The Underneath

The Underneath
By Kathi Appelt

For those who love stories about animals, The Underneath is that, but also much, much more. Set in an East Texas bayou, it's a story of abuse and betrayal, but also deep friendship and love. The characters are an old hound dog, chained to a porch in the middle of a swamp, and his horrible, alligator-hunting owner named Gar-Face. There are also two kittens that somehow survive in this enchanted swampy forest, their calico mama, and a giant snake trapped in a clay jar. Stories of ancient people and beings, and magic, are all mixed up together in this fairy-tale-like novel.