Sky (book)

Sky is a New York Times Best Seller and the second book in the A Starless Clan arc. On the cover, Nightheart is in the front, Fidgetflake is in the back left and Sunbeam in the back right. The book features Nightheart, Sunbeam, and Frostpaw as the main protagonists, with Mistystar and Reedwhisker in the prologue.
==Dedication==
:Special thanks to Kate Cary
==Blurb==
:A Clan in crisis
:Tragedy has struck at the heart of RiverClan, and its survival depends on the young medicine cat apprentice, Frostpaw. As her Clan's only connection to StarClan, she knows every one of her Clanmates is counting on her. Even her mentor, Mothwing, is looking to her for answers. The cats of RiverClan can agree on one thing: they must keep their moment of weakness a secret from the other Clans. But when ThunderClan and ShadowClan turn to their neighbors for help as an outbreak of sickness rages through their camps, Frostpaw's Clan's secret becomes harder and harder to keep. With RiverClan in crisis, ThunderClan's leadership unexpectedly faltering, and ShadowClan's impatience is growing, the balance of the Clans is as precarious as ever. And all it will take is one spark to burst into flame...
==The praise==
:"Put your paws together for this one. [...]"
::::::::-Kirkus ReviewsRevealed on Kirkus Reviews 
==Detailed plot description==
:In StarClan, Reedwhisker and Mistystar argue about informing the other Clans about RiverClan's predicament, though they lament they can't do more to help their Clanmates. In ThunderClan, Nightheart is pleased to finally be a warrior, though his recklessness trying to prove himself results in him getting injured while hunting. Nightheart's confined to the medicine cats' den for a few days to recover from his injury. Nightheart believes his Clanmates resent him for choosing his own name and rejecting his former warrior name of Flameheart, something that irks his family Sparkpelt and Finchlight, and he begins to question his place in the Clan. In ShadowClan, Sunbeam grows weary of her Clanmates' coddling her due to her split with Blazefire, whom she had hoped to be mates with until he revealed he didn't feel the same way. While bringing prey to him in the medicine cats' den, Sunbeam overhears how Rowankit, Tigerstar and Dovewing's son, is sick with greencough and the medicine cats don't have any catmint. Puddleshine leaves for SkyClan in hopes of asking Frecklewish and Fidgetflake for catmint. However, SkyClan also doesn't have any to spare, so Tigerstar sends patrols to the other Clans asking for catmint. When Sunbeam's patrol arrives in RiverClan, she notices how downtrodden the camp is. Mothwing reveals they don't have any catmint to spare and sharply sends the patrol away when they ask to look around their territory. With only WindClan having limited catmint to spare, the medicine cats meet at the Moonpool to discuss the catmint shortage.
:In RiverClan, Frostpaw grieves the loss of her mother Curlfeather to dogs, though Splashtail and Mothwing encourage her that she must return to the Moonpool and ask StarClan who should be their new leader. At the Moonpool, the medicine cats agree to send a patrol to the nearby Twolegplace to search for catmint. When the others leave, Frostpaw communicates with StarClan and speaks to Curlfeather, who urges her to pick RiverClan's next leader "beyond the obvious choices." Sunbeam, Lightleap, Nightheart, Alderheart, Rootspring, and Fidgetflake meet on SkyClan's territory the following morning to journey beyond Clan territory to find more catmint. Fidgetflake recalls how SkyClan passed by a few Twolegplaces on their way to the lake that should have catmint in them. While Sunbeam isn't thrilled to be traveling with Lightleap, as the two still have a strained relationship, she is pleased to be with Nightheart. The two cats take first watch that night, and Sunbeam and Nightheart share their troubles in their own Clan; Sunbeam is concerned about Nightheart's apparent unhappiness in his Clan, and Nightheart is pleased that someone treats him like a proper warrior. The patrol passes by a Twoleg festival and both Nightheart and Sunbeam are enticed by the Twoleg prey scents, though Rootspring insists they must keep moving. After finding plenty of catmint for all five Clans, the patrol heads back towards the lake. They stop for the night not far from the Twoleg festival, and Nightheart and Sunbeam race off to steal a Twoleg bird prey. However, by the time Sunbeam and Lightleap return to their camp the next day, Rowankit has already died. Sunbeam is invited by her mother Berryheart's secret meeting with other ShadowClan warriors. They criticize Tigerstar's agreement about the recent changes to the warrior code and speculate that Fringewhisker might've brought the greencough from SkyClan.
:After speculating on Curlfeather's words, Frostpaw selects Owlnose to be RiverClan's leader after realizing she couldn't think of a reason why he shouldn't be leader unlike her other Clanmates. Her choice is accepted by her Clanmates, though Owlnose flounders with his indecisiveness about organizing patrols and daily tasks. Frostpaw guides Owlnose to the Moonpool for his nine lives, though StarClan does not appear. When they return home, RiverClan speculates why StarClan did not appear, though some suggest maybe they are waiting for Owlnose to lead for a while just as Onestar did. Mothwing urges him to pick a deputy, and Owlnose selects Splashtail since the two work well together. While the Clan criticizes Owlnose's choice since Splashtail is young and inexperienced, Tawnypelt arrives with news of an emergency Gathering that night to discuss the catmint shortage. However, RiverClan's apparent leadership quickly becomes the topic of discussion as Tigerstar, Leafstar, and Harestar repeatedly question Owlnose, posing as Owlstar, and Splashtail's successions. When Owlnose's reliance on Mothwing and his contradictory statements are pointed out, Owlnose lies that Mistystar and Reedwhisker died of greencough and StarClan has not granted him nine lives yet. Tigerstar explains that a weak Clan is an insecurity to all five Clans and suggests temporarily leading RiverClan until they can find their footing, though his suggestion is greatly unpopular with the other Clans. Instead, Leafstar sends Fidgetflake to RiverClan in hopes an experienced medicine cat will allow StarClan to appear to Owlnose.
:Despite returning from a successful mission, Nightheart is horrified when he's placed on nest cleaning duties by Squirrelflight, though the ThunderClan deputy insists it's because they don't have any apprentices. He begins questioning whether he would be happier in ShadowClan with Sunbeam since they got along so well. While cleaning out the elders' den, Nightheart overhears Leafstar conferring with Squirrelflight and Bramblestar about Tigerstar's behavior at the Gathering. While the two she-cats are certain Tigerstar is up to something, Bramblestar believes Tigerstar just wants to offer RiverClan advice. After they leave, Bramblestar spots Nightheart and the two go on a brief walk. Bramblestar wishes to know what Tigerstar is really planning, so he asks Nightheart to spy on ShadowClan by speaking with Sunbeam, though Bramblestar insists Squirrelflight must not find out. After Berryheart, Whorlpelt, and Yarrowleaf accuse Fringewhisker of giving prey to SkyClan, Sunbeam learns from Fringewhisker that Berryheart and the others had set Fringewhisker up and lied to her. Sunbeam confronts her mother about betraying her Clanmate, though Berryheart worries about letting strangers into the Clan after what had happened with Darktail. Sunbeam decides to split ties with her mother and her beliefs.
:Nightheart is excited to go on a special mission for Bramblestar, though Bayshine informs Squirrelflight about it first who promptly puts a stop to their plans. Bramblestar and Squirrelflight argue about the mission, though Nightheart decides to speak to Sunbeam about it anyway. Nightheart tells Sunbeam about his unhappiness in ThunderClan and asks if she would be happy if he joined ShadowClan to be with her. She agrees, and before he leaves, Nightheart asks if Tigerstar's planning on invading RiverClan though Sunbeam is uncertain. Now doubting Tigerstar's intentions with RiverClan, Sunbeam informs Flaxfoot about Nightheart's suspicions, though he promptly informs Berryheart who challenges Tigerstar about it. Tigerstar shuts down those rumors by insisting he doesn't want to invade RiverClan but help them if they're in trouble. Berryheart turns on her daughter and scolds her for trusting information from a ThunderClan cat. As Sunbeam storms away, she learns that Blazefire and Lightleap are now mates. While initially hurt, Sunbeam realizes she might have a future with Nightheart if he moves to ShadowClan to be with her. When Nightheart arrives back to ThunderClan's camp, Squirrelflight confronts him for carrying out Bramblestar's plan. Nightheart accuses her and the rest of the Clan for not respecting him and he announces he's leaving. When Nightheart arrives in ShadowClan's camp, he discovers it's nearly empty.
:Fidgetflake criticizes Mothwing's low herb storage so close to leaf-bare, though Frostpaw insists it's because they've had a lot to deal with. Owlnose and Splashtail still struggle to organize patrols and Frostpaw begins to doubt her choice, but Splashtail insists he and Owlnose just need more time. Frostpaw is touched by his compassion and briefly wonders if she has feelings for him, though Fidgetflake calls her back to the medicine cats' den. The SkyClan medicine cat discovers catmint forgotten in the back of the herb storage, casting doubt on RiverClan's numerous lies. That night, Fidgetflake, Mothwing, Frostpaw, and Owlnose travel to the Moonpool. As they near the place where Curlfeather died, Fidgetflake wonders why they didn't inform WindClan about the dogs, especially since Harestar's patrols had found prey bones nearby, causing Frostpaw to wonder if Curlfeather's death was intentional. Frostpaw realizes with horror that all the cats who recently died were ones who were about to be leader. Before they can reach the Moonpool, Owlnose steps down as leader and heads back to camp. Fidgetflake also leaves to call an emergency medicine cat meeting.
:Now alone at the Moonpool, Mothwing urges Frostpaw to speak to StarClan again. However, Frostpaw begins to doubt her visions since they were always unclear compared to how Fidgetflake described them. She struggles to communicate with StarClan to the point where she doubts whether or not she even has a connection with them, and Mothwing laments not being able to help her like a proper mentor. When they return home, they discover Tigerstar and his warriors in their camp. Tigerstar attempts to reason with RiverClan's warriors that he only wants to help them since Owlnose didn't receive his nine lives and Mothwing and Frostpaw need to focus on other priorities, citing their forgotten supply of catmint. However, Duskfur attacks Cloverfoot and a battle breaks out. RiverClan's warriors are quickly defeated and Tigerstar orders the medicine cats to treat the wounded and for others to hunt. While Splashtail glares defiantly at Tigerstar, the new leader of RiverClan insists this is for their own good.
==Publication history==
*Sky (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 1 November 2022
*Sky (EN), HarperCollins (e-book), 1 November 2022
*Sky (EN), HarperCollins (audiobook), 1 November 2022
*Sky (EN), HarperCollins B and Blackstone Publishing (audio cd), 1 November 2022
*Himmel (NO), Juritzen jr. (paperback), 2 November 2022, translated by Tora Larsen MorsetRevealed on adlibris.noRevealed on kattekrigerne.no
*Himmel (NO), Juritzen jr. (e-book), 2 November 2022, translated by Tora Larsen Morset
*Himmel (NO), Juritzen jr. (audiobook), 2 November 2022, translated by Tora Larsen Morset, narrated by Elisabeth VatnRevealed on nlb.no
*Himmel (NO), Juritzen jr. Norsk lyd- og blindeskriftbibliotek (braille book), 2 November 2022, translated by Tora Larsen MorsetRevealed on websok.nlb.no
*Wolken (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (hardcover), 19 July 2023, translated by Friederike LevinRevealed on beltz.de
*Wolken (DE), Julius Beltz GmbH (e-book), 19 July 2023, translated by Friederike LevinRevealed on beltz.de 
*Wolken (DE), Beltz & Gelberg (audiobook), 19 July 2023, translated by Friederike Levin and narrated by Claudia GräfRevealed on beltz.de 
*Sky (EN), HarperCollins (paperback), 7 November 2023Revealed on amazon.com
*Unknown (TW), Morning Star (unknown), Summer 2025Revealed on an announcement by Morning Star 
*Taivas (FI), WSOY (hardcover, e-book), 18 August 2025, translated by Nana SironenRevealed on WSOY.fi
*Taivas (FI), WSOY (audiobook), 18 August 2025, translated by Nana Sironen
==Gallery==
===US covers===
ASC-2.jpeg|English Language EditionReleased in North America & United Kingdom
ASC-2-FC.png|English Language EditionTextless Cover
ASC-2-FLF.png|English Language EditionFront Flap
ASC-2-FLB.png|English Language EditionBack Flap
ASC-2-A.png|English Audiobook EditionReleased in North America & United Kingdom
===Foreign covers===
ASC-2-CN.png|Simplified Chinese Language EditionReleased in China
ASC-2-DE.jpg|German Language EditionReleased in Germany & Austria
ASC-2-DE-FC.png|German Language EditionTextless cover
ASC-2-DE-A.jpeg|German AudiobookReleased in Germany & Austria
ASC-2-NO.jpg|Norwegian Language EditionReleased in Norway
ASC-2-FI.png|Finnish Language EditionReleased in Finland
ASC-2-FI-A.png|Finnish AudiobookReleased in Finland
==Trivia==
===Author statements===
*Kate began working on this book in July 2021 and finished writing in October 2021.
===Mistakes===
:A compiled list of the errors present in Sky can be found here.
==Awards==
*Sky was number two on the York Times Children's Middle Grade Hardcover Best Selling list for November 20, 2022.Revealed on nytimes.com 
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
de:Wolken (Buch)fi:Taivas (kirja)fr:Skyit:Cielopl:Niebopt-br:Céu (livro)ru:Небо
Category:Books
Category:A Starless Clan arc
Category:Sky (book)