February 1, 2016
Gr 2-5-Having recently returned from their adventures at sea, cat brothers Anton and Cecil receive word via the "mouse network" that their rodent friend Hieronymus has been taken captive. Although Anton would much rather stay home, he knows he must rescue his friend, and adventure-loving Cecil is more than happy to accompany him on their cross-country journey. The brothers follow the train tracks west where they encounter unfamiliar animals, dangerous predators, and even separation. They'll need to keep their wits about them not only to save Hieronymus but to be reunited as well. Mixing historical fiction and animal fantasy, this engaging, quickly paced adventure is filled with descriptive language that puts the audience in the middle of the action. The brothers, with their distinct personalities, are extremely likable characters, and listeners will certainly relate to their hopes and fears, thanks in part to narrator Matthew Glick's exuberant vocal performance. Glick deftly switches from character to character, giving each his own distinctive voice, and his youthful, playful tone keeps the cats' outing from becoming too frightening. VERDICT Young animal lovers and fans of Avi's "Tales from Dimwood Forest" (HarperCollins) books and Kate DiCamillo's "The Tale of Despereaux" (Candlewick, 2003) will enjoy tagging along with these intrepid felines. ["A satisfying adventure for fans of animal fantasy tales": "SLJ" 8/15 review of the Algonquin book.]-"Audrey Sumser, Kent State University at Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia, OH"
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
August 1, 2015
Gr 4-6-After their adventures at sea, cat brothers Anton and Cecil have returned to their port home. Anton is more worldly after his experiences but still cautious, and would be happy to stay put forever, while Cecil longs for more adventures. They receive a message that Hieronymus, a mouse to whom Anton owes his life, has been captured and is in need of rescue. The brothers set out to find him, though this time their passage is not by ship but by train, called "landships," "rolling death," and "growlers" depending on who the cats talk to. Their trip will take them far from the sea and the port environment they are familiar with and introduce them to life on the prairie and new animals, many of whom help the brothers-though others would like to make a meal of them. Following cryptic clues, Anton and Cecil will need all their resourcefulness to find and save Hieronymus. As with the first book, descriptive language puts readers right with the brothers as they escape a ravenous owl, use a stampede of bison to their advantage, and enlist the aid of prairie dogs to escape a pack of coyotes. The siblings are separated for a time, and the different perspectives in the narrative effectively highlight the personalities and tastes of each cat. As this part of their story ends, there are hints that in the next installment the brothers will take to the air. VERDICT A satisfying adventure for fans of animal fantasy tales.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.