Review of The Catragon
Posted: 31 Oct 2024, 13:25
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Catragon" by Cait West.]
One day, a disaster separates a young kitten from his family. Fortunately, a family of tabby cats finds him and raises him as their own, and they name him Smokey. Smokey has all-black fur, which is somewhat ordinary, but he has something that truly makes him different from ordinary cats—wings! This is because Smokey is not like other kittens; he is a Catragon. Catragons are a fascinating species that are half-feline and half-dragon. Unfortunately, because of his wings, Smokey faces bullying from the cats in his neighborhood and struggles to fit in. The Catragon by Cait West is about how one tragic event turns a young Catragon’s life upside down, starting him on a journey to appreciate his uniqueness, stand up to bullies, and learn about his origin.
My favorite quality of the book is that, with childlike simplicity, it navigates many serious topics beyond self-love and self-growth, like loyalty to friends, asking for forgiveness, accepting others’ differences, and the effects of unkind words. Many children will be able to relate to these topics, as well as Smokey’s struggle to find his identity while needing love and support from those closest to him.
Since this is a children’s book, I thought there would be more illustrations. However, the book only included a few illustrations of pivotal moments. As I read the book, I realized that adding more illustrations would have disrupted the story’s flow. West did a great job selecting which scenes to illustrate. Equally important, the characters’ expressive faces and body language in the illustrations helped me connect with the story.
My one reservation about the story is that I felt Smokey’s reaction to his challenges was immature and involved a bit of emotional manipulation, at least from my perspective. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this aspect of the story because his choices make the story more realistic. I hope Smokey’s way of dealing with bullies encourages children to think about how they would react to hurtful actions from others if they find themselves in that situation.
I loved the world-building—it’s creative but easy for children to understand. West created a compelling foundation for more stories about Smokey, and I would gladly read them. I give The Catragon a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars because of its creative character concept, expressive illustrations, and the number of themes explored. I dislike nothing about the book. I have mixed feelings about how Smokey responded to his challenges, but this minor point doesn’t detract from how great the book is overall.
This book would be great for children between 8 and 13 years old, especially those who have experienced bullying or were adopted. It is a bonus if they love cats, dragons, or both. These children will enjoy the storytelling and relate to the themes. Younger children will still enjoy the story but probably will not fully appreciate all the themes. Also, if they are used to short picture books, the story may seem too long.
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The Catragon
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
One day, a disaster separates a young kitten from his family. Fortunately, a family of tabby cats finds him and raises him as their own, and they name him Smokey. Smokey has all-black fur, which is somewhat ordinary, but he has something that truly makes him different from ordinary cats—wings! This is because Smokey is not like other kittens; he is a Catragon. Catragons are a fascinating species that are half-feline and half-dragon. Unfortunately, because of his wings, Smokey faces bullying from the cats in his neighborhood and struggles to fit in. The Catragon by Cait West is about how one tragic event turns a young Catragon’s life upside down, starting him on a journey to appreciate his uniqueness, stand up to bullies, and learn about his origin.
My favorite quality of the book is that, with childlike simplicity, it navigates many serious topics beyond self-love and self-growth, like loyalty to friends, asking for forgiveness, accepting others’ differences, and the effects of unkind words. Many children will be able to relate to these topics, as well as Smokey’s struggle to find his identity while needing love and support from those closest to him.
Since this is a children’s book, I thought there would be more illustrations. However, the book only included a few illustrations of pivotal moments. As I read the book, I realized that adding more illustrations would have disrupted the story’s flow. West did a great job selecting which scenes to illustrate. Equally important, the characters’ expressive faces and body language in the illustrations helped me connect with the story.
My one reservation about the story is that I felt Smokey’s reaction to his challenges was immature and involved a bit of emotional manipulation, at least from my perspective. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this aspect of the story because his choices make the story more realistic. I hope Smokey’s way of dealing with bullies encourages children to think about how they would react to hurtful actions from others if they find themselves in that situation.
I loved the world-building—it’s creative but easy for children to understand. West created a compelling foundation for more stories about Smokey, and I would gladly read them. I give The Catragon a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars because of its creative character concept, expressive illustrations, and the number of themes explored. I dislike nothing about the book. I have mixed feelings about how Smokey responded to his challenges, but this minor point doesn’t detract from how great the book is overall.
This book would be great for children between 8 and 13 years old, especially those who have experienced bullying or were adopted. It is a bonus if they love cats, dragons, or both. These children will enjoy the storytelling and relate to the themes. Younger children will still enjoy the story but probably will not fully appreciate all the themes. Also, if they are used to short picture books, the story may seem too long.
******
The Catragon
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
