Teddycats Series, Book 1

April 15, 2016
When one young Teddycat's selfish decision exposes his whole rain forest community, he risks everything to save those he loves.The safety of the Cloud Kingdom depends on its secrecy. But Bill Garra reasons that bringing just one friend to have a look around is fine. Unfortunately, Luke the Olingo is not the best at keeping a secret. And soon he shows up with his cousins in tow, all wanting a look around the mysterious Teddycat sanctuary. When a young kitten is captured by humans and a rescue attempt ends in another abduction, it is up to Bill, an injured jaguar, and a handful of other Teddycats to rescue the captives and restore the community's safety. Bill fears the only way to save everyone is to find a new home in the jungle and reunite with their old companions, the Olingos, but he is not convinced the Elders will go for his radical plan. This danger-filled adventure opens with a plodding exposition that gives way to surprising thematic if not narrative nuance. Filled with difficult questions with no easy answers, the story weighs the risks of belonging to a global community versus the safety of isolation. The animals' views of humans as either voyeuristic interlopers or damaging poachers are unsettling but apt. An open ending paves the way for a sequel.Intriguing if somewhat formulaic. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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July 1, 2016
Grades 3-6 At one time, Teddycats lived in the jungle alongside other species. But when humans got too close for comfort, they used their superior climbing abilities to retreat into the treetops, establishing Cloud Kingdom. Generations have lived in protected secrecy until a young Teddycat named Bill breaks the cardinal rule by bringing a friend from the jungle floor into Cloud Kingdom. Bill's action is not mere rebellion. The isolationism imposed by the Teddycat Elders is stifling and a poor answer to the very real dangers that threaten them. When a Teddycat child is captured by humans, Bill leads the rescue party, hoping to both save a friend and show his species a better life. This middle-grade debut succeeds because of the social dynamics and relationships between the characters (by contrast, the world building is vague and not especially memorable). It raises valid points about how fear can be counterproductive for safety, which might resonate with young readers attuned to current events, and the surprisingly grim ending sets up for a sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)