Into the Wild

December 23, 2002
In the first exciting installment of the Warriors fantasy series, debut novelist Hunter creates a cat world shared by four tribal clans, drawing on the habits of feral animals and also inserting valuable themes regarding family, friendship and responsibility. Rusty, a young tomcat, forsakes the soft world of the "Twolegs" for the riskier life of the wildcat clans that rule in the woods, beyond the Twolegplace. When Rusty tries to snare a mouse in what proves to be ThunderClan territory, he meets Bluestar, the leader of the Clan, who invites him to learn "what it is to be a real cat. The strength and the fellowship of the Clan will always be with you, even when you hunt alone." Becoming "Firepaw," a warrior-cat-in-training, the once pampered pet adapts quickly to the tribal rules, bonds with his fellow apprentices and with the old she-cat Yellowfang, who is on the run from ShadowClan. When the merciless leader of ShadowClan drives out WindClan and demands to share ShadowClan's hunting territories, the stage is set for more action-packed adventure. (The second Warriors novel, Fire and Ice,
is due out in June.) Certain to please any young reader who has ever wondered what dreams of grandeur may haunt the family cat. Ages 10-up.

December 16, 2024
Do (the Ninja Kid series) explores themes of bravery and resilience via Gwen, a girl forced to survive alone in the wild. In the middle of the night, Gwen is awoken by her mother, who says they must leave their home immediately. Gwen follows her parents’ orders and runs, not looking back as promised, only to realize she’s been separated from her family in the shuffle. Lost and alone in the woods, Gwen receives help from a stray dog. As she endeavors to reunite with her parents, more dogs come to her aid, and Gwen learns of the loyalty and survival skills necessary to become the “leader of pack animals who had become my family.” Sketchy, movement-filled artwork by illustrators
Ley and Ji accompany emotionally authentic prose and add humor to Gwen’s journey through her relationships and interactions with her pack. This adrenaline-pumping story, the first in a series, vividly recounts a captivating tale of a girl whose resourcefulness and determination are the foundation for doing “whatever it took to keep my pack alive.” Gwen’s skin tone matches the hue of the page. Ages 8–12.