The Vulpine – Polly Crosby

Published By: Scholastic
Pages: 368
Released On: 16/01/2025
Reading Age: 12+

Ora has always been fascinated by chilling fairy stories of the Vulpine – the mythical, fox-like monsters who live below ground, emerging at night to snatch ‘imperfect’ babies and children. Because Ora knows that disability and illness have no place in her world. To succeed is to be genetically ‘perfect’, just like her best friend Casta and his family.

Then, one day, Casta’s baby sister disappears. And Ora’s mother reveals a long-buried secret: Ora herself has a genetic illness that affects her lungs… And she’s about to be found out. Desperate for answers and sanctuary, Ora decides to do the unthinkable and seek out the fabled Vulpine. And below the earth, she discovers a hidden world that turns everything she has been taught upside-down…

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I saw Polly talking about this book on Twitter and I was instantly hooked. As someone who is still learning to navigate life with a chronic illness and disability, I am trying to find novels that have characters going through similar things. Growing up, I don’t remember having books with disabled characters in, or at least disabled characters as main characters, rather than just a tick boxing exercise or damsel in distress. And by combining that story with the popular dystopian settings, I think Polly has hit on a perfect idea and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in.

I also loved the cover. It was so simple but striking and immediately caught my eye.

It is such a powerful book. At first glance it looks “just” like another dystopian YA book, full of young teenagers at school, going through relationships, angst with their parents, sneaking out etc. But this has such a deeper message, and whilst I appreciate that it is “just” a fictional story, I think it could become a very important read.

Amazon says it’s aimed at readers 12+ (and at 31 I am a little over that, but still loved it). Hopefully it’ll show children and young adults that illnesses and disabilities are not something to be feared or disgusted by. Children – and adults – who are “different ” deserve to be treated exactly the same. And whilst it might be an extreme situation, this book shows the danger that comes from segregating them, and how the world is a much richer place for its diversity.

I admit I felt the pacing was slightly off at times, some bits drawn out and others not as much. For example, I felt the ending was a bit rushed and would like it to have been drawn out slightly longer. That’s a minor thing that I think would have taken this book from great to amazing. It didn’t spoil the reading or enjoyment of it in any way though.

It’s got everything really – it’s magical, dystopian, fantastical, there’s some romance, light comedy, and action.

I read it in a matter of hours. Ironically, I was reading it whilst in the waiting room of a hospital for my own illness! I could definitely see it being made into a YA series or film. I think the settings especially would work well on screen. I’m not the intended audience but I really loved it and would definitely watch it.

Polly has an illness of her own and whilst I only found that out after I’d read it, you can tell there’s something personal there, because of how sensitive it is, how powerful it is, that could only come from real experience.

I have read a lot of books in my life – we’re talking 200-300 a year – and I have read every kind of plot going, but I don’t recall ever reading something quite like this, which was a lovely surprise.