The Underneath
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Children, Ages 9-12
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt; drawings by David Small. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008.
Ages 8-12
Fantasy
Booktalk: A pregnant calico cat has been abandoned by the side of the road. She meets a dog that has been abused. Together, they make a life, teaching the kittens not to venture from underneath the house. The owner of the house, Gar Face cares only about himself and capturing the King Alligator. If Gar Face discovers the kittens, he will use the kittens as alligator bait!
Note to adult sponsor: This beautiful Southern gothic tale needs to be discussed chapter by chapter. Three separate stories occur, but are blended into a satisfying ending. Gar Face owns the abused dog, Ranger, but the reader discovers that Gar Face has also been abused. Like Captain Ahab, Gar Face is obsessed with capturing the alligator—even if he must use animals as bait. In spite of the horrifying abuse presented within the text, love and sacrifice are the main themes.
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