Caution: Don't judge this book by the cover!
This is not a cute, heart-warming animal story. The mysterious nature of the Bayou constantly contributes to the suspense in this novel. Two distinct stories, separated by a thousand years, recount life in the deep, dark Bayou. Inevitably, the stories are linked, but the reader is always left wondering how. The first story follows the lives of a hound named Ranger, a calico cat and her two kittens, Puck and Sabine. Ranger takes on the role of "protector" of the cat family, as he tries to keep them safe from Gar-Face his abusive owner. Predictably, this was not possible and Puck is left to fend for himself in the dangerous alligator-infested swamp. The second story, has a magical, eerie flavour. Grandmother Moccasin is a lamia or shape shifter, half-serpent and half-human. She has been trapped in a jar among the tangled roots of an old pine tree for more than a thousand years. Why you ask? As this back story is revealed you begin to wonder if Grandma Moccasin's evil ways will continue or if she has learned her lesson. The lives of the main characters come together in a stunning conclusion. Who will survive?
This book was a complete surprise. I expected a story like the "Incredible Journey," where friendship triumphs over adversity. That was not the case. This book is similar to Shiloh and Where the Red Fern Grows. It deals with animal abuse and contains quite graphic descriptions that made me feel uncomfortable. I also found Grandmother Moccasin quite frightening. It is extremely suspenseful as the story builds to the climax and I could just imagine, if this were a movie, I would have my ears plugged and my eyes covered. It is not easy to follow the plot as each chapter switches between stories, much like the dual track story in Holes, by Louis Sachar. This book was not for me, but if you like suspense and mystery then you might enjoy it.
This is not a cute, heart-warming animal story. The mysterious nature of the Bayou constantly contributes to the suspense in this novel. Two distinct stories, separated by a thousand years, recount life in the deep, dark Bayou. Inevitably, the stories are linked, but the reader is always left wondering how. The first story follows the lives of a hound named Ranger, a calico cat and her two kittens, Puck and Sabine. Ranger takes on the role of "protector" of the cat family, as he tries to keep them safe from Gar-Face his abusive owner. Predictably, this was not possible and Puck is left to fend for himself in the dangerous alligator-infested swamp. The second story, has a magical, eerie flavour. Grandmother Moccasin is a lamia or shape shifter, half-serpent and half-human. She has been trapped in a jar among the tangled roots of an old pine tree for more than a thousand years. Why you ask? As this back story is revealed you begin to wonder if Grandma Moccasin's evil ways will continue or if she has learned her lesson. The lives of the main characters come together in a stunning conclusion. Who will survive?
This book was a complete surprise. I expected a story like the "Incredible Journey," where friendship triumphs over adversity. That was not the case. This book is similar to Shiloh and Where the Red Fern Grows. It deals with animal abuse and contains quite graphic descriptions that made me feel uncomfortable. I also found Grandmother Moccasin quite frightening. It is extremely suspenseful as the story builds to the climax and I could just imagine, if this were a movie, I would have my ears plugged and my eyes covered. It is not easy to follow the plot as each chapter switches between stories, much like the dual track story in Holes, by Louis Sachar. This book was not for me, but if you like suspense and mystery then you might enjoy it.
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