Shadow

January 19, 2009
This manga—the fifth based on Hunter's immensely popular children's series—follows the adventures of the cat Sasha after she leaves the Tigerclan, horrified by Tigerstar's growing violence; it picks up where Warriors
: Tigerstar and Sasha
left off. Sasha wrestles with whether she should return to live among the “housefolk” or make a life for herself in the forest. Her travels take her to dangerous city streets, the suburbs and a boat, and allow her to make new friends. Along the way, she learns to value herself and trust her instincts. Hudson's artwork brings Sasha's emotional journey to life, showing each moment of fear, anxiety, contentment and joy. The cat's-eye perspective of many of the panels, in addition, add a dramatic, energizing element to the book. Jolley's story breaks no new ground, but he offers a nicely paced tale that should resonate with young adult readers struggling to find their own place in the world, as well as cat fanciers of any age. Girls may especially benefit from reading about Sasha's decision to walk away from the powerful Tigerstar. A twist at the end will leave fans eager for the next installment of Sasha's saga.

May 15, 2023
Feral cats Frostpaw, Sunbeam, and Nightheart process agonizing personal choices while Frostpaw's RiverClan remains leaderless. This third series installment begins as a strong continuation of the previous book, gracefully incorporating plot, meaningful thoughts and conversations, and humor. Nightheart's clever solutions to his future mother-in-law's challenges are especially enjoyable. Adolescent readers will appreciate anthropomorphic angst over finding one's calling and navigating relationships. Should Frostpaw reveal her certainty that her previous visions were not of medicine-cat caliber and instead become a warrior? Is Sunbeam ready for a commitment to Nightheart? Will Nightheart pass difficult tests so he can join ShadowClan? Sadly, after Chapter 16's revelation that StarClan--sky-dwelling, ancestor spirits--disapprove of ShadowClan's occupying RiverClan, the book's quality plummets dramatically, with the last third feeling less carefully presented. More than once the text confusingly uses the tired conceit of a character's dreams to show anxiety--ill-advised in a fantasy series with established ideas about mystical visions. More importantly, the tone precipitously darkens, unraveling earlier gains in insight and decision-making. As ShadowClan escalates its occupation of RiverClan, mistrust and treachery increase. Under the shadow of possible war, Sunbeam and Nightheart vacillate ad nauseum over the newly legalized possibility of switching clans for love; does loyalty belong first to clan or to mate? Nevertheless, established fans will appreciate spending more time with their beloved characters. A mixed bag that starts off well. (lists of clan members, maps) (Fantasy. 11-13)

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