The Ranger

Starred review from May 1, 2019
Following The Outlaw (2018), this second title of a trilogy offers a new character to ponder. Various elements link this to the first book, such as the pacing; limited palette, with an abundance of gray, green, and black; incorporation of newspaper fragments and 19th-century fabric patterns. Nevertheless, such knowledge is not necessary for comprehension. Readers first see the back of the protagonist--a figure rendered in watercolor that bleeds into the scene, masking identity. The page turn reveals a female of indeterminate race with long black braids. Vo employs color, plot twists, and dramatically changing perspectives to elicit surprise and maintain suspense. While moving through the forest, Annie discovers an orange fox, trapped and suffering. She releases the animal and binds its wound but resolves not to tame it. Her emotional position is underscored by her physical one. Seen from the fox's perspective, Annie appears as tall and unapproachable as the parallel tree trunks disappearing off the page. The creature accompanies the ranger on her journey; when a bear attacks and Annie is knocked unconscious, she is cared for by a mysterious woman, dressed in orange, casting the shadow of a fox. The ranger must then come to terms with her stubborn stance on independence in the face of friendship's rewards. A restrained text fuses with visually arresting and enigmatic interactions to open a welcoming space for contemplation. (Picture book. 4-7)

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