"A cat has never been a friend to a Little."
In The Littles, author John Peterson turns ordinary difficulties into extraordinary dangers. Meet the Little family: Mr. William T. Little and his wife, Wilma; their children, Lucy and Tom; Uncle Pete and Uncle Nick; Granny and Grandpa; and Baby Betsy. Together, these extraordinary humans live a secret life in another family's house--a task made even more incredible by the fact that, due to their short statures, the clan home is built within the Biggs' walls. When the Biggs go on vacation, they leave the Newcombs to watch over their place. As if living with an unfamiliar family wasn't enough, the Newcombs brought trouble with them. If the Littles can't find a way to deal with the prowling housecat, their days of peaceful coexistence may be over forever.
The Littles are amazing creatures. They speak and act just like regular people, save for their habits of knitting sweaters out of Henry Biggs' old socks. If it weren't for their sleek, furred tails, they'd even look human. But, human-like or not, these tiny people live in a world completely foreign to us. Scavenging for food is a daily chore that usually includes lightning-quick dashes across the kitchen counter, and rats are a very real danger. Then comes the Newcomb cat, a fearsome beast who strikes terror into the heart of every Little. He turns their bright, exciting world into something sinister, casting a shadow over all things good. The cat is a brilliant antagonist not because he is cunning, but because he doesn't even know how scary he is. Those who take on the challenge of overcoming this obstacle are heroes in the truest sense, fighting for a future they can all share in.
Tom and Lucy are the primary protagonists in Peterson's little tale. They are treated as almost-equals among the adults, taking part in food runs and contributing to the anti-cat war. It's Tom who comes up with the crazy idea that will either save or doom them, and Lucy manages rescues her clan from some critical situations as well. Due to the briefness of the narrative, the characters aren't exceptionally well-rounded, though they are certainly dynamic. Each Little has a complex personality that manages to shine alone and among the rest. Their strong wills and determination to survive their trials turn this tiny family into a truly courageous bunch young readers can easily admire.
While Peterson's writing style is perfect for readers without a lot of experience under their belts, it also holds potential appeal to older audiences. Though the vocabulary and sentence structure is relatively simple, the dialogue, action, and themes are mature enough for older children to enjoy as well. While the plot might not be deep enough for an adult, it is definitely well-done for an easy read, and contains absolutely no profanity or romance. There is violence, but it isn't overly intense.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, kid-friendly read full of adventure and excitement. The Littles face many challenges while the Biggs are away, but they persevere admirably. Everyone who appears on-page regularly is dynamic and lovable. The writing style caters to youngsters without the "juvenile" effect that repels older readers. When the Littles stop to think about their problems, they come up with creative solutions sure to spark readers' imaginations. For all these reasons and more, John Peterson's The Littles deserves five stars.
The Littles are amazing creatures. They speak and act just like regular people, save for their habits of knitting sweaters out of Henry Biggs' old socks. If it weren't for their sleek, furred tails, they'd even look human. But, human-like or not, these tiny people live in a world completely foreign to us. Scavenging for food is a daily chore that usually includes lightning-quick dashes across the kitchen counter, and rats are a very real danger. Then comes the Newcomb cat, a fearsome beast who strikes terror into the heart of every Little. He turns their bright, exciting world into something sinister, casting a shadow over all things good. The cat is a brilliant antagonist not because he is cunning, but because he doesn't even know how scary he is. Those who take on the challenge of overcoming this obstacle are heroes in the truest sense, fighting for a future they can all share in.
Tom and Lucy are the primary protagonists in Peterson's little tale. They are treated as almost-equals among the adults, taking part in food runs and contributing to the anti-cat war. It's Tom who comes up with the crazy idea that will either save or doom them, and Lucy manages rescues her clan from some critical situations as well. Due to the briefness of the narrative, the characters aren't exceptionally well-rounded, though they are certainly dynamic. Each Little has a complex personality that manages to shine alone and among the rest. Their strong wills and determination to survive their trials turn this tiny family into a truly courageous bunch young readers can easily admire.
While Peterson's writing style is perfect for readers without a lot of experience under their belts, it also holds potential appeal to older audiences. Though the vocabulary and sentence structure is relatively simple, the dialogue, action, and themes are mature enough for older children to enjoy as well. While the plot might not be deep enough for an adult, it is definitely well-done for an easy read, and contains absolutely no profanity or romance. There is violence, but it isn't overly intense.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, kid-friendly read full of adventure and excitement. The Littles face many challenges while the Biggs are away, but they persevere admirably. Everyone who appears on-page regularly is dynamic and lovable. The writing style caters to youngsters without the "juvenile" effect that repels older readers. When the Littles stop to think about their problems, they come up with creative solutions sure to spark readers' imaginations. For all these reasons and more, John Peterson's The Littles deserves five stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment