Book Review: The Tribe

Author: McCarty Griffin
Title: The Tribe
Publish Date: May 1, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: The author
Book Blurb: The tribe has been alone on the farm for many seasons, struggling to survive by their wits and will, unaided by the humans who abandoned them there years ago. Few members of the tribe outside of Tia, the eldest, and her fiercely loyal companion Bella, remember a time when two-legs--the cats' name for humans--lived in the farmhouse. Suddenly, the tribe's territory is invaded by a young two-legs couple, and the frightened cats ask themselves why have two-legs come to live there after so many seasons and what will happen to the tribe at the hands of these often cruel creatures?

Review: I am a fan of the Warriors books by Erin Hunter, so when I was offered a chance to read The Tribe, I thought I might be getting something similar. That's partly true, but this book is much different, although it does tell the story of a feral cat colony.

The cats in The Tribe aren't fighters and though there is a hierarchy to the farm colony, they are more of a family. The elder cats in this story are Tia and Bella. They are a spunky pair of kitties that you come to love. Then there is Daca, a cat that is part of the colony who is a "throw away." She was tossed out of a car when she was pregnant and the tribe took her in.

These three cats share their point of view in the story. The rest of the story is told by the two-legs (humans) that moved into the farm where the tribe resides.

I really liked the different perspectives that this brings to the story. What I really loved about The Tribe, NO CATS DIED! As much as I love the Warriors books, some kitty always dies, reading a book with a totally happy ending for both ferals and the two legs was perfect.

This is a must read for cat lovers.  It is great to see a book that shows people caring for feral cat colonies. I have dealt with this in my home town, and it takes a lot of love to get feral cats to trust you.

Rating: 5 flowers