Ranger, a lonely, abused hound dog lives chained underneath a house in the forests of East Texas, just West of the Sabine River. His owner, Gar Face, is a man filled with hatred who barely gives him what he needs to survive. Ranger takes in an abandoned Calico cat, who is pregnant and they become a family. One day, one of the curious kittens leaves the safe area under the house and sets off a series of events that attest to the power of love and the destructive power of hate. Appelt weaves in another story - one of magic, family, and revenge from the Caddo Tribe. Deep in the forest, there is a bowl, buried under a tree, containing a serpent known as Grandmother Moccasin. Throughout the book, we learn why she is in the bowl and eventually her story intertwines with the rest of the characters. Appelt uses descriptively beautiful language and themes of abuse, abandonment, death, and revenge to create a dark, sad tone. David Small's pen and ink line drawings contribute to the tone of despair the the author has created. Despite the overwhelming sadness the reader feels, this is a book that you can't put down because you are hopeful that the characters will find a happy ending. Through it all, the love of a family remains. This heart wrenching, beautifully written story is written for children ages 10 and up and would be a good choice for a reading group and discussion.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/eZ4Ds1Yub3Q
Available for purchase through Amazon.
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