The book I chose to do a review on is called Tallstar’s Revenge. It was written by Erin Hunter and is involved in a popular series, named Warriors. This particular book is in the “Super Editon” category, and it is focused on a certain cat who becomes famous throughout the series. Yes, it is in a cat’s point of view, but I find it interesting, and it’s not a kind of book that a young child would read. The story starts with the main character, named Tallkit at the time, as a young kit who’s dreaming of becoming an apprentice. In the clan he lives in, Windclan, there are two different jobs for cats. There are the moor runners who run and hunt above ground. They are the fastest cats around. Then, there are the tunnelers who dig underground and make tunnels to hunt in the winter. Since both of Tallkit’s parents are tunnelers, he is destined to follow in their footsteps, but he doesn’t want that. His friends, whom he calls his denmates, make fun of him for his parents being tunnelers. His father, on the other hand, is excited that his son will be just like him. Sandgorse tries desperately to teach his son the ways of being a moor runner early, but Tallkit realizes just how much he hates getting dirt in his fur. He wants to be under the skies and run free, not be trapped underground in darkness. When the leader of the clan names the small kit Tallpaw, which then deems him as an apprentice, she also makes him into a moor runner. The leader, Heatherstar, gives him Dawnstripe as his mentor. Dawnstripe is a moor runner, and Heatherstar hopes that she can share her speed and courage with Tallpaw. Sandgorse is infuriated that his son didn’t become a tunneler like himself. He tries to talk Heatherstar out of her decision, but she tells him that she has watched Tallpaw and believes that “he doesn’t have a tunneler’s nature or physique”. (Heatherstar, Pg. 52) Afterwards, Tallpaw attempts to speak with his father, but he makes it clear that he is angry at Heatherstar, and walks away from his son. Now that he is an apprentice, Tallpaw is allowed to go past the camp’s walls. Dawnstripe takes him to explore the territory and informs him about many other things all around their land, such as the other three clans. The other three clans are known as Thunderclan, who hunt in the trees, Riverclan, who are known best for being able to swim, and Shadowclan, who are best at hunting at night and in the shadows. Tallpaw also learns more about Twolegs, which is the cats’ word for humans. Moons pass, and Tallpaw learns a lot more from his mentor. He grows bigger, and he becomes more mature.
Not too long after, he learns that former kittypets, which is what the clan cats call cats who used to live with humans, are coming to visit the clan. They come every year to spend springtime (“greenleaf” in clan language) with Windclan. There are five of them, and they come to share food and stories from outside of the territory. Their names are Bess, Algernon, Reena, Sparrow, and Ryestalk. Later, Sandgorse takes Sparrow into one of the tunnels. Tallpaw is aboveground when the tunnel collapses. Sparrow gets out unharmed, but the visitor claims to Tallpaw that he lost Sandgorse in the crumbling tunnel. Tallpaw decides quickly that he needs to go after his father, and he dives into the tunnel, only to almost drown. Luckily, one of his clanmates, Woolytail, pulls him out of the flooding, collapsing tunnel. When the apprentice comes to, his clanmates tell him that Sandgorse is gone when he tries to go after his father again. Tallpaw finds himself blaming Sparrow for his father’s death, and his hate grows stronger for the visitor. After the shock of his father’s death begins to wear off a bit, he consults with Heatherstar and tells her that he must become a tunneler in order to be like his father. Heatherstar goes on to tell the whole clan that tunnelers will no longer be needed, and that tunneling is too dangerous for the clan. This infuriates Tallpaw. He then begins to believe that his father died for nothing, but Heatherstar claims that Sandgorse’s death will be the last death that happens underground. Shortly after the greenleaf visitors leave the clan, Tallpaw becomes Talltail. He is a warrior now, and he has more responsibilities. With his father’s death and his hate for Sparrow still fresh in his mind, he speaks with his friend, Barkpaw. He tells him that he feels he must leave the clan and go after Sparrow. Talltail wants to kill Sparrow to avenge his father. “I choose my own destiny. Nothing can stop me-not even Starclan”. (Talltail, Pg. 273) He leaves the clan without telling anyone else that he is leaving, and begins his journey to go after Sparrow.
Along the way, he meets another cat, a former kittypet named Jake. Jake is important to the whole series because he is the father of an extremely important cat who is present throughout the entire series. Jake accompanies Talltail on his journey to find Sparrow and get revenge, and Talltail even informs his new friend on why he is going after Sparrow and what the rogue did to his father. Talltail and Jake find and stay with the band of rogues for a short while, and Talltail suspects that Sparrow knows what he wants to do. Talltail quickly comes up with a plan to push Sparrow off the edge of a cliff so that the rogue can get ran over by a car. “Sandgorse! I promised you I’d avenge your death. Sparrow will never harm another cat again”. (Talltail, Pg. 398) After Talltail sets the rogue up and traps him at the edge, Sparrow quickly explains that it was an accident and that Sandgorse saved his life. He tells Talltail that he will never forget Sandgorse. Talltail realizes that he could never murder an innocent cat, and he lets Sparrow go, now knowing that his father was a hero. Talltail and Jake head back to Windclan, and he leaves Jake at the border of the territory. “I’ll always be your friend, Talltail. I’m a kittypet, and you’re a warrior. You’ll always be a warrior.” (Jake, Pg. 433)
His clan welcomes him back happily, and he lives a normal life as a warrior for a while. He soon becomes a mentor to a kit who was born with a lame foot. Hopkit, is his name, and he is renamed Deadpaw when he becomes an apprentice. Deadpaw seems to be proud of his new name, even though it reminds him of what is wrong with him. “It’s okay; I don’t mind! I’m going to be a warrior. My paw may be dead, but the rest of me is still alive!” (Deadpaw, Pg. 490) Many moons later, after Heatherstar has died, Talltail begins his journey with his friend, now named Barkface, to become the new leader of Windclan. He receives his nine lives from past clanmates, and earns the name Tallstar. His father is the one who gives him his final life, which is for forgiveness. “I give you this life for forgiveness. No death need ever be avenged. Forgiveness brings peace far more surely than vengeance”. (Sandgorse, Pg. 501)
I liked this book because of the adventure involved in it. The main character seemed interesting to me, and the cover and title of the book caught my attention. After I read this book, I went along to read the continuation of the series it belongs to. The author’s writing style is interesting to read, and I find it funny sometimes. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it for those who seek adventure.