Claws

July 1, 2006
Gr 5-8 -Cody, 14, is 6 feet tall and passes for 16. His appearance has eased his flight from an abusive mother in New York City and made it possible for him to find minimum-wage jobs. He hopes for something better and more interesting when he hires on at the -Sam Houston Tiger Ranch - in central Texas. Dealing closely with the daily needs of big cats, he finds that his boss and coworkers are a colorful bunch, including ranch co-owner Sunny. Her brother and partner, Wayland, has recently disappeared and is presumed dead. The heart of the story is Cody -s learning the ropes and beginning to feel a sense of home. A touching subplot involves an eight-year-old neighbor with a bad stutter whom Cody draws out of his shyness, and the violence of a summer tornado is a tense counterpoint to Cody -s well-earned happiness. The other subplots, concerning Wayland and the accusation that Sunny murdered him, as well as Cody -s worries that his mother, a noted television child psychologist, might find him, add unnecessary and not terribly convincing clutter to the story. Despite these caveats, however, "Claws" is a swiftly moving and sympathetic tale of a teen who wants to find a place for himself." -Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2006
Gr. 6-9. Since leaving New York, 14-year-old runaway Cody has traveled all over, trying to escape his abusive mother, who is determined to find him and bring him back. Working at a tiger ranch in Texas seems safe but has its own dangers. There are the tigers, of course, but there's also the mystery surrounding the ranch owner's missing brother. This fast-moving read offers suspense, adventure, and a sympathetic protagonist, who eventually develops the confidence and courage to stand up to both tigers and his ferocious parent. The ending is pat; supporting characters are typecast (Cody's mother is very Mommie Dearest); and the final confrontation between Cody and Mother is somewhat anticlimactic. But readers will root for the tough kid who overcomes fear and adversity, and the abundant details about caring for tigers, while not for those with weak stomachs, will intrigue fans of animal stories. Greenburg describes his own experiences at a tiger ranch in an author's note.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)