In this lively historical fantasy set in 1890 Fife, Scotland, 14-year-old Cat Douglas is training as a member of monster hunting society the Royal & Ancient to defend her home from the creatures that terrorize the land. As the first girl to serve in her town’s R&A chapter, Cat feels as if she has a lot to prove, and as the smallest, she acts as bait, luring the monsters in for the kill. Things are going well until the R&A is dispatched to handle reports of a treacherous sea dragon, the likes of which hasn’t been seen for many years. The monster hunters are shocked to learn, however, that where there’s one sea dragon, there are likely more, sending Cat and her crew on a high-stakes mission to save the village. Cat’s lilting first-person narration adds a potent sense of identity to this atmospheric action-adventure series starter by Yolen (The Scarlet Circus). Poppy saturated comics pages by Lowenthal appear throughout, evocatively rendering Cat’s world and the fearsome creatures that inhabit it.
—Publishers Weekly
Lovers of historical fantasy will not want to miss Jane Yolen’s newest book. Set in 1880s Scotland, Cat Douglas is a monster hunter. When a student comes racing into the school to say a monster is in the forest, Cat and her comrades spring into action. The countryside has been filled with monsters, which is why her school exists. The question is, is there really a sea monster there that has escaped? Cat is going to be the bait, and she’s ready! This first installment of the series is a great, short read for students who enjoy complex text and writing. The author uses Scottish accents within the story, so readers can imagine characters speaking. The book also includes graphic inserts. The pictures are excellent and portray the story well, but need to be more consistent through the novel. The plot moves along at a quick pace. This book is best for upper elementary students.
—Children’s Literature db
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