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Catwings #4
Jane on Her Own
Jane has a city adventure in this fourth book in legendary author Ursula K. Le Guin’s bestselling Catwings chapter book series, now with a new look!
Jane, the youngest of the Catwings, thinks that life on the farm is absolutely boring. Looking for adventure, she takes to the skies to explore all the world has to offer. But when she flies through the window of a friendly-seeming human, Jane finds herself captured—and forced to make TV appearances as Miss Mystery, the fabulous winged cat. How can she possibly explore the world now? Is there anywhere Jane can be truly free?
Jane, the youngest of the Catwings, thinks that life on the farm is absolutely boring. Looking for adventure, she takes to the skies to explore all the world has to offer. But when she flies through the window of a friendly-seeming human, Jane finds herself captured—and forced to make TV appearances as Miss Mystery, the fabulous winged cat. How can she possibly explore the world now? Is there anywhere Jane can be truly free?
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
9 people are currently reading
1511 people want to read
About the author
Ursula K. Le Guin
1,045 books30.1k followersUrsula K. Le Guin published twenty-two novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. She lived in Portland, Oregon.
She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.
She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
May 25, 2025
Jane, the little black Catwing, is bored of life as a farm cat, so she flies off to other towns and cities to see what life is like. She is immediately befriended by a nice old man who gives her a bowl of milk and strokes her fur gently. Unfortunately, the old man works in television, and he thinks he can make millions with a flying cat. Poor Jane doesn't want to be on TV, though. She's starting to miss her quiet, happy life on the farm with her family...
How can one not love stories about cats with wings? (Unless you are one of those heartless sons-a-bitches that don't like cats...)
How can one not love stories about cats with wings? (Unless you are one of those heartless sons-a-bitches that don't like cats...)
September 30, 2020
Well this is the end, we've reached the final chapter of the Catwings adventures. This story centers on Jane, the youngest catwing who found her voice thanks to her friend wonderful Alexander. While she loves her brothers and sisters and her quiet life in the country Jane longs to see the world and really, well, stretch her wings. So she decides to fly back to the city where she was born and find adventures.
Unfortunately its not long before she's taken in by a man who, while kind to her, definitely sees the monetary potential in a cat with wings.
One of my favorite things about these books is how Le Guin puts this subtle emphasis on the value of independence. She doesn't downplay the importance of things like family and love but I really love the message that you can have those things without losing your own identity in them. Loving your family doesn't have to mean putting your own dreams and needs on hold. I feel sometimes like there's this emphasis on the value of "togetherness" or "being part of a family" even if it means sacrifices things you might want just for yourself.
The catwings love each other unreservedly, they're totally free and open with their affection and frequently tell each other "I love you" with this kind of joyful innocence that really seems to embrace love in its most basic form. They're all totally secure in those feelings so they know it doesn't matter where they go they'll always be able to come back and that love will be waiting for them.
This is a marvelous, gentle, sometimes exciting and very heartfelt series. Delightful to read aloud.
Unfortunately its not long before she's taken in by a man who, while kind to her, definitely sees the monetary potential in a cat with wings.
One of my favorite things about these books is how Le Guin puts this subtle emphasis on the value of independence. She doesn't downplay the importance of things like family and love but I really love the message that you can have those things without losing your own identity in them. Loving your family doesn't have to mean putting your own dreams and needs on hold. I feel sometimes like there's this emphasis on the value of "togetherness" or "being part of a family" even if it means sacrifices things you might want just for yourself.
The catwings love each other unreservedly, they're totally free and open with their affection and frequently tell each other "I love you" with this kind of joyful innocence that really seems to embrace love in its most basic form. They're all totally secure in those feelings so they know it doesn't matter where they go they'll always be able to come back and that love will be waiting for them.
This is a marvelous, gentle, sometimes exciting and very heartfelt series. Delightful to read aloud.
August 5, 2017
Just so charming, and I also enjoy the story that not everyone is at home in the country, some of us are city cats. And that sometimes people who appear to be nice to us are using us.
October 13, 2017
Cute. For all cat lovers! This is probably great for 6-8 year olds or cat lovers. This little series is about flying cats. Jane strikes out on adventure back in the city. A simple and fun story. Nice illustrations as well. This is a beginning chapter book.
November 5, 2025
Jane is sister of the original cat wings, but she is very bored living on the farm with Alexander. She decides she wants to go to the city, even though she is warned that people will be mean to her and put her in a cage.She flies through a window and sure enough that is what happens. She does manage to escape and ends up with her own mother and a lovely lady who keeps them both safe and sound in her home. .
August 28, 2025
Kanatlı kediler masalıyla pamuk oldum. Mest oldum. Yukarıtepe Çiftliği’nin altı kedisine bayıldım.
Bayan Emma Tekir’in çocukları yakışıklı Robin, anlayışlı Telma, sevecen tek kanadı azıcık aksayan Ceymi, küçük Hena, Kanatlı Kediler'in en küçük kız kardeşleri Emma ve kanatsız arkadaşları Aleks.
Bayan Emma Tekir’in çocukları yakışıklı Robin, anlayışlı Telma, sevecen tek kanadı azıcık aksayan Ceymi, küçük Hena, Kanatlı Kediler'in en küçük kız kardeşleri Emma ve kanatsız arkadaşları Aleks.
February 8, 2021
A cute absurd and delightful little story I found in the library discards awhile back.
March 25, 2017
Happened by this from a friend on twitter and bought it immediately. It's not the first in the series of these 'taking flight' (Meek) books. The stories revolve around a family of cats who have wings and live in seclusion on a farm. I laughed at how well it was written compared to endless other 'first chapter' books. It's just exquisite and clever and worldly and charming and deep and sophisticated whilst also being enjoyable and playful - just like a cat.
November 15, 2023
The fourth and final Catwings adventure. A fantastic conclusion published more than a decade after the first Catwings book. Jane On Her Own is one of the best in the series.
Favorite Passages:
"Why do we have wings?"
"We don't know, Jane," her big sister answered. "Our mother didn't have wings. Alexander doesn't. Most cats don't. We don't know why we do."
________
"Being different is difficult," Thelma said. "And sometimes very dangerous."
________
"Hank and Susan are human beans, and they didn't put us in cages!"
"Hank and Susan are human be-ings," James said carefully, "but they are special ones."
________
"Alexander will miss me," she thought. But she knew that he would get over it, if he had plenty to eat. "And I will miss them all," she thought. But she knew that she would get over it, because there were adventures waiting, and the wind was blowing, and she was on the wing.
________
Jane flew over farms and towns. She hunted for her food in wild places and slept up in trees in the woods . . .
________
Did having wings mean she had to be lonely? Birds had wings, of course, but very few birds would even say anything polite to a winged cat. And owls and hawks were dangerous.
________
"Oh you bee-you-tee-full A-MA-ZING whatever you are!" said the man.
________
She would have liked to fly around the city having adventures, but they wanted her to stay inside and do tricks. And the eyes of their cameras watched her and watched her, like the eyes of owls.
________
"Baby, you're going to be the biggest thing since cornflakes," Pappa said, and tickled her behind the ears. "Miss Mystery, the Cat with Wings!"
________
None of them noticed the little black shadow that slipped past their legs. Paw by paw, it followed the briefcase men down the stairs. When they opened the street door, the little black shadow darted out, flew up into the night air, and was gone.
Oh, the wonderful cool wind on her wings, and the wonderful roaring, crashing, yowling noises of the city streets, and the wonderful, awful city smells! "I'm free, me, me, I'm free!" Jane sang out loud, flying high. And she flew on all night, singing.
_________
She sat on the roof as the sun set and asked herself, "Where do I go now?"
_________
"How beautiful!" she said. "There weren't any cats with wings when I was young. At least I don't remember any. But things keep changing. And it seems a very good idea. Although if I were a bird, I might not think so. And I expect it might be wise not to tell people about you. They'd just say, 'Oh, Sarah is so old, she's gone silly. Now she's seeing cats with wings!' It's difficult being different, isn't it?"
_________
"I am an Alley Cat!" she says. "I am Miss Mystery, the Flying Black Shadow of the City Night! Beware of me! For I am Jane, and I am free! Me, me, I am free!"
And singing her song out loud, she flies through the streets and alleys every night, teasing dogs and scaring rats, finding new friends and new adventures. Sometimes as Jane flies past a window, she hovers in the air a moment, looking in. Through the dreams of a child sleeping in that room flies a cat with wings, and the child reaches out to pet it. But the dream passes, and Jane flies on, singing her wild catwing song.
Favorite Passages:
"Why do we have wings?"
"We don't know, Jane," her big sister answered. "Our mother didn't have wings. Alexander doesn't. Most cats don't. We don't know why we do."
________
"Being different is difficult," Thelma said. "And sometimes very dangerous."
________
"Hank and Susan are human beans, and they didn't put us in cages!"
"Hank and Susan are human be-ings," James said carefully, "but they are special ones."
________
"Alexander will miss me," she thought. But she knew that he would get over it, if he had plenty to eat. "And I will miss them all," she thought. But she knew that she would get over it, because there were adventures waiting, and the wind was blowing, and she was on the wing.
________
Jane flew over farms and towns. She hunted for her food in wild places and slept up in trees in the woods . . .
________
Did having wings mean she had to be lonely? Birds had wings, of course, but very few birds would even say anything polite to a winged cat. And owls and hawks were dangerous.
________
"Oh you bee-you-tee-full A-MA-ZING whatever you are!" said the man.
________
She would have liked to fly around the city having adventures, but they wanted her to stay inside and do tricks. And the eyes of their cameras watched her and watched her, like the eyes of owls.
________
"Baby, you're going to be the biggest thing since cornflakes," Pappa said, and tickled her behind the ears. "Miss Mystery, the Cat with Wings!"
________
None of them noticed the little black shadow that slipped past their legs. Paw by paw, it followed the briefcase men down the stairs. When they opened the street door, the little black shadow darted out, flew up into the night air, and was gone.
Oh, the wonderful cool wind on her wings, and the wonderful roaring, crashing, yowling noises of the city streets, and the wonderful, awful city smells! "I'm free, me, me, I'm free!" Jane sang out loud, flying high. And she flew on all night, singing.
_________
She sat on the roof as the sun set and asked herself, "Where do I go now?"
_________
"How beautiful!" she said. "There weren't any cats with wings when I was young. At least I don't remember any. But things keep changing. And it seems a very good idea. Although if I were a bird, I might not think so. And I expect it might be wise not to tell people about you. They'd just say, 'Oh, Sarah is so old, she's gone silly. Now she's seeing cats with wings!' It's difficult being different, isn't it?"
_________
"I am an Alley Cat!" she says. "I am Miss Mystery, the Flying Black Shadow of the City Night! Beware of me! For I am Jane, and I am free! Me, me, I am free!"
And singing her song out loud, she flies through the streets and alleys every night, teasing dogs and scaring rats, finding new friends and new adventures. Sometimes as Jane flies past a window, she hovers in the air a moment, looking in. Through the dreams of a child sleeping in that room flies a cat with wings, and the child reaches out to pet it. But the dream passes, and Jane flies on, singing her wild catwing song.
October 7, 2018
I finally procured the 4th volume of the Catwings series. It’s the hardest to come by in hardcover. Not sure why, but it can be very expensive to buy used, where the others aren’t.
Anyway, it’s a lovely additional story and continues Jane’s story. Jane discovers the tranquil life on the farm isn’t for her and she returns to the city. First she stays with a man who exploits her specialness and doesn’t ever let her outside. She manages to escape and decides to go visit her mother, who is living with a kind old lady who doesn’t confine Jane. So Jane goes back and forth between the farm where her siblings live and the house in the city where her mother lives. This is just how she likes it.
A nice story to illustrate how one should figure out who they are and how they would like to live and follow that.
Anyway, it’s a lovely additional story and continues Jane’s story. Jane discovers the tranquil life on the farm isn’t for her and she returns to the city. First she stays with a man who exploits her specialness and doesn’t ever let her outside. She manages to escape and decides to go visit her mother, who is living with a kind old lady who doesn’t confine Jane. So Jane goes back and forth between the farm where her siblings live and the house in the city where her mother lives. This is just how she likes it.
A nice story to illustrate how one should figure out who they are and how they would like to live and follow that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2021
This is fine when read as a metaphor about finding one's place in the world and refusing to conform to outside demands & exploitation. But I don't read books about cats metaphorically, and taken literally this is exactly the problematic romanticization of outdoor cats and "freedom" that I despise. It's not out of place for 1999! but that doesn't make me like it any better. But I do still like Jane (especially her dialog), and the illustrations of her are adorable.
April 26, 2020
Ve bir masalın daha sonuna geldik... Yorum mu? Beni dinlendirdi. Yetmez mi? 😊
February 9, 2019
Farklı olmak zor ve tehlikeli, ama bu dünyada iyi insan-otları da var! Emma’nın maceralarını anlatan serinin bu son kitabı da çizimleriyle, kurgusuyla harika bir kitap!
February 15, 2024
Dear Jane
You're as free as a bird, fly up in the sky and don't forget your power. btw It was the last volume and I need more Catwings stories.
You're as free as a bird, fly up in the sky and don't forget your power. btw It was the last volume and I need more Catwings stories.
February 6, 2020
Flying cats? What's not to like? My girls and I enjoyed this short tale.
September 13, 2020
Çook tatlı bir seri <3
April 22, 2025
This was homework from the child I babysit. I very much enjoyed reading about Jane’s city adventure :)
August 12, 2015
I read all of these 4 books before bed, but this was the only one I actually finished in one go. Because they were so short I wanted to spread the chapters out to make it last longer, however, I just needed to know how this one ended!
Anyway, this was slightly different from the other books, not only because it's all about Jane, but also because there are a lot more human beings in it. Did I prefer cats only? Maybe, but in a four part series I also appreciated the change.
The ending was lovely! And it was done in such a way that you feel okay about having to leave this adorable series behind now. It came full circle, I thought.
Anyway, this was slightly different from the other books, not only because it's all about Jane, but also because there are a lot more human beings in it. Did I prefer cats only? Maybe, but in a four part series I also appreciated the change.
The ending was lovely! And it was done in such a way that you feel okay about having to leave this adorable series behind now. It came full circle, I thought.
October 27, 2010
Jane, the baby of the Catwing family, finds that the world outside the farm where she was born, is full of dangers. In the big city, she is cat-napped by someone who wants to capitalize on her flying talents and make big money on television. One of Jane's wise quotes is, "Being different is difficult and sometimes very dangerous." This is the 4th and final book of Le Guin Catwings books, with a reading level of grades 2-4, and delight enough for adult cat lovers.
March 14, 2016
More cats with wings! Jane is the youngest catwing, and she gets bored of living on the farm so she goes off to find adventure! She meets a man who she thinks is kind at first, but he just wants her to make him famous on TV, so Jane has to figure out how to escape before humans get it in their heads that there might be more than one cat with wings!
Again, Le Guin crafts a perfectly adorable story, accompanied with delightful art. A great addition to a sweet series for kids!
Again, Le Guin crafts a perfectly adorable story, accompanied with delightful art. A great addition to a sweet series for kids!
December 11, 2009
Jane On Her Own is about the youngest Catwing. I think I like her best; she's adventurous and knows what she wants and doesn't just get somewhere safe and stay there. And it's nice to see her going back and seeing her mother. Again, lovely illustrations and a nice sweet little read.
August 23, 2022
Beautiful illustrations and a cute story.
January 8, 2018
The author with the maaaaaavelous name ends her delightful series in this wonderful Catwing tale. Start your own adventure with them! ENJOY! :D
December 15, 2023
This one didn't grab me like the others, but is a nice story of the youngest catwing going off for an adventure.
December 9, 2024
Jane on Her Own is the 4th and final book in the children's series, Catwings, by Ursula K. Le Guin. I've been exploring her work, in fact, if I had a formal bucket list of authors whose work I want to read all of, she would be one. Catwings is a quick collection of 4 books about a family of, yes, you guessed it, cats with wings. This final book focuses on the youngest catwings, Jane, a little black cat who joined the rest of the family in the 2nd books.
Jane is getting bored with her comfortable life on the farm with her family and also Alexander, a wingless cat who joined the group in the 3rd book. Jane decides she wants some adventure so heads to the city where her mother lives. (Her mother is wingless, btw). On the way she is captured by an old man, who treats her very well, but wants to make money off of her unique wings. She is kept in his room while he shows her off (for money, of course) to cameramen and news reporters.
This wasn't the adventure that Jane wanted and she is getting frustrated. So what happens next? Well, since it's the last book, I'll let you check out the series for yourself. It's one of those that's great for getting children started on their reading journey. Enjoy the Catwings. (3.0 stars)
Jane is getting bored with her comfortable life on the farm with her family and also Alexander, a wingless cat who joined the group in the 3rd book. Jane decides she wants some adventure so heads to the city where her mother lives. (Her mother is wingless, btw). On the way she is captured by an old man, who treats her very well, but wants to make money off of her unique wings. She is kept in his room while he shows her off (for money, of course) to cameramen and news reporters.
This wasn't the adventure that Jane wanted and she is getting frustrated. So what happens next? Well, since it's the last book, I'll let you check out the series for yourself. It's one of those that's great for getting children started on their reading journey. Enjoy the Catwings. (3.0 stars)
December 7, 2019
Adventures of the youngest of the Catwings as Jane's boredom at the safe farm sends her into the woods and eventually back to the city of her birth. She comes to intimately understand that no all human beans are the same as the humans who care for her brothers and sisters at the farm. Captured and on display as Miss Mystery, she eventually escapes and finds happiness sharing the care from an elderly woman with her mother.
Shows that not everyone can be content with the same things - Jane is not a country cat, she is not necessarily a city cat but one that likes to travel and explore. About taking a chance of finding what makes the individual happy even if you stumble or have problems along the way.
Cute and teaches a very subtle lesson.
2019-175
Shows that not everyone can be content with the same things - Jane is not a country cat, she is not necessarily a city cat but one that likes to travel and explore. About taking a chance of finding what makes the individual happy even if you stumble or have problems along the way.
Cute and teaches a very subtle lesson.
2019-175
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October 22, 2023
Another short and cute book in the Catwings series. Little Jane is bored on the farm and wants adventure. When she is captured and put on display she has to escape to find her mother. Her mother and her caregiver Sarah take her in without much fuss.
Thank you Simon Kids for gifting me a copy to review.
Thank you Simon Kids for gifting me a copy to review.
March 26, 2019
Oh no!
I'm done the series!
No more reading about my winged friend's adventures :(
This series was incredible and sweet, albeit too short.
I'm done the series!
No more reading about my winged friend's adventures :(
This series was incredible and sweet, albeit too short.
September 7, 2020
2019 yılında okudum Kanatlı Kediler Masalı Serisi'nden bir kitap. tavsiye ederim
June 10, 2023
Perfectly delightful!
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