A review by samdalefox
Forest of Secrets by Erin Hunter

adventurous lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I enjoyed this installment more than the second one. I like that the book picks up exactly from where it was left previously. Forest of Secrets had lots more character development and side plots and it finally wrapped up the major ongoing storyline from the first book
of Tigerclaw being a traitor
. As usual the storyline is adventurous and moves quickly, there a useful recaps of what has happened previously in the saga (very useful for children and forgetful adults reading at a slower pace). Some new themes introduced or expanded upon in this book: 
  • "There's more to being a warrior than killing", ideas of hierachy, respect for others, lenience, selflessness
  • Warning against blind loyalty to authority or a leader (shown via Tigerclaw and his favourite warriors)
  • Ideas of engaging in mutal aid during day-to-day (elders) and crises (the flooding of riverclan territory)
  • Teaching kids not to eat unknown berries outside - they could be poisonous!
  • Disability ethics and realities in the wild, e.g. Cinderpaw's usefulness to the clan with her physical disability, the perceived earned retirement of the elders through their usefulness as warriors or Queens [child rearing]
  • The arbitrariness, emotions, and reasons linked to blood relations vs chosen relations (shown through Cloudkit, Fireheart, Yellowfang, Bluestar and her children) - My only frustration at the book here is the lack of recognition that in the wild intermingling would be encouraged to diversify the gene pool.
  • Ideas of human interference and disturbance of nature, e.g. the pollution of the river, the danger to life the thunderpath (roads) are without animal-friendly infrastructure facilitating crossing, climate change caused by human activity impacting the wildlife.
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