G498 Book Review of Kato and the Fountain of Wrinkles by Rhys Ella
Author: Rhys Ella
ISBN: 978-1-63268-875-0
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Type of book: talking animals, Hollywood, brotherhood, human/animal bond, schedule, supernatural elements, dogs, wrinkly dogs
Year it was published: 2014
Summary:
For famous animal actor Kato Rhyan, being named "Cutest Pug Alive" by Pooch Magazine was cool (all right, really cool). But for him, acting isn't about fame, it's a part of him buried deep within his soul; and he's not about to let anything stand in his way of becoming the first animal to win an Oscar for Best Actor, even if it means taking on a role that requires a wrinkly dog's worst nightmare -- Botox injections.
But before the injection process begins, it's discovered that the Fountain of Wrinkles -- located in his beautiful hometown of Callia Rugas -- has been contaminated by Botox, jeopardizing the lives of crinkly canines everywhere and setting off a chain of events that force him to bid farewell to his dream and set foot on an adventure of a lifetime in search of the antidote to restore the Fountain.
But as with any good Hollywood tale, the story that seems so apparent is not always the one that unfolds. The twists and turns that follow are sure to keep you guessing and laughing.
Characters:
The main characters include Kato who has an odd phobia of getting his paws wet and he is more of a responsible and logical dog. EJ is a literalist, a compulsive buyer and has an obsession with snuggie and he doesn't seem to understand the hidden logic beneath the words. (My favorite conversation was one with Kato and EJ and the week vs the weekend.) Other characters include Kato's parents that are desperate to protect their sons, the English bulldog that is acting as a bodyguard and some humans, in particular a little boy by the name of Liam. There are some supernatural elements in the story, but I guess it does explain the world a little bit, although I'm still confused by it.
Theme:
To be honest, I'm not sure what the message should have been, but I think its more of a entertainment story rather than something to learn from.
Plot:
The story is written in third person narrative, mostly from Kato's and the human child's points of view. I have to admit that I feel the first half is a bit slow and I had trouble understanding whether or not the dogs were anthropomorphic, but the second half got pretty exciting, and in some cases you weren't sure who's right or who's wrong, and the story is designed to keep one guessing which side some dogs are on. If I might make a request, I really want for more different type of dogs to be included in the future stories, in particular my favorite dachshund who is, well, sneaky and clever and manipulative as well as maybe some mixed breeds such as the corgie/chihuahua mix who loves the blanket a little too much to let me have any... (come on dude, its cold and I need to warm up as well as some space to nap!)
About the Author
Rhys Ella, lover of all furry
four-leggers, grew up in small town West Virginia surrounded by cats who
believed they were dogs and pint-sized dogs with personalities larger than
life.
Today, Rhys lives in
Her latest book is the
comedy/action/adventure/young adult, Kato
and the Fountain of Wrinkles.
For More Information
Opinion:
I actually found it a pretty entertaining story and I loved how the dogs, in particular EJ and the guard dog were well rounded and memorable. I have to admit that I loved EJ and he really cracked me up with his antics and obsessions. I also enjoyed the adventure, although I do feel that some parts should be cut out because the story seems to go on for a little too long, and I also wanted for the author to delve deeper into her world and explain how the dog and human worlds work a bit. In particular I was really interested in the dog world and how it functioned among the human world: are humans capable of understanding dogs (the answer isn't revealed until almost the end, but still I wanted to know that earlier,) do dogs adapt anthropomorphic characteristics to carry out their world or how do they get things done? I am sorry, but these are the things I really wanted an answer earlier in the story, and the anthropomorphic actions still isn't answered.
This is for Pump Up Your Book
3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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