Snakes Don't Miss Their Mothers [Hardcover]

M. E. Kerr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2003 | Age Level: 8 and up

Christmas is coming, and Marshall, a black-and-yellow king snake who likes big words and live rats, and Irving, a twelve-year-old part-German shorthaired pointer, are still accidental residents at Critters, an animal shelter in the Hamptons. Even word of Placido's umpteenth adoption doesn't cheer them up. The large, one-eyed Siamese usually "goes out" for only twenty-four hours before his new owners decide he should "come back." Still, this time might be different. Sam Twilight and his daughter, Jimmie, are former circus performers and just might be clever enough to deal with a cat who has very bad habits.

As the holidays arrive, all sorts of surprises are in store for the creatures at Critters. Catherine, an aging greyhound rescued from the racetrack, is invited to Ginny Tintree's home for Christmas weekend. Goldie, a.k.a. Rex, a recently arrived yellow Lab sought by the evil dogcatcher with red gloves, escapes and is on the run again. And a heartsick Maine coon cat named Rags Randall is compelled to compose his first poem about a dog:

"Rex, this is Rags, can you hear me? / I miss not having you near me. / Run fast, Rex, run hard. / Till you come to our yard! / Rex, this is Rags, can you hear me?"

With her own special brand of humor and compassion, the inimitable M. E. Kerr ex-plores a small corner of the world where the lives of humans and animals intertwine daily, often bringing new hope to all.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-"Good-bye Placido" is a cry the one-eyed Siamese cat has heard before as his cycle of adoption from and return to a shelter begins yet again. He leaves behind an assortment of animals, including Marshall, the king snake; Goldie, a Lab separated from her owners; Catherine, a retired greyhound; and Irving, an aging part-German shorthair pointer, all of whom offer an opinion on the difficult cat's chances of finding a permanent home. During the Christmas holidays, Placido surprises everyone by ingratiating himself with his new owners, a child performer and her widowed father, and settles in nicely on their sailboat; Catherine is adopted, and Goldie is reunited with her family, who also adopt Marshall, the snake who never knew his mother. Only Irving is left at Critters where he curls up contentedly on his cot with his cedar pillow. This light, upbeat tale reflects the hopes and dreams of discarded animals. Good and evil live side by side, from the malevolent dogcatcher, Percival Uttergone, to the dedicated volunteers who work at Critters. The talking animals are more developed than the humans, but it all adds up to an upbeat reading experience.
Pam Spencer Holley, Young Adult Literature Specialist, Virginia Beach, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. The animals at Critters shelter and the humans who interact with them are the stars of this novel, and therein rests the problem. There are too many characters (one of whom changes names three times!) and too many story lines; more editing would have definitely helped. Too bad, because there are some very good things here, as well. Kids will respond to the book's humor and appealing talking animals--Marshall the cranky snake; Irving the patient mixed-breed dog who never gets adopted; Placido the Siamese cat who finally finds a home. The human characters are somewhat less successsful. The relationship between Jimmie and Sun Lily, two girls who adopt animals and become friends, is nice, but the story line about Jimmie's career in show business never rings true. In addition, Sun Lily has two mothers (in the roster of characters, both are simply identified as volunteers at Critters), an element that may puzzle some children. Kerr still writes better than most, so larger libraries will probably want this, warts and all. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (September 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060526246
• ISBN-13: 978-0060526245
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,874,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heartwarming Tail, er, Tale, February 9, 2007

By 

Wantz Upon A Time Reviews (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snakes Don't Miss Their Mothers (Paperback)

Shelters are the melting pots of the animal world. With a one-eyed Siamese cat, a gambling greyhound, a king snake, and many others, Critters is a prime example.

The story encompasses many animals, but each one ties into a central tale. Goldie, a yellow lab whose real name is Rex, is determined to escape. He is loyal to his boy and can't stand the idea of going home with anyone else. His adventure touches many lives, including Placido, the cranky Siamese, Catherine the greyhound, and even Marshall the king snake.

Will Goldie, AKA Rex, find his way home, or into the dogcatcher's evil hands? Will Placido offend yet another family and be returned to Critters--again? Will Marshall always be disregarded for being legless and scaly?

M.E. Kerr bring a wonderful story to children that covers so many life issues that listing them all would take more space than this review. Suffice to say, this book is will touch readers with its frankness and charm. Sometimes anthropomorphizing characters can be ridiculous, but not so in this case. Here, it serves to show readers what animals can go through, all the histories that humans will never be able to hear them tell. Kerr also gives the animals personalities that readers can relate to. What a great tail... I mean, tale.

This would also be a GREAT gift to have a kid read before you take them to choose a rescue animal--they'll appreciate their new friend even more.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
02/09/2007


Personal Note: I adopted a rescue dog two years ago next month. Alice has been a WONDERFUL friend, and she is excellent around my daughter. I couldn't have asked for a better dog--well, except for the shedding thing... I emphatically encourage you to look at rescue animals before choosing a new pet. If you're looking for a purebred, you can still find them through rescue groups by breed specialty. Do it. It will make you happy. It will make you a better human. ~C.Fix

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Animal lovers come forth...!, January 19, 2007

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snakes Don't Miss Their Mothers (Paperback)

Christmas is only a few days away, and at this time of year, the animals residing within the cages at Critters Animal Shelter begin feeling sorry for themselves. After all, while other animals are cozying up near warm fireplaces with their beloved owners, and batting the ornaments on the Christmas tree, the Critters residents are left to their own devices, sleeping in cold, metal cages, and wondering if they'll ever be given the chance to be called someone's pet. Don't get me wrong, the animals at Critters are well-taken care of. They receive daily walks, and people play with them, and on Christmas Eve they even receive edible treats that are lip-smacking good. But it's still not the same. But this year, things are different. For one thing, Placido, a bossy, one-eyed Siamese has been adopted (again!), and while the rest of the animals are holding bets regarding how long until Placido returns to Critters, the mischievous fellow is snacking on mackerel, and sharing a pillow with an eleven-year-old entertainer named Jimmie - looking to make a star of herself. Then there's Catherine. The ex-racing greyhound has a penchant for betting, but this year she's making a new life for herself with a young girl named Sun Lily, who happens to have not one but four mothers. Which brings us to Marshall, a gentle king snake with a huge vocabulary who wants nothing more than to go home with his favorite boy - Walter. But Walter's famous news-correspondent father isn't having it, and insists that Walter pick a more suitable pet for a New York City apartment. And, of course, we can't forget Goldie, aka Rex, who has lost his beloved boy, Bob, and wants nothing more than to be reunited with his one and only in time for the holidays. And, while that may seem like enough animals to keep anyone's hands full, it doesn't include the arthritis-stricken, soap opera loving Irving; Posh, an animal resembling a pit bull and a pig; Dewey, an Irish setter looking for someone to take a chance on him; and the newest addition to the crazy bunch, Noel, an iguana with a chip on her shoulder. Together, these animals will drive one another, as well as the shelter volunteers up the wall!

I have volunteered at various animal shelters over the years, and have seen the tales and stigmas that accompany each fuzzy friend - from cats to dogs, and rabbits to guinea pigs. However, as animals can't talk, it's hard to get a full understanding of the various stories they have to tell. Perhaps that's why M.E. Kerr's SNAKES DON'T MISS THEIR MOTHERS appealed to me so greatly. Kerr has touched upon a subject that many authors steer clear of. She has introduced us to a gang of shelter animals, all with their own heartbreaking, yet touching tales of survival, and the harshness they have had to suffer through over the years. Together, these animals, amidst bickering and sarcasm, seek solace in one another to help them through their stay at Critters, while at the same time comparing notes on the cruelty they have seen: from being used and dumped by racetracks, to being adopted and returned various times because of slight mishaps. Each animal brings along a sympathetic tale that makes the reader feel for them, while at the same time root for their survival in this cruel world, and hope that they one day find a family that will treat them like the kings (and queens) they truly are. Animal lovers come forth - this is a can't miss addition to the fiction world!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kerr does it again!, June 13, 2005

By 

F. Mercer "bibliophile" (Phoenix, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snakes Don't Miss Their Mothers (Hardcover)

What a great novel about the lives of shelter animals! Kerr writes vivid characters that evoke sympathy for the plight of all the unwanted animals out there. They each have a story to tell--just like Placido the one-eyed Siamese, Marshall the king snake, and Irving the older pointer. A quick read!