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The Underneath (2008)

by Kathi Appelt(Favorite Author)

3.91 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1416950583 (ISBN13: 9781416950585)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

review 1: The Underneath is an extremely well written novel by Kathi Appelt that enthrals the past, present, and future of the events in and around the "underneath" of the ramshackle house. Gar face is the owner of a dog named Ranger, but he is not a loving owner. He shot his dog and chained him to the post underneath to live and suffer there.What Gar Face doesn't know while he is busy trying to become victorious by killing the alligator king, is that Ranger is doing just fine. He met a calico cat that had kittens, and is served well with them. The love that Ranger and the kittens have for one another is well received throughout the book. The calico cat is found by Gar Face with her mother and are taken as bait for the Alligator King. The calico cat survives but her mother drowns. R... moreanger and one of the kittens are left together. But when Gar Face finally comes and catches Sabine, there is no going back. The old hound dog Ranger desperately houls until Gar comes and whacks him until Ranger has slim-to-none faith.Throughout the story the author references to events from one-thousand years ago of a Hawk Mand and creatures that cause the family to be broken apart. These events that seem unrealistic are now coming to live in modern day.When Sabine and Rangers lives are close to an end, an old tree finally breaks throughout a storm. This releases a young women who was from the one thousand year old family, and this tree woman helps the desperate animals become truly free. Gar Face is eaten by Alligator King and the three; Ranger, Sabine, and Grandma Moccasin are left to start a new family.
review 2: A Newbery Honor Book and National Book Award finalist, this book is heart-wrenching. A young boy, abused by his father, escapes to a solitary life in the woods. The story itself traces two main plot lines: 1) Ranger the hound adopts a cat and her two adorable kittens and 2) an ancient snake spirit seeks revenge after her daughter leaves for human form. Adult readers will anticipate the plots and themes as they converge.I'm not sure that this book has a lot of kid appeal -- the snake parts were vague and don't connect well with the story, especially in the beginning of the book. The man, Gar Face, is a terrible alcoholic and seems to have no redeeming qualities at any point in the book. It's a beautiful books with wonderful drawings by David Small. less

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