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A review by cuddlesome
The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
2.0
Entertaining enough for what it is but fairly dark for a children's book, lots of talk of death and cannibalism. Reminiscent of the Warriors series that debuted around the same time.
There are also elements of prejudice, classism, and owl speciesism that felt kind of icky; there's a blind snake character that serves as a nursemaid for barn owl owlets who goes on and on about how great barn owls are and this particular family of barn owls doesn't eat snakes because of their relationship with her. So much for every creature that owls eat that isn't a snake, I guess. Their sapience is implied but they never have any dialogue. RIP every "juicy vole."
I don't feel particularly compelled to continue reading this series despite my love of owls. Maybe it gets better as it goes along but the pacing of this book felt strange, with a long slog imprisoned and then a sudden rush to add two main characters towards the end.
I think I'd rather reread [b:Into the Wild|111332|Into the Wild (Warriors, #1)|Erin Hunter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327994729l/111332._SX50_.jpg|1346922] or [b:Silverwing|857920|Silverwing (Silverwing, #1)|Kenneth Oppel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178940831l/857920._SY75_.jpg|843370] over this.
There are also elements of prejudice, classism, and owl speciesism that felt kind of icky; there's a blind snake character that serves as a nursemaid for barn owl owlets who goes on and on about how great barn owls are and this particular family of barn owls doesn't eat snakes because of their relationship with her. So much for every creature that owls eat that isn't a snake, I guess. Their sapience is implied but they never have any dialogue. RIP every "juicy vole."
I don't feel particularly compelled to continue reading this series despite my love of owls. Maybe it gets better as it goes along but the pacing of this book felt strange, with a long slog imprisoned and then a sudden rush to add two main characters towards the end.
I think I'd rather reread [b:Into the Wild|111332|Into the Wild (Warriors, #1)|Erin Hunter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327994729l/111332._SX50_.jpg|1346922] or [b:Silverwing|857920|Silverwing (Silverwing, #1)|Kenneth Oppel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178940831l/857920._SY75_.jpg|843370] over this.