A Blood Moon (Snowlands 1)

What worked:
Outcast stories create immediate sympathy, and in this case, it’s due to Feba’s fur color. The other cubs don’t like her, and many of the adult wolves believe tales that white fur means bad luck. The pack makes immediate plans to kill Feba, so she flees on her own. She doesn’t have a destination in mind and hopes to find a new pack to join. Being set adrift and alone will have young readers empathizing with Feba’s predicament and hoping she can find a friendly ally. Causing readers to become emotionally connected to the characters makes the story more engaging and entertaining.

The story teaches young readers valuable life lessons. Feba is a loyal friend who doesn’t acknowledge illogical customs, so she does the right thing. Usha believes leopards should live solitary lives, free of attachments to others. That’s the way it’s always been. Feba doesn’t accept this premise and refuses to abandon her new friend. Feba unites different species of animals through kindness, acceptance, and bravery. How else do you explain a wolf and leopard becoming friends, and baboons, alligators, and vultures helping them along the way? Batu is described as a bumbling wildcat, but this character adds a little humor to the story. The only word he says is “batu”, so readers will have fun trying to interpret what he’s trying to say.

What didn’t work as well:

The transition between settings is sometimes unclear, as the story shifts from Feba back to the wolf pack, and then to the antagonist, a sheep called Umanga. There aren’t clear differentiations between the shifts, although some are identified by the background color. Other switches are more subtle and may take readers a moment to realize the changes. Also, my third-grader agrees that the print is pretty small.

The final verdict:

Amazon indicates this book is for ages 9 and older, but that might be due to some violence. There’s nothing inappropriate or overly concerning, so younger readers can enjoy this animal adventure, too. I recommend you check out this book for yourself!