manwithanagenda's review
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Snyder draws on her Californian Depression-era childhood again and, this time, comes up empty-handed. I have no doubt that someone could learn something about that time here and surely comparisons could be drawn between the discrimination towards the Okies and minorities today, but the fact is there are a lot of books that do that better.
Zilpha Keatley Snyder was one of my favorite authors growing up and I remember passing on this book and others by her the same as I passed on other realistic novels by other favorites. That was a good call on my part, because unlike 'Stepping on the Cracks' by Mary Downing Hahn, there was little pleasure here and no sense that I had missed out on something.
There is just no spark to 'Cat Running' and very little originality, everything from the setting, the Kinsey family, the plight of the Okies, the little Cindy Brady Okie Sammy, and even Cat herself come off as underdeveloped cogs in a Very. Important. Lesson. machine.
The only highlight of the book was the discovery of the grotto, a little bit of Snyder's magic came through there.
Zilpha Keatley Snyder was one of my favorite authors growing up and I remember passing on this book and others by her the same as I passed on other realistic novels by other favorites. That was a good call on my part, because unlike 'Stepping on the Cracks' by Mary Downing Hahn, there was little pleasure here and no sense that I had missed out on something.
There is just no spark to 'Cat Running' and very little originality, everything from the setting, the Kinsey family, the plight of the Okies, the little Cindy Brady Okie Sammy, and even Cat herself come off as underdeveloped cogs in a Very. Important. Lesson. machine.
The only highlight of the book was the discovery of the grotto, a little bit of Snyder's magic came through there.
princessnomi's review
5.0
I read this book several times when I was younger and only had memories of how magical and wonderful the story was. I have been looking for this book for almost 10 years and I finally found it. As I was reading this book all I could think was that I don't really understand the feelings that I remembered from when I read it before. But at the end is when the full force of magic came to me. I found it interesting rereading it now at the age of 20 and a student of human development and recognizing all the aspects of childhood and emerging adolescence.This book it a good read for all ages and I recommend it to everyone.
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