A Dangerous Friendship

June 1, 2023
In this sequel to Carag's Transformation (2023), our hero is convinced that his former mentor, Andrew Milling, is plotting something nefarious. Although Carag likes his friends and enjoys learning how to be human at Clearwater High, a special boarding school for woodwalkers (those who can change shape), he misses his family--whom Milling had promised to help him find--and is haunted by the threats Milling made when Carag rejected his offered alliance. Most adults brush off Carag's concerns about his former mentor and urge Carag to apologize for offending the rich and powerful fellow puma shape-shifter. Soon the kids start getting field assignments in teams of three. When Carag must work with Tikaani, one of the wolves, he learns she's not what he expected. But he's disappointed that she's unwilling to remain friendly when with her bully pack. This is the most effective and best-paced storyline--contrasting with a cringe-inducing crush subplot--especially compared to the late-coming action and reveals that turn out to be letdowns. Though some storylines cohere well, others feel far-fetched. Heroes and bullies alike use language that could be read as homophobic ("limp-pawed whimperer"), ableist ("Lame Paw"), or fat-shaming. Aside from arctic wolf woodwalker Tikaani, an Inuit, most described characters read White. Poorly paced and badly plotted. (Fantasy. 8-13)

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