Dawn (Warriors)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dawn
The cover of Dawn.
First edition cover
Author Erin Hunter (Pen name of Kate Cary)
Country United States
Language English
Series Warriors: The New Prophecy
Genre(s) Fantasy novel
Publisher HarperTrophy
Publication date December 27, 2005[1]
Media type Print (Paperback)
Pages 368 pp
ISBN ISBN 978-0060744571
Preceded by Moonrise
Followed by Starlight

Dawn is the third book in the Warriors: The New Prophecy series. Dawn was written by Kate Cary under the pen name of Erin Hunter.

[edit] Plot summary

Something terrifying is happening in the world of the Clans. Amid the destruction of the forest, cats are being taken away by Twolegs (humans), including ThunderClan's beloved medicine cat apprentice Leafpaw. Now the young cats who set off on a quest many moons ago have returned (all but Feathertail, killed by Sharptooth - a mountain lion) with a chilling message: the Clans must move to a new home, or risk extermination.

When Stormfur, Squirrelpaw, Tawnypelt, Crowpaw and Brambleclaw return to the forest they are horrified to find it half destroyed. Crowpaw and Tawnypelt return to their camps to relay the prophecy, and the other three cats head to the ThunderClan camp.

The trio find the camp deserted and split up to search for the Clan. Squirrelpaw checks out the medicine cat's den but is attacked by Cinderpelt, who had mistaken her for an enemy warrior, trying to steal her herbs.

Squirrelpaw begins to win quickly but stops once she sees who it is. Cinderpelt is surprised and overjoyed to see she has returned, along with the other cats. Squirrelpaw apologizes for attacking Cinderpelt and realizes how thin the medicine cat is. Cinderpelt tells the threesome of how scarce prey is, and that they had to move camp two nights ago to escape the monsters (vehicles). She sadly reports that Leafpaw has been captured by twolegs.

The Clan was found camping on the Sunningrocks, having been forced to leave their camp as the monsters came closer. They treat the returning cats with suspicion. Much of the prey had fled the forest, and the ThunderClan cats are thin and scrawny compared to the returning cats.

Nevertheless Firestar is over-joyed to see his daughter Squirrelflight and former apprentice Brambleclaw again. Stormfur meets with his father Graystripe and sadly tells him that Feathertail is dead. Before returning to RiverClan, Stormfur helps tell Firestar and his senior warriors of the chilling prophecy.

However, it is not easy to convince the cats to leave. What they need is a sign from StarClan, but it seems that it will never come. Only a devastating attack on the ShadowClan camp will convince the other Clans to leave. The dying warrior from Midnight's prophecy is revealed to be a falling star which runs though the night sky and drops behind the mountains. They all travel though the mountains, guided by Brambleclaw, Squirrelpaw, Crowfeather (formerly Crowpaw), Tawnypelt and Stormfur.

Graystripe is taken by the Twolegs while rescuing Leafpaw and the other RiverClan and WindClan cats from Twolegs, as well as many loners and rogues. While trying to protect some kits, Firestar loses a life because a tree crashes and falls on him as they try to evacuate ShadowClan from their camp when Twolegs begin to destroy it. Leafpaw also uncovers that Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw are in love.

Stormfur chooses to stay with the Tribe of Rushing Water with Brook Where Small Fish Swim (Brook) and Feathertail's spirit. When Squirrelpaw says to Brambleclaw that she will miss the gray tom, she thinks she sees a flicker of jealousy in his amber eyes. She assures him her heart lies with ThunderClan and confesses her love for Brambleclaw. He says "we must all follow our heart", which means he loves her too. At the end of the book, the Clans settle in a forest around a lake.

Frostfur, Speckletail, Shadepelt and Loudbelly choose to stay in the forest while the other cats leave because they are too old to make such a long journey.

[edit] Critical reception

Dawn has been received warmly by several critics. In a review by Booklist, Dawn was said to be "eminently satisfying".[2] Kirkus Reviews said that while the prose of the novel was bad, Dawn had a good plot. It was also said that the author was able to make the reader care about the characters.[3] Children's Literature commented on how difficult it was to not confuse the names, though it did praise the theme of cooperation in the novel.[4]

[edit] References