Varjak Paw is back! The small, silver housecat-turned-hero (thanks to his mastery of the mystical warrior “Way”) now lives on the streets with his alley-cat friends, shrewd Holly and timid Tam, along with Cludge, the galumphing canine galoot. But city life is hard in winter, especially when the thuggish gang, led by the mysterious Sally Bones, monopolizes food and shelter. Varjak tries to defy Sally on behalf of the Free Cats, to find that even the Way is not sufficient against her malevolent powers—while his dreams of his ancestor Jalal promise “something more powerful than fighting.” The tone here is more subtly surreal than the baroque conclusion of the first book: an oppressively sinister atmosphere, punctuated by sudden acts of horror, but leavened by the appearance of fresh characters like the sassy Scratch Sisters, the hulking Orrible Twins and the hero-worshipping kitten Jess. Said’s spare, taut writing effectively propels an increasingly grim plot, and makes Varjak’s growing maturity and leadership appear both natural and admirable. It’s a rare sequel that so surpasses its predecessor; one hopes the neatly resolved plotlines don’t preclude further installments. (Fantasy. 10-14)
Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2006
ISBN: 0-385-75044-7
Page Count: 256
Publisher: David Fickling/Random
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2005
Dolphin lovers will appreciate this look at our complicated relationship with these marine mammals.
Is dolphin-assisted therapy so beneficial to patients that it’s worth keeping a wild dolphin captive?
Twelve-year-old Lily has lived with her emotionally distant oncologist stepfather and a succession of nannies since her mother died in a car accident two years ago. Nannies leave because of the difficulty of caring for Adam, Lily’s severely autistic 4-year-old half brother. The newest, Suzanne, seems promising, but Lily is tired of feeling like a planet orbiting the sun Adam. When she meets blind Zoe, who will attend the same private middle school as Lily in the fall, Lily’s happy to have a friend. However, Zoe’s take on the plight of the captive dolphin, Nori, used in Adam’s therapy opens Lily’s eyes. She knows she must use her influence over her stepfather, who is consulting on Nori’s treatment for cancer (caused by an oil spill), to free the animal. Lily’s got several fine lines to walk, as she works to hold onto her new friend, convince her stepfather of the rightness of releasing Nori, and do what’s best for Adam. In her newest exploration of animal-human relationships, Rorby’s lonely, mature heroine faces tough but realistic situations. Siblings of children on the spectrum will identify with Lily. If the tale flirts with sentimentality and some of the characters are strident in their views, the whole never feels maudlin or didactic.
Dolphin lovers will appreciate this look at our complicated relationship with these marine mammals. (Fiction. 10-13)Pub Date: May 26, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-67605-2
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
This substantial introduction to toxic creatures of all kinds, both poisonous (to eat) and venomous (injecting their poison), is chock full of fascinating facts. Organizing the text by habitat, Singer moves from home and garden through desert, woods and jungle, to the sea shores, coral reefs and ocean depths. She discusses some species in several different chapters: Snakes appear in the grass, the desert, the pond, the jungle and the sea. The organization occasionally breaks down. In “Home is where the venom is,” the reader learns that black lemurs in Madagascar use millipede poison to repel insects. The busy design is clearly aimed at middle graders who may not recognize the bits of song and poetry behind the catchy chapter titles, but will appreciate the light tone. Sidebars provide extra information and puzzles for the reader. Despite repeated assurances that such animals are of more value than threat to humans, the overall effect is pretty scary. A two page webliography lists an intriguing variety of mostly academic and governmental sites for further exploration of this always interesting subject. (acknowledgments, bibliography, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-1-58196-043-3
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Darby Creek
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2007
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