Review – The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles deLint and Charles Vess (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Middle Grade/Children’s
Genre: Fantasy
Size: 304 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 5, 2013
ISBN: 978-0316053570
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Gift
Rating: 5/5 stars
I have been wanting to read this book forever and I finally got a copy of it for my birthday this year. It was everything I had hoped for and more. This was a magical fairy tale with cats, foxes, and opossum witches. The book is put together beautifully on nice heavy paper and full of absolutely breathtaking paintings from Vess.
Lillian Kindred loves exploring Tanglewood Forest and is determined to see the faeries that live there. When she falls asleep under a tree the unthinkable happens, she is bitten by a deadly snake. However all is not lost, the cats of Tanglewood forest decide to save her life by turning her into a kitten. Now Lillian must figure out how to not be a girl and a cat, but fully turn into a girl again.
This was an absolutely delightful folklore/fairy tale. There are beautiful references to mythology and some mythology that is totally unique to this book. There are dangers in the forest and witches and lessons to be learned.
Lillian goes on quite the journey and meets bear people, oppossum witches, talking foxes, and many things along her way. She finds out that taking the easy path sometimes has dire consequences. All in all her journey turns her into a much more thoughtful and considerate young woman.
The writing flows so wonderfully and is just beautifully done. Of course the thing that really sets this book apart from other fairy tales out there is the artwork. Vess has done many, many full page and partial page paintings throughout this book. They are all stunning with their color and beauty and really give the story a whole new dimension. I will definitely be reading this book again, just to look at the beautiful artwork and relive the story.
Additionally this is a book that children will like as well. I am going to be reading it with my 6 year old son shortly. He has been begging to read it because he loves the pictures of the cats and forests throughout.
Overall an absolutely stunning read. This was a wonderful fairy tale about a girl who is turned into a kitten to save her life, and ends up going on a quest to find how she can become a girl again. The writing is beautiful and the artwork is magical. I highly recommend this to everyone!
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
– 150+ Reading Challenge
