The Underneath
Parents say
Based on 15 reviews
Kids say
Based on 17 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know The Underneath, a finalist for the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor Book, and an ALA Notable Book, is a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel. But it's not simply a cuddly dog/cat adventure that the cover picture implies it might be. It has a poetic beauty that is both realistic and mystical, and tells a gripping, suspenseful story that's full of heart. However, it also has a dark, almost gothic brutality that might be difficult for younger, more sensitive readers; in the course of the book, a drunken man deforms a child, a cat is drowned, and there's much menace. Three different threads move back and forth between the reality of the swamp, the world of the "underneath," and the mythical world of shape-shifters, and they intertwine in short chapters that follow no obvious pattern. If readers are mature enough to follow the threads, they most likely are mature enough to deal with the harshness of the more gothic moments. Those readers will find this book a real page-turner.
Community Reviews
Impactfully heartbreaking.
Report this review
Not what I expected
Report this review
What's the Story?
Three different stories intertwine, and they all take place in the swampy darkness of the Louisiana bayou. After a pregnant calico is dumped by the side of the road, she finds her way to THE UNDERNEATH, which is a safe haven she shares with Ranger, a kindly bloodhound that's been chained to the porch by her cruel owner, Gar Face. There she has two kittens. Their story becomes one of how to survive the harshness of nature, but even more the brutality of Gar Face. Meanwhile, Gar Face, who's a sad, angry, brutal drunken swamp dweller, is on a mission to hunt down and kill the monstrously large alligator that people only talk about. He is driven by hatred and revenge. And he owns the shack under which Ranger lives and the kittens hide. The third story is that of a shape-shifter, Grandmother Moccasin, who has been trapped for thousands of years in a jar caught in the roots one of the loblolly trees. She's a dangerous character, full of loneliness and poisoned by hate and revenge.
Is It Any Good?
From the beginning, the threat of danger is jarring and gripping, and from there, expressive language weaves a vivid, passionate story that's both eloquent and haunting. Appelt doesn't just tell us how the characters are feeling, or what the swamp is like; she shows us. And that's exactly what good literature does. The reader is there in the bayou with the abandoned cat, the baying hound, the swaying loblolly pines, and feeling the lonely mystery of their world.
The world can be a brutal place, especially this place. Nature is harsh enough, but the cruelty of damaged, lonely characters driven by revenge make it worse for themselves and everyone around them, especially for small, dependent creatures like kittens. The bad guy is clearly bad, and the good guys are good. Gar Face is lonely, sad, and mean. He lives an ugly life, even brutalizing the bloodhound that had once been his trusty hunting companion. On the other hand, even though Ranger, the calico, and the kittens seem destined to live in the "underneath," their lives are loving and meaningful. They all make selfless choices that help them build a family, and survive the menacing world around them. The shape-shifting Grandmother Moccasin is a little more complicated. But her story underlines the primary theme that hatred poisons one’s life, while love and compassion heals.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the mismatched elements of the book. The picture on the cover makes it seem like a story for little kids -- but the violence and sophisticated storytelling are targeted more toward older tweens. Why do you think the publisher chose the image?
Parents might want to discuss the different kinds of violence in a book. Is reading about violence different from seeing it in a movie? Is it easier to handle if you know it's fiction?
Book Details
- Author: Kathi Appelt
- Illustrator: David Small
- Genre: Animals
- Topics: Adventures, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Friendship, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Atheneum
- Publication date: May 1, 2008
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 12
- Number of pages: 313
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Awards: ALA Best and Notable Books, Newbery Medal and Honors
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
-
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
Dramatic story of forgotten teen civil rights hero.
-
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith
Award-winning bio of Darwin as a family man is a bit dry.
-
Chains: The Seeds of America Trilogy, Book 1
Powerful story of slavery in 1776 New York.
-
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Sisters romp through summer in old-fashioned charmer.
For kids who love animal stories
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate