Bibliography
Appelt, Kathi. 2008. The Underneath. Ill by David Small. New York: Atheneum Books for
Young Readers. ISBN 0606145046
Summary
Ranger, a bloodhound, befriends and offers a refuge for a
pregnant calico cat. He encourages her to raise her kittens underneath the
porch, away from the danger Gar Face, the unfriendly man that owns that porch.
They are safe, until one kitten’s curiosity begins a chain of events that test
family and friendship.
Critical Analysis
Ranger only knows the cruelty of Gar Face who keeps him
chained to the house until a calico cat wanders into his life. She gives birth
to two curious kittens and they become friends, a family bound together by
survival. While the story jumps back and forth between Ranger and the cats’
tale and the story of a Grandmother Moccasin, a water snake buried in a jar beneath a pine tree, the stories are eventually brought together. The mix of
prose and poetic refrains cause the reader to adjust not only to shifting story
lines, but a shift in the feel of the story that can be confusing to younger
readers. However, the adventure and survival of the kittens will keep the
reader hooked until the end.
Review Excerpts
2010 West Virginia Children’s Choice Book Award nominee
Horn Book Guide – “This
fine book is distinguished by the originality of the story and the fresh beauty
of its author's voice.”
Connections
For anyone who loves
books like Shiloh, this book is a must read.
This a great book to study for the unlikely friendship and
family that is formed between two creatures who are supposed to be enemies.
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