Nollan and The Fox-Tail Badge

Reach for this book when your child feels paralyzed by the expectation of being fearless or when they struggle with the pressure to be perfect in high-stakes environments. It is an ideal choice for the middle-schooler who worries that feeling scared makes them a coward, or for the child who is beginning to navigate the complex line between following rules and doing what is morally right. Nollan and The Fox-Tail Badge follows a twelve-year-old scout who believes bravery means the absence of fear. During a solo survival test, Nollan discovers a trapped fox and must decide whether to follow camp rules or save a life. This choice plunges him into a dangerous encounter with a poacher and a literal storm. The story masterfully explores themes of empathy, integrity, and the reality that true courage often involves shaking hands and a racing heart. It is a grounded, high-stakes adventure that validates a child's internal anxieties while modeling leadership and resilience.