The Underneath

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
Illustrated by David Small
Publication Date: 2008
Awards: 2009 Newbery Honor Book, 2008 National Book Award Finalist
Interest Level: 5th-7th grade, Reading Level: 5.4

If your in the mood for an adventurous animal fantasy, The Underneath would be a great novel to check out! An calico cat traverses through the forest alone. She has been abandoned by those she loved dearly and is desperate to find a place to care for her kittens. In the distance she he a song, a song of sorrow and gloom. She follows the sound of the song and finds refuge with the hound dog, Ranger. It is here she discovers a loyal companion who cares her kittens as if they were his own. Together they make a home in the Underneath, a safe haven, below the porch of Ranger's villainous owner, Gar Face. Under the porch, the kittens and their mother will stay safe from the wrath of Gar Face, who kills for pure enjoyment. Under the porch, they will stay safe from the wild birds and snakes, that would make them their meal. It is under the porch where the two little kittens, Puck and Sabine, grow more curious about the world around them.

Curiosity gets the best of little kitten Puck, as he decides to test the fates, and ventures to the outside while his small family sleeps. He feels the warm sun rays under his skin and questions why ever this would be a terrible place to be. His question is soon answer when he is capture by the man Gar Face. His mother quickly comes to his rescue, but she is soon captures too! Ranger will not stand to lose his family and tries to go after the Gar Face, but his chain holds him back. There is nothing he can do! The old hound dog barks and strains at the rusty, old chain, until his voice is raw, and his neck is sore and bleeding. He can only take comfort in the one kitten he has left.

There is more than one tale woven into the story, and each one has an impact on the future of Ranger and his kittens. You will travel back in time and unearth Grandmother Moccasin's sorrowful story. You will meet the stoic Alligator King, who spends his time in the Bayou Tartine, awaiting his next meal. You will learn what events made Gar Face the evil man he is today. And you will read a story about four very strong willed animals, who will do anything for each other. This overpowering devotion for each other gives them the strength resist the urge to give up, and to hold on to the hope that they may find a place they can call home.

Reader beware, this is not a story for the faint of heart. When I first glanced at the cover I was deceived. The bright yellows on the cover and the adorable animals on the front lead me to believe this would be a bright and happy story full of wagging tales and kitten meows. This is a story is not your typical happily ever after. It has that has some very dark elements woven into each story. There is death and suffering, violence and malice that will leave you with tears and broken hearts, but the message you get at the end will send your heart fluttering and cheering for the heroes of the story. The Underneath is a very empowering story that I highly recommend to readers who love of animals, and have a taste for a great fantasy novel.

Underneath Readalikes:
Keeper by Kathi Appelt
Whittington by Alan Armstrong
Poppy by Avi
Wabi: A Hero's Tale by Joseph Bruchac
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival by Kirby Larson
Shiloh by Phillip Reynold Naylor
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhats) Brave Shrew by Ursula Veron