P.A.W.S. is a good example of why I love to read YA fantasy. I thought this was going to be a light and fluffy kid’s book about shape shifters but it turned out to be so much more. Miri, the protagonist, is only ten years old when her grandmother dies. Following the death of the only family she has ever known, Miri is forced to leave behind her home in New York, her only friend, and her two pet cats to go live with her estranged aunt and uncle in St. Louis. Shortly after arriving in St. Louis, Miri is sent to a boarding school where she is bullied and withdrawn. It is during this bullying that Miri discovers her ability to shape shift into a cat which I thought was a very clever way to incorporate fantasy into the story. The story itself was compelling and entertaining, the plot was well developed, and the characters were likable. Overall, I would say it was a great read but will only recommend for older kids and adults due to the violence in a few scenes.
Originally posted at the Author Alliance
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