Cats of the Clans

Plot

In the introductory chapter, "Three Lost Travelers", the kits Mosskit, Adderkit and Blossomkit have somehow walked from StarClan to Rock's home under the earth. Rock tells the three that they did not live long enough to learn about their Clanmates. He says he will answer their questions "about the cats you left behind." Rock describes himself as "the keeper of the world beneath the one your former Clanmates walk."

The remainder of the book consists of Rock's stories about each Clan, and various cats (or a group of cats) within the Clan. Rock describes major events in the cat's life, and often comments on why the cat is special or acted as he/she did. There are also stories about a few cats from the Tribe of Rushing Water, SkyClan, and BloodClan in addition to some loners and kittypets.

Although Rock, as the narrator, claims neutrality, the book does not treat each Clan equally, devoting more space to ThunderClan cats and being highly critical of one of the other Clans. This is to be expected since readers get to know more of the ThunderClan cats from series than those from the other Clans.

Format and content

All text is written in with first-person point of view, Rock as the narrator. He is talking to the kits and often makes direct reference to them, such as "Your mother was a great leader, Mosskit...."

The introductory chapter is two pages long. Each introductory chapter is Clan introduction/description is also two pages long. This is followed by a two-page spread for each cat (or group of cats) discussed; text is on the left page and a full-color illustration is on the right page.

The Clans and the cats described in the book are as follows:

ThunderClan: Firestar; Bluestar; Graystripe and Millie; Sandstorm; Yellowfang; Cinderpelt; Leafpool; Squirrelflight; Brambleclaw; Ashfur; Brightheart and Cloudtail (with an illustration of only Brightheart); Jaypaw, Hollyleaf and Lionpaw. ShadowClan: Tigerstar; Brokenstar; Blackstar; Tawnypelt; Boulder; Littlecloud and Runningnose. WindClan: Tallstar; Onestar; Mudclaw; Crowfeather; Nightcloud and Breezepaw; Heatherpaw. RiverClan: Crookedstar; Leopardstar; Graypool, Mistyfoot and Stonefur; Silverstream; Feathertail; Stormfur; Hawkfrost; Mothwing and Willowpaw. Cats Outside the Clans: Ravenpaw and Barley; Princess and Smudge; Brook Where Small Fish Swim and Talon of Swooping Eagle (with an illustration of only Talon); Teller of the Pointed Stones; Cloudstar and Skywatcher; Leafstar, Echosong and Sharpclaw; Scourge and Bone.

The book also contains four maps (Forest illustration, Forest diagram, Lake illustration, Lake diagram) and an excerpt from Eclipse, implying that this takes place between Outcast and Eclipse.

Errors

There are a few mistakes in the field guide, as in the mountains, it states that Firestar was there, but in the book Eclipse, Firestar is not there. In addition, the page about Mistyfoot stated that she fled to ThunderClan to ask for help when her brother was killed. In actuality, Firestar and Graystripe rescued her from what was essentially a prison along with Featherpaw and Stormpaw after Graystripe became concerned of his kits' well-being. Firestar and Graystripe witnessed Stonefur's death after he refused to kill the half-clan apprentices as proof of his loyalty, making it clear that the three half-clan cats were no longer welcomed. The only accurate information about that episode in the excerpt is that Mistyfoot took shelter in ThunderClan with Featherpaw and Stormpaw and remained there until the end of the original series. Also, Scourge and Bone are shown with orange collars, instead of purple for Scourge, and red for Bone.

Critical Reception

A review by School Library Journal praised how the pictures show ferocity of the cats and how "the full-color portraits of these cats are spectacular. They show these characters to be exciting, vibrant, and unique, and will interest new readers much more than the tone-heavy, mysterious musings of the narrator".