Editor’s note: Today we introduce an occasional series of reviews of children’s literature by Claire Ramsey, the Head of Youth Services at the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library.
When she’s not too busy running the summer reading program (Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales), check on Wednesdays for Ms. Ramsey’s reviews of books of special interest to the young people of our community. The books that she reviews are all available at the library.
Review by Claire Ramsey
Martin the Warrior of Redwall. Aslan, Mr. Tumnus, and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. Fantastic Mr. Fox. For anyone who has come to follow the adventures of a favorite animal hero, here are two series you should not miss: The Warriors, and The Warriors: The New Prophecy, by Erin Hunter.
Though the original series, The Warriors, began publication in 2004, The Warriors: The New Prophecy is still hot off the press. The newest volume, Twilight, should be available this month. The Warriors series follows the adventures of former “kittypet” (house cat) Fireheart as he leaves his Twoleg owners and joins a clan of wild cats in the nearby forest. He is given his new name by the ThunderClan leader, Bluestar.
It is not long before Fireheart realizes that ThunderClan is not the only clan of cats in the wilderness. Three others also compete for hard-to-find prey: RiverClan, WindClan, and the frightening ShadowClan, which seems intent on hunting on other clans’ ground and driving out cats who resist. Then there is Fireheart’s discovery that the ThunderClan deputy, Tigerclaw, is not as loyal as he seems…
Warriors: The New Prophecy continues the adventures as Bluestar returns from StarClan to give a new prophecy to her loyal cats.
You don’t need to be a cat lover to enjoy each new book: these series are written to keep readers on the edges of their seats. Full of cliffhangers, often at chapter ends, and hairbreadth escapes, each new book in the series only makes you want more. The Warriors and The Warriors: The New Prophecy are available at Perry Library.