Hunter debuts with a suspenseful animal adventure that will leave readers eyeing Puss a bit nervously. House kitten Rusty is restless, bored with his safe, bland existence; no wonder he jumps at an invitation to join the feral cats in the woods. Now called Firepaw, he relishes his lessons in fighting, hunting wild prey, and above all becoming one with the close-knit, ferociously loyal ThunderClan. Although some scorn his “kittypet” origins, he gains the friendship of the other apprentice kittens, approval from the wise leader Bluestar, and a peculiar bond with the battered, bad-tempered loner Yellowfang. ThunderClan maintains an uneasy truce with the three other packs in the woods until militant ShadowClan lays claim to hunting rights in all territories, a demand they swiftly back up with murderous force. Such a threat serves the dangerously ambitious ThunderClan warrior Tigerclaw well—until Tigerclaw notices young Firepaw standing in his way. This is no charming tale of sweet moggies; despite a touch of mysticism, Hunter ruthlessly rejects any hint of sentimentality. Snapping bones, flowing blood, and sudden death abundantly demonstrate how these cats walk on the thin edge of survival. But Hunter also clearly conveys the exhilaration of freedom, the stimulation of the hunt, and the strength and comfort that comes from the clan’s mutual loyalty. Teen readers will readily identify with Firepaw’s strenuous efforts to fit into the group, applaud his courage to follow his own convictions, cheer his eventual recognition by ThunderClan, and rejoice at the promised sequel. (Fantasy. 11+)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-06-000002-3
Page Count: 256
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2003
Purposeful, but the writing shows promise.
In this thinly disguised ecology lesson, a young turtle named Benjamin tries to save his friends in Turtle Pond from certain destruction.
All of the denizens of the pond fear the “Tulegs,” those “cold, cruel, and calculating” monsters that destroy turtles, and the “rumblers,” who are “large and loud” and “ma[k]e the earth shudder and the pond shake.” When Dot, a young spotted turtle, arrives with news that her pond has been destroyed by rumblers, and that Turtle Pond also lies in peril, it falls to Benjamin to save the tribe. Along the way, he’s hit by a rumbler, but rescued by a young tuleg, becoming her pet. When her family takes him to a picnic at a beautiful new pond, Benjamin realizes he has found the paradise he seeks for his tribe. Because the story is told entirely from the turtle’s point of view, it will work well as an educational device that teaches children kindness to animals. Additionally, the author effectively develops each of the secondary characters: Wibble, the cowardly turtle who has an obsession with candy wrappers; Hopper, the little frog who acts with consistent bravado; and Jeremiah, the wise old snapper. Although the prose is a bit choppy in the first few chapters, Riley finds her voice soon enough to weave plenty of suspense into her tale of courage.
Purposeful, but the writing shows promise. (Fiction. 6-12)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2006
ISBN: 0-595-39840-5
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Inspired by the beauty of the world around him, a newborn chick breaks into joyful song, frolicking through the forest. A chance encounter with a fox, who is honest about his intentions (“Hello, Lunch,” he says), has dire consequences: he swallows the chick in one gulp. Soon the fox is gamboling through the forest, singing the little chick’s song. He is gobbled up by a wolf, who in turn is consumed by a bear, and every one of them is afflicted with the singing malady. A tumble down the hill knocks all the creatures loose from the bear’s stomach, and, grateful that they are no longer compelled to sing, they return the warbling chick to his parents. Cecil’s illustrations sparkle with humor as every astonished animal is seized by the urge to sing and dance; the deep colors provide a vivid backdrop for the action. This wondrously silly tale will click with the same audience that appreciates any version of “The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.” (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-8050-5255-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1999
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