book data
70 ratings,
4.19
average rating, 10 reviews
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published
July 19th 2007
(first published 1983)
by Puffin
binding
Paperback, 272 pages
url
characters
literary awards
PEN Los Angles '83, IRA Childrens' '83
isbn
0142408433
(isbn13: 9780142408438)
description
Ratha and her clan are the Named, a band of intelligent wild cats whose society is based on herding deer. The Named have laws, language, traditions, a...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 113)
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1 star (2)
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avg 4.19
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in November, 2007
I originally read this about 15 years ago, and it's always stuck with me as one of my favorite series ever. I'm working on re-reading them all, especially with a brand-new book in the series having just been released.
So far, they're as good as I remembered them being. The story is set sometime in pre-history (it's hard to tell at times), where a Clan of sentient big cats survive by herding their own deer for food. Ratha begins the story as a cub just learning the ways of the herder, ...more
So far, they're as good as I remembered them being. The story is set sometime in pre-history (it's hard to tell at times), where a Clan of sentient big cats survive by herding their own deer for food. Ratha begins the story as a cub just learning the ways of the herder, ...more
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The Named, a group of prehistoric cats, herd packs of various animals including dapplebacks and three-horns. Ratha, a yearling, was getting trained to be a herder by Thakur. But he is hiding something about the mysterious Unnamed pack. Ratha can smell it. All of the Named have been taught that the Unnamed are stupid; they don’t know how to talk. Ratha swears she heard one speak. Then the forest is devoured by the “Red Tongue”-fire. Ratha discovers that fire can be used to their advantage a...more
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Read in June, 2008
Despite the cheesy tag line on the back of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed rereading it (I first read this book when I was 12). The description is amazing, the characters interesting, and the idea more or less original (despite all the cat books that have been written after this book came out in 1983). If you like "Watership Down", I would highly recommend this book-- and so far my students like it!
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Read in February, 2008
I first read this years ago and remembered really enjoying the series. In re-reading it, I found I didn't remember any of it, but I still really enjoyed it! I also found it to be a little more "grown-up" than I had remembered it to be, especially for being classified as a young adult.
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My absolute favorite book! A coming of age story told through the eyes of a prehistoric clan of wild cats. Themes like learning, belonging, and loyalty are key.
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Read in October, 2008
I had difficulty predicting where this was going nine times out of ten, which surprised me. The scope of Ratha's character arc is immense. Loved the author's prose, and how unrelentingly harsh many of the decisions Ratha faces are. Her hot-headedness is portrayed as both a blessing and a curse. I'm definitely interested in picking up the rest of the series at some point.
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Read in October, 2008
I often find myself rather disappointed with the main character, Ratha, and her behaviour towards others. But then, I'll keep reminding myself that she isn't human and it's just impossible for me to expect for her to act the way I expect for her to do.
It's very often that that conflict arises and I would get quite frustrated with the author. Of course, it's no one's fault but my own for being so expectant.
Now, putting that aside, this book was a fantastic read! This is ...more
It's very often that that conflict arises and I would get quite frustrated with the author. Of course, it's no one's fault but my own for being so expectant.
Now, putting that aside, this book was a fantastic read! This is ...more
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Read in April, 2008
Ratha's Creature is an intense, emotional roller coaster of a book. It's the coming of age story of a remarkable adolescent, but it's also a story of the eternal battle between social status quo and social change. Ratha is a remarkable character that you can't help but like in spite of her shortcomings, and teens will identify with her struggle to make sense of the world around her and find her place in it. Recommended for mature teens due to violence and adult situations.
Read my ent...more
Read my ent...more
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As a kid, I watched the "CBS Storybreak" and ABC specials that adapted books, I first saw the animated version of this book. It wasn't until many years later that I actually found the book (and series) to read at the Library I came to work at! Like most stuff that gets adapted for t.v. or movies, the book was way better!
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Read in January, 1992
recommends it for:
young'ns
I read this as a kid and I really liked it. I'm definitely not going to go back and read it again though. :-)
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