Review: A Poetic and Magical Tale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 28, 2013
Most children dream of being strong and powerful, of being heroes in the world controlled by adults, and in this story, the protagonist, a young boy named Aric, makes this dream come true. This tale is set in the harsh living conditions of the Ice Age, and Aric's tribe is plagued with serious problems that endanger the lives of his family and everybody else.  The adults try to solve these problems themselves, shielding Aric and other kids from them. But Aric does not want to wait. Inspired and assisted by a loyal companion, a cat named Angelica, Aric goes on a quest to find the solution and save his tribe.Aric is an inspiring and empowering character who will appeal both to kids and to adults. His relationship with Angelica (the cat) is real and believable. The story presents Aric's quest in poetic language, with beautiful descriptions that mesmerize the readers.This story will appeal to kids of different ages. The younger ones may need to have the adults read the story to them, and the adults will not be disappointed either. As an adult, I read this book in one sitting. Kids, especially younger ones, may not be able to do that due to shorter attention spans, and that's why the author divided the story into fourteen chapters, each ending with the readers wanting more.On a more practical note, this story can help kids cope with the loss of a pet, especially a cat, as it presents an interesting interpretation of the idea that cats have nine lives, an interpretation that helps the readers understand the title of the story and the name of the cat. The author's note at the end will provide the young readers with the basic understanding of the Ice Age. After reading the story, they will be interesting in learning more about the Ice Age, no doubt.