42 pages • 1 hour read
Betsy ByarsThe Midnight Fox
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1968A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 1-3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 1 Summary: “Bad News”
Nine-year-old Tom is sitting in his room, about to start building a new model airplane, when his mother interrupts him to announce that she and his father are going on a cycling trip to Europe, so Tom will be spending the summer at Aunt Millie’s farm. Tom is not excited about this prospect and argues, telling his mother that he knows he’ll hate it, the same way that he knows he hates camp and figs. He bolsters his argument by reminding her that animals hate. Tom’s mother is upset and tries unsuccessfully to persuade him by describing all the fun he’ll have on the farm. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for Tom’s parents, which Tom knows, so his mom finally asks him “Don’t you want your father and me to have this trip?” (5). Tom says he does but argues that he can stay home alone. Frustrated, Tom’s mother leaves his room in tears. Later, Tom’s father talks to Tom, telling him about the wonderful pond on the farm and explaining the positive personal growth that can happen on farms, but Tom replies, “I like myself the way I am” (7). Tom’s father grows frustrated and reminds Tom about all the sacrifices his mother has made for him. With his nose running and eyes stinging, Tom grudgingly agrees to go to the farm.
Chapters 2 Summary: “The Trouble With Leaving”
Petie Burkis, Tom’s best friend, comes over to say goodbye the evening before Tom leaves for the farm. They sit on the steps and watch an ant run over Petie’s sneakers, not saying much. Petie says he’ll miss Tom, and they joke for a while, making up headlines about Tom getting lost on the farm and being rescued by a pig. On his way back to his room, Tom daydreams about being a “cowboy hero.” Seeing his suitcase snaps him back to reality, and he notices the two models his mom has packed for him, neither of which he likes. As Tom lies awake in bed, he thinks about all the things he will miss doing with Petie this summer.
Chapters 3 Summary: “Abandoned”
Tom’s parents try to make the drive to the farm fun. They stop for a picnic lunch and visit a souvenir shop, but Tom’s mood is dismal. Tom imagines Aunt Millie and Uncle Fred waiting for a “great athlete with muscles like potatoes” (17) to help with farm chores. He pictures their disappointment when they see him instead. Aunt Millie (who is really Tom’s second cousin) runs out to greet them when they arrive. Tom’s mother, Fran, starts crying as they all hug, overcome with emotion at seeing Millie again after several years. They go inside for lemonade and cake, then Tom’s parents say goodbye and leave Tom with Aunt Millie and Uncle Fred. Tom holds back his tears because his father previously expressed disgust whenever Tom cried or worried too much. For example, once Tom and Petie “read” the lines on each other’s hands, and Petie’s lines predicted that Petie was about to die. Both boys became upset until the predicted time passed, which irritated Tom’s father. Now, as Tom watches his parents leave, he notes that his eyes and nose stay dry. He feels proud of his self-control while he is “being abandoned” (21), but he regrets that no one, particularly his father, notices his composure.
Chapters 1-3 Analysis
In these early chapters, the narrative highlights Tom’s close relationship with Petie and emphasizes the feeling of security that he gets from familiar routines, setting the stage for significant change. Because Tom initially has no interest in Embracing Growth Through New Experiences, it is immediately clear that this theme will play a prominent role as the story unfolds. From the beginning, the protagonist is reluctant to embrace change and spends most of his free time visiting with Petie or making models in his room. Tom and Petie’s friendship is strong and comfortable, and the safe regularity of their world is established as they spend quality time together chatting, making up stories, and enjoying each other’s company. Tom’s reluctance to expand his horizons is further highlighted by his short-sighted insistence that he “knows” he will hate being on the farm. Ironically, the more Tom repeats this belief to his parents, the more he reaffirms it to himself, and although he knows he is upsetting his mother, his anxiety about the unknown fuels his reluctance. Tom’s tenuous arguments against going to the farm continue until his father points out his selfish attitude, at which point Tom reluctantly agrees to go, thereby proving that his love for his parents outweighs his discomfort.
The exchange also proves that Tom has a different relationship with each parent, for although he is close with his mother, he also knows how to manipulate her. By contrast, Tom’s fairly good relationship with his father is tarnished by his father’s dislike of emotional displays. Throughout Tom’s childhood, his father has instilled the importance of self-control by criticizing Tom or showing “disgust” when Tom displays emotions. These early chapters imply that instead of making Tom more resilient, his father’s approach has made Tom anxious about braving situations that might make him appear weak or subject him to external judgment. For example, Tom worries about being a disappointment to Millie and Fred because he is small, and he dreads having to swim in the lake because he is not a strong swimmer, foreshadowing the future challenges with the Contrast Between Urban and Rural Life. Fortunately, Tom’s anxieties will lessen and his attitude will change from dread of the unknown to an appreciation of discovery as the story unfolds.
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