Content levels
Trigger warnings
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
You will make things right. When the time comes, I know you will. The mountain cats followed the sun trail to a new territory, convinced that in a land with more prey, their lives would be free from strife. But while no cat has gone hungry, tensions are rising—and the once firmly united group has split in two. Caught in the middle is a young cat named Thunder. Orphaned after his father, Clear Sky, rejected him, Thunder has thrived under Gray Wing's watchful eye. But Thunder cannot escape the memory or hurt of his father's rejection. When a devastating fire rips through the forest, Thunder's natural abilities are put to the test. Impressed, Clear Sky invites Thunder to join him. But allegiances borne over time can be stronger than blood ties, and Thunder is forced to decide if he is with his father—or against him.
Is Thunder Rising appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 8 and up.
This animal fantasy features cat clans navigating survival and territory disputes with moderate peril including a forest fire and combat between cats. Some cats die, but violence is not graphic and appropriate for middle grade readers.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death of parent, grief, and abandonment.
Who'll love this
Readers will connect with Thunder's journey of finding where he belongs after his father rejects him, set in an exciting world of warrior cats facing big decisions.