My only criticism of this book is that the cover doesn't accurately reflect the content. The cover, with its giant-eyed kitty on a background of sparkly stars, looks like it's going to be a Rainbow Magic-like read for 2nd and 3rd graders looking for something gentle and sweet. But the story is darker and the issues more complex than that. Flame, an orange kitten, is really a lion prince in disguise, on the run from an uncle who wants to kill him and usurp the throne. 10-year-old Lisa, visiting her aunt in the English countryside, finds Flame in the barn and immediately bonds with the kitten. She is astonished to find that Flame can talk and perform magic -- such as making her invisible, doing the dishes in a twinkling, and healing a horse's leg.
This is a well told, interesting story, but here are some of the book's darker elements: the poaching and killing of deer -- including a scene where Lisa encounters deer carcasses -- guns and gunfire, an evil uncle tracking down his nephew in order to kill him, and prejudice against Romani gypsies. I was pleased that Lisa showed growth in how she came to appreciate her aunt's kindness, and enjoyed the charming setting, the suspenseful story, and the warm relationship between Lisa and Flame.