Feral Pride

Gr 9 Up—Austin, TX, is the venue for the final battle between those fighting for humanity and free-will and those plotting world domination. A creature claiming to be a weresnake has taken the state governor hostage claiming that werebeasts are the superior species and need to take their rightful place. To capitalize on the already existing fear and mistrust of werebeasts, an incriminating video depicting a werecat's transformation is made viral. A secret police force now threatens the species with a serum to control shifting and behavior. Fighting back is an unlikely group of allies consisting of a werecats, a werepossum/lion hybrid, a geek/goth human, a vampire with a soul, a guardian angel, and others working to set things right. Smith once again weaves an action-packed plotline with campy alternating narration by Clyde, Aimee, Kayla, and Yoshi, all while dealing with the complex themes of acceptance, tolerance, freedom, and self-esteem. All this is done in a nonpreachy style to which readers can easily relate. A successful conclusion to a thought-provoking series.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY