The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm is the sequel to Charles Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2019), which was adapted into a short film in 2022. The work originated from a series of drawings and handwritten reflections that Mackesy began sharing on Instagram, never with the intention of publishing them in book form. These posts featured simple ink illustrations paired with brief aphoristic statements that resonated with Mackesy’s followers across the world. The organic growth of this online following ultimately led to the compilation and publication of the book. 

Like its sequel, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is loosely plotted, focusing more on dialogue and imagery than the progression of events. The book follows the boy as he meets the companions who feature in the sequel—first the mole, then the fox, and finally the horse. The friendship that defines their interactions in the sequel takes some time establish. The fox, in particular, is initially guarded, having been caught in a snare; he even threatens to eat the mole attempting to release him. Mackesy has suggested that the companions’ distinct personalities represent various facets of the individual person, with the horse, for instance, corresponding to “the wisest bit, the deepest part of you, the soul” (Flood, Alison. “A Boy, a Mole, a Fox and a Horse: The Recipe for a Christmas Bestseller.” The Guardian, 9 Nov. 2019). However, if the friends’ journey together can be read allegorically as the process of integrating one’s various selves, it also showcases the interpersonal dynamics the book stresses: ones that are rooted in vulnerability, compassion, and trust.

This message remains central to Always Remember, as do other ideas explored in The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. For example, the first book sees the boy recognizing that he deserves love and kindness, yet the theme of Self-Acceptance and Celebrating the Self remains a point of conflict in the sequel. This speaks to the series’s most overarching message: that everyone is a work in progress, making “backsliding” inevitable and compassion all the more important.