of cheating (a bully cheats and Jack is glad to have beaten him despite his cheating); A few mentions of a friend’s mom leaving her family (Midge asks the girl if her mom got lost, but all the girl does is shrug); A few mentions of using the bathroom outside; A few mentions of a boy planning to feed a frog to his pet snake (he also squeezes it hard which causes Midge to punch him); A couple mentions of jail; A couple mentions of bullies at school (who looks like they might eat you); A couple mentions of a youth pastor having a tattoo; A mention of a possible war with Russia (what people were concerned about in the 1960s); A mention of throwing up; A mention of packs of wild dogs snatching chickens on a farm; A mention of a dog bring his owners a mouse or mole; A mention of a dead butterfly (that Midge is studying for scientific research);
*Note: Jack’s father only comes home on weekends due to his work; Jack rigged a “Foolproof Anti-Sister Room Alarm” in his room (that ends up not being foolproof and he plans to fix it); A youth pastor tells the kids they can call him by his first name (which Jack has never done before without putting a Mr. or Miss in front of it); There are a few book recommendations throughout the book & mentioned (‘The Edge of the World’ by Shel Silverstein, ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’ by Kate DiCamillo, ‘White Fang’ by Jack London, and ‘Call of the Wild’ by Jack London; Another book that is quoted from and mentioned, but not given as a recommended is ‘Hatcher’ by Gary Paulsen); Mentions of brand names & pop culture references (Nickelodeon Time Blaster clock, LEGO, Tootsie Roll, Snickers, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cool Whip, Oscar Mayer, & Old Spice); Mentions of movies, TV shows, & fictional characters (101 Dalmatians, Goosebumps, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sonic the Hedgehog, A Christmas Carol, & King Arthur); A few mentions of a poem about thinking if the world is flat (‘The Edge of the World’ by Shel Silverstein) & Midge says that “the world is round. That has been proven.” but does not sound totally convinced; A few mentions of sport teams & a player (Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, & Sammy Sosa); A few mentions of a car brand; A couple mentions of a Brownie (Girl Scouts) troop; A mention of Disney World; A mention of National Geographic; A mention of someone’s face freezing between crying and turning into a werewolf.


Sexual Content- A recalling of when Midge was a toddler and ate a lightning bug saying she “kissed him”;
*Note: A comment on puberty (when Midge describes rabies as making “you grow fur on your face and go crazzzyyy!”, a friend says “no, I think that’s puberty.”); A mention of puberty (Jack thinking that a smaller coyote hasn’t hit puberty yet either).

-Jack, age 10
1st person P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1995
236 pages

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Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars

After reading the first book in this series, I’ve been excited to continue the rest of the books because there is such a nostalgic charm to it—the summer of riding your bike around the neighborhood with your friends and even VBS in this second book! The VBS parts were so fun and I really liked seeing that represented because VBS is some of my favorite childhood memories. I don’t feel like I’ve seen too many books talk about VBS and that was fun element to this story. (Side note: I need a YA contemporary book that has the main girl volunteering at VBS now, please and thank you!)

As a sensitive animal lover, I was a little nervous before going into this book because of the missing pets in the woods where a coyote is known to live, but it was okay for me. It all ends well and I’m very glad about that! Some younger and sensitive animal lovers might have a hard time, though, still so just a heads up for that element!


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Karaline ✨official ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has a special place in my heart my dad would read this aloud to is every night and after we were done with the book he would always talk about it and made this books o special to me ☺️☺️☺️☺️

[Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the summer wanes, Jack longs for a dog to warm his new home in the suburbs. But when the local coyote threatens Jack’s dream puppy, the Tree Street Kids must take up the hunt.
Review of Book 1: Jack vs. the Tornado
Scripture Connection

Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.

1 Chron. 16:11

Spiritual Themes

The Hunt for Fang explores two key spiritual themes: the importance of prayer (and God’s willingness to answer!) and stewardship of the earth.

I felt that Cleary Eastep did an excellent job of emphasizing the importance of prayer in surviving dire situations, and in everyday petitions. The author introduced a memorable acronym to convey the importance of prayer, which should stick with readers even after the conclusion of the story.

I also really appreciate that she integrated stewardship as a theme, throughout the book. This is a command that Christians often overlook and I liked that Midge was the one to take up the cause.

What I Liked

Characterization and Connection

This is the second book in The Tree Street Kids series and I actually enjoyed it considerably more than the first.

Because the characters have already been established, we dive into the plot much more quickly. We encounter Jack and Midge, Ruth, Roger and Ellison once again. We also meet a few new fun characters: human and animal, alike. Like the original cast of characters, these new introductions were well-developed and intriguing, whether or not they were likable.

I enjoyed the introduction of a certain sixth-grade nemesis. This character was believable and, for me, added another layer of interest to the book. Likewise, I enjoyed meeting youth pastor Noe Hernandez. He was a fun dude.

I felt that Jack was more mature, in this novel. While he’s definitely still the same character from book one, I found him more likable, in this book. I think he treated Midge a bit better, this time. He also seemed to be a bit more respectful and less selfish.

I also had a deeper personal connection with this book, because Jack is yearning for a dog at the beginning of the story and my mom just got a new puppy! The timing was impeccable.

Speaking of animals, it was fun to see how important the animals were, as characters. In addition to a certain delightful dog, we also encounter Ruthie’s cat (Capt. Beans; learning a bit more about Ruthie in the process) and the title character, a coyote named Fang. Midge is also on the hunt for frogs and happily dispenses her biological knowledge, throughout the story. That brilliant little girl continues to impress!

Educational (and Entertainment!) Value

This book was so delightfully entertaining and educational. It was one of those experiences where I found myself learning new things without planning to. This is such a refreshing way to learn. It is often painfully apparent when an author is trying to teach something (Interestingly enough, I’d argue that this is even more prevalent in Christian books with presentations of the Gospel).

However, Cleary Eastep teaches in a fun, painless way, as she seamlessly integrates facts (and even urban legends) into the novel. As with book one, The Hunt for Fang incorporated fun little index card graphics, throughout, with factoids that supplemented the text— courtesy of Midge and Ellison.

These tidbits meld well with the narrative and are even endnoted at the back of the book. While I didn’t read through every note, I saw pronunciation information, as well as the fact that one of the things Jack believed to be true (about how many spiders humans swallow) was actually false.

There was also a thread about survival skills, throughout the novel, and I learned right along with Jack. I found the diagram about building a fire to be particularly useful.

Recommendation Status

This title made Redeemed Reader’s Flashlight Reads list of books that young readers won’t be able to put down.

It’s a fun title and I didn’t observe any content concerns. I’m all the more intrigued to see what will happen in book three!


*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Cleary Eastep’s debut middle grade series is off to such a fabulous start! I use the C.S. Lewis litmus test for whether I consider a children’s book good or not – is it enjoyable for adults too? These first two books in the Tree Street Kids series definitely pass that test! I had FUN reading these stories and I can’t wait until my youngest niece & nephews grow into middle grade fiction so I can read it with them.

The hero of our series, Jack, provides the first person narrative, and Eastep does a fantastic job of channeling 10-year-old boy as she wrote these stories. Jack’s perspective on the events in his world are matter-of-fact, winsome, and heartfelt, and readers of all ages will quickly embrace his character and the family & friends he gathers around him. I also appreciated the diversity of the characters in these books – not only in ethnicity but in experiences, too. Not every child is from a nurturing home… or a Christian home… or a two-parent home. And then there’s Jack who is from all of those things but has moved from his rural Illinois family farm to a Chicago suburb where his dad has to work out of town and only comes home on the weekends. The elderly next-door neighbor in Jack vs the Tornado and the bully in The Hunt for Fang allow for additional layers to be explored and provide many opportunities to talk with young readers about what loving our neighbors as ourselves really means.

Bottom Line: The little touches in Jack vs the Tornado and The Hunt for Fang make the Tree Street Kids series exceptional. Warmth, authenticity, and a child’s sense of curiosity grace each page of these books, and the cute illustrations & fun, quick ‘story breaks’ (like glimpses at other middle grade novels through the eyes of Ellison, or biology facts from Jack’s Ramona-esque sister Midge… and more) keep the entertainment level high. Relatable, diverse characters and simple but sincere messages of faith remind us that God is with us, even when we have to go through tough times. Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series and Paula Danziger’s Amber Brown books have long been favorites of mine, but it’s been a long time since I’ve read another children’s author whose writing style is just as charming – and I’ve found that in Amanda Cleary Eastep. I will be buying these for every middle grade reader I can find!

(I voluntarily reviewed complimentary copies of these books & then purchased them for my own collection.)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing read! I’m really loving this series! Can’t say much since it’s book 2, but we have an all new exciting adventure w/Jack & the gang to go on. It was such a great adventure too! Big focus on animals, nature, & our environment as well. All God’s creation, & we are supposed to take care of all of it. We really need to do a better job of this. Like the coyotes in this book, many animals are so misunderstood & feared-& killed because of it(none are hurt or killed in the book, I’m talking about in real life on that part)like my wolves I hold so dear to my heart for example. It’s got to change. We have to take better care of Mother Earth too. God is effortlessly woven into this story just as great as the last. There were also once again info squares anytime Ellison, Midge or anyone quoted a fact-& once again all cited in the back. I learned a few more things in this! Love! This has an amazing friendship dynamic, brother-sister dynamic, adventure, faith, facts, book quotes, humor, & it’s set in the 90’s! What more could ya want? Lol Plus, there’s an amazing dog that comes into the story, & I loved seeing Jack’s relationship w/this dog. Midge is still a hoot, & Arrow has my heart. Highly recommend! Can’t wait for more to come!🤞🏻 Another beautiful cover & illustrations sprinkled throughout inside by Aedan Peterson too!💜

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in a series, Jack and Midge are still settling in to life in the suburbs with their new friends. Summer is full of new adventures and new friends, a wholesome middle-grade read, with strong themes of Creation and Stewardship.

A fun fast paced read, I loved getting to know more of the Tree Street kids in this second installation to the series, especially Ruthie and Roger as the kids head to Super Stewardship VBS. I loved Roger and his walkie talkie communication with his mother, and Ruthie's Capt. Beans photoshoots.

This was a fun read that I enjoyed as an adult, with fun facts and wildlife survival tips thrown in along the way. I think that this would be a fun book to read aloud as a family before bedtime or great for middle grade readers, I loved the throwback to the 1990's which as a simpler time -- I feel so old saying that!

Overall, a well balanced read with a great pace and excellent plot and characters. Strong themes of faith are integrated smoothly into the story. A stand out series for young readers that I would happily recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[sincerely · Rating 3 out of 5]

As outdoorsy people who love dogs and had coyotes behind our old house (lol) this one was really great. I enjoy Ellison's bookishness and Midge's howling and quirkiness.

A couple notes - there are times in both books we've read so far where the MC is not honest with his parents. His little sister goes to tell the truth but he tries to prohibit her from telling Mom things he thinks might upset her. I reallyyyy don't care for this. I also recommend reading rather than listening as the narrator has a bit of an attitude in his inflections - if I personally read the lines they would sound much less aggravated. Finally, I wish the MC was depicted with more respect or fervor for the Lord. In both books there is a joke about the only Bible verse he knows being "Jesus wept".

All in all good books but just with a couple caveats for those hyper detailed parents like me 🙈😂😬

[Diane Estrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would say book two in this series was even better than the first!

More adventure. More danger, for sure. A few loose ends with a certain bully... Bring on book three!!!

The more I read this book, the faster I wanted to read it to get to the end and see how everything worked out. The author writes a smart book for smart kids. This is a solid PG book for kids that don't want to be babied. They want real action and a real storyline that they could see themselves involved in. The story is not dumbed down or coddling to kids. Really well done and I enjoyed it as a 50 year old (well physically anyways), with the mind of a 12 year old when it comes to good stories like this one. Well done!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Mindy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack and his sister and their newly-formed friend group are back, this time the survival skills they learn at their church's summer camp will become more necessary than they could have imagined. Here are a few of the layers: building friendships, dealing with a bully, coyotes and their habitats, nature and the environment, pets and their care, survival skills like building a shelter and fire starting, and fire safety, faith in God (woven into the story, not preachy). All this plus humor, 1990's details, fun facts about biology, cool book quotes from other classic middle grade books and more! Give this book a try...it will keep you turning those pages.

[Glenys Nellist · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the pen of Amanda Cleary Eastep, this second adventure in the Tree Street Kids series is just as compelling, readable and relatable as the first. Like Jack vs The Tornado, the characters in this title draw the reader in as they embark on another adventure of friendship, faith and fun. The Hunt for Fang is exciting without being too scary.. a welcome addition to the bookshelves of even the most reluctant of young readers.

[Rebecca May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should not have enjoyed that story as much as I did. Right?! I am an adult after all. Yet, I was drawn into the tale from the beginning. The chase scenes gripped me just as if I were reading a high-speed, adrenaline-packed adult novel. Truly, who could help but giggle, wonder, and seek adventures along with Amanda Cleary Eastep’s characters? I loved “Jack vs. the Tornado” and “The Hunt for Fang” was just as clever. I will be anxiously awaiting the Tree Street Kids book number three!

[Becca Wierwille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this second book in the Tree Street Kids series! Once again, Amanda Cleary Eastep has provided readers with a faith-filled adventure. This story especially caught my attention with the outdoors/survival elements—and the ending had some fun twists I didn't see coming. Definitely recommend this story!

[Sara]

The Hunt for Fang is a wonderfully written, thoughtful, and exciting story. Whether your young reader is looking for survival adventure, stories of friendship, or maybe a story about pets this is a great pick. I can’t wait to jump into the third book, Lions To The Rescue.

[Leslie McKee]

Review to come

[Jennie Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute book by Beverly, I mean Amanda, Cleary...Eastep. ;) I am buying this series for the church library. A great story for older elementary age kids!

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I find this book quite engaging, I do feel that the parent's reactions to their children are not entirely believable. The two children spend the night in the woods and the parent's reactions just seem very mild for what has happened.

[Sara Luchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second installment in the Tree Street Kids series is a wild ride! Amanda Cleary Eastep skillfully weaves a fast-paced plot with well-drawn characters, plenty of humor, unexpected adventures, and a big helping of faith.
What I especially liked: *friends and siblings solving problems together
*faith in Jesus woven into everyday life (not kept in a box) in a way that feels natural, not forced
*a Native American character who works with the youth pastor to teach Native folklore and wilderness skills in the survival-themed vacation Bible school (I would totally attend that VBS, by the way!)
*little "notecards" sprinkled throughout with Midge's Phenomenal Facts (fun tidbits about wildlife), Ellison's Bookmarks (fun notes about Ellison's literature quotes), and other side notes.
What I didn't like (only one thing): unanswered questions about the bully character... guess I'll just have to read the next book! ;)

[Julie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as cute as the first one, the Tree Street Kids are off on another adventure. The book is set in the 90s and full of fun references which make me giggle while reading. The kids attend a local church's vacation bible school and learn lessons about wilderness survival interweaved with lesson of faith. The book is not overly in your face Jesus but it is clearly a Christian book. This would make a great read aloud for young children or an independent read for kids just a little older.

I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.