Fox in a Trap

Title:Fox in a Trap
Author: Jane Resh Thomas
Date of Publication:1987
Award Won: Kerlan Award, MN Book award
Group represented: Caucasian farm family
Age recommendation:Ages 8-12



This is a book about a farm family, the main characters are a mother, father, their son Daniel and his father's brother Peter. Peter is an adventurous writer of hunting and fishing. He sets trap lines in the places he travels to catch certain animals for their fur. Daniel looks up to his Uncle Peter, he longs to get off his families farm someday and have the exciting life that his uncle peter has. Daniel has been begging his uncle to teach him how to set traps too. Finally just before winter his uncle teaches him how to trap. When the bait they use in the fox traps turn out to be kittens, Daniel has a hard time setting the traps himself. Daniel feels that his heart just might not be into trapping; He feels for the animals too much. He begins to learn that maybe his Uncle's life isn't exactly what Daniel wants and that's okay. He can determine his own new destiny.



This book could be used with other children to spark a debate about hunting and fishing and the moral dilemmas. Students could research and argue whether or not to hunt or fish. The book could also be used in a lesson about farms and all the chores and happenings of a farm. The students could learn all the things that go into getting their food from the farm to the grocery stores. It could be like a unit on local food if from a farming state.