Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure is a realistic but heartwarming animal tale of loyalty and friendship.

Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd. Candlewick, 2022, 129 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10

Recommended for: Ages 4-8 as a read-aloud, 7-10 for independent readers

Home threatened

If the kitten had not found a home with Ma Millie, she would have perished of cold or hunger or predators in the wild. But a single “mew” at the door brought rescue from “loneliness, fear, and the cold, unfriendly forest.” The elderly lady and the kitten took to each other right away, leaving Haven with a name and a cozy indoor life. But with the coming of autumn, something is wrong with Ma Millie: her cough is worse, her strength is going. She’s hot and shivering at the same time, and Haven knows she must get help. The nearest neighbor, Jacob Levan, would willingly come to their aid, but Haven learns from Jacob’s cows that he’s “gone to town.” Wherever town is, and however far, Haven must go there too. There’s no one else to help her save Ma Millie . . .

The forest is full of danger, such as the fox Haven meets early in her journey. Foxes would normally see house cats as food, but the kitten can at least strike a deal. If the fox can help her get to town, find Jacob, and rescue Ma Millie, Haven can promise a steady supply of baked goods thereafter. It goes against a predator’s natural instincts, but the fox sticks to her bargain, and in their fraught journey through the forest the two form a bond that will soon be sorely tested.

Home secured

It’s not a cute story with furry woodland creatures, but a realistic tale that may have young readers biting their nails in anxiety at first. It becomes a story of friendship, loyalty, and self-sacrifice against a background both beautiful and dangerous. The ending may be a bit sad (spoiler alert: Ma Millie dies peacefully), but also encouraging, as friendship endures and life goes on.

Overall Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 4
• Artistic/literary value: 5 

Read more about our ratings here.                 

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Review: Gregory Maguire’s Cress Watercress is another beautifully-told story of woodland creatures, as is Violet and Jobie.
• Reflection: Just for fun: my search for “Cat” in our search box brought up this not-entirely-unrelated post from 10+ years ago: “Sex, Cats, and Stereotypes.”

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