Ratha and Thistle-Chaser: The Third Book of the Named

Features

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Cover Type: Paperback with 272 pages
• Published by: Puffin October 18, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0142409448
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0142409442
• Book Dimensions: 6.9 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 3.2 ounces

Product Description
Drought has come to the prehistoric world of the Named. Under the leadership of the strong-willed Ratha, the clan of intelligent cats searches out new grazing land for the herd beasts upon which their survival depends. Miles away, on the coast, a young wild cat battles desperately for her own survival. Rejected by the languageless unnamed cats, and lamed physically and emotionally by a cubhood trauma, Newt forges a symbiotic relationship with a group of docile sea mammals. When Thakur, a scout for the Named, discovers her, he is intrigued by her ingenuity and tenacity. He does not realize that Newt and Ratha have an unexpected bond. . . .

Reader Reviews
I always thought Ratha could just as easily be a villain as a hero. She is rash, uncompromising, and ruthless in her upholding of the law, and never hesitates to use the Red Tongue. However, in this book, the character of Newt is a genuine heroine. Sympathetic but not pitiable, Newt battles against her haunted past and the deformity that it left upon her. Newt is a survivor, and you love to see how she does it. The emotional journey of the two characters is riveting. Ratha, who has always believed that the ends justify the means, is forced to see herself in a shocking new light. Newt must battle against her own half-Named heritage, overcoming obstacles of speech and the terrible fits that plague her. Worst of all, the cats of the Named must struggle with the most difficult part of sentience: forgiveness. With rich themes of reconciliation and acceptance, this book was the one that really made Ratha come alive for me, as she becomes a leader who comes to see all of the vibrant, bitter colors of the world, instead of the black and white dichotomy of the Named and the Unnamed.