The Underneath by Kathi Applet, the 2009 Newberry Honor book, is the story of an old hound dog and a little kitten and their experiences in the bayou. The unlikely pairing and resulting friendship is an enchanting relationship. The bond helps them through their adversities to conquer the evil lurking in the swamp lands.
Gar-Face, the owner of Ranger the hound dog, is a truly terrifying man. When I first started reading I was startled by the darkness of his character. Gar-Face takes extreme pleasure from the suffering of other living creatures. And so it is often that the reader fears for the dog and cat because they live on Gar-Face’s property. But they have a safe haven in the Underneath, the small area under the house where Gar-Face cannot go. If animals are loose in the yard, then Gar-Face makes sure to catch them to use them as alligator bait.
Also lurking in the bayou are evil alligators and restless spirits. The Underneath includes a love story between two Native Americans, in the time before white settlers arrived in the South. As that narrative unfolds, it becomes more and more intertwined with that of Ranger and his kitten companion and their fates rest with that of the young Indian couple.
For animal lovers everywhere, The Underneath is a testament to the faithfulness and courage of animals. I love how all creatures are personified in this book. Applet does a great job of contrasting good and bad characters through their actions and motivations. Additionally, The Underneath does a great job explaining evil to a young audience while still celebrating all that is beautiful in difficult situations. This novel is perfect for kids 10 to 14.