Description:
Adelie, a girl about to enter her last year of high school, deals with Absorbism, a shape-shifting condition. It's been inherited from her father, who has been missing from her life for many years due to his own struggles with the disease. She lives with her mother, who has forced them to move several times to escape the media, but also to keep her daughter on a tight leash.
After settling into their newest town, she discovers it is not what it seems. She meets a boy named Owen, who is also not what he seems. Together, they must join forces to change themselves-and the town-for the better.
Set within the fictional Northern Michigan town of Orchard Hill, follow Adelie as she is torn between familial hardships, medical struggles, and a fear of opening up her heart to others.
Brief description: Kassandra Keator knew that story writing would be her passion from a young age. In Kindergarten, she displayed self-made picture books for show-and-tell. In middle school, she created written short stories. By the time she entered high school and college, she was busying herself with creating fully-fledged fictional pieces of literature. "Orchard of the Fox" has been a labor of love, starting all the way back into 2012, finally published in 2023. This story in particular is very important to her, as it contains many aspects of Keator's own life, emotions, and experiences. Keator has more novels in the works as well, including a companion piece to OOTF named "Den of the Mongrel," a separate novel named "Ghedi," and a memoir mixed with personal poetry titled "Quincey's Consequences." Originally from South Florida, she now lives in Northern Michigan. Her Cuban-American upbringing and now-rustic surroundings continue to inspire her.
Review Quotes:
"A beautiful and harrowing story telling the tale of the often-oxymoronic life we all lead on our desperate attempts to love and be loved. Through symbolism and friendship we witness the transformation (no pun intended) of a seemingly cold female protagonist into one who accepts and flourishes in love, despite cosmic consequences."
"Orchard is a delightful and cathartic read, from its rich character interactions to the charismatic small town the author has woven. Though the novel does not shy away from grief, loss, and the persistence thereof, it is never unbalanced and is complimented by healing and hope."
"If you love a story with elements of fantasy rooted in reality that's both heart-warming and heart-wrenching at the same time, this book is definitely for you."
"A cathartic, transformative read in which the author handles sensitive topics with a nuance and empathy rarely seen. It is an equally excellent character exploration of the protagonist and the various relationships she develops over the course of the story. Keator is a wonderful weaver of the narrative."
"The characters and their relationships are my favorite part, their conversations and dynamic as a friend group feel so real and easy to immerse oneself in. Owen and Adelie's relationship is my favorite, and the book does a very good job of portraying how powerful a platonic relationship can be."