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Catwings #4

Jane on Her Own

ursula k. le guin s.d. schindler

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Jane, the youngest of the catwings, goes looking for adventure in the big city and captured! Longing for adventure, Jane, the youngest of the catwings, flies to the city on her own. When she flies through the window of a man who feeds here, she is suddenly captured, and finds herself making appearances as Miss Mystery, the fabulous winged cat! Realizing that being independent is much more dangerous than she thought, Jane plots her escape and hopes to reunite with her mother.

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1999
Series
Catwings

This edition

Format
48 pages, Paperback
Published
October 1, 2006 by Orchard Books
ISBN
9780439551922
ASIN
0439551927
Language
English

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About the author

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ursula k. le guin

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Ursula K. Le Guin published twenty-two novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. She lived in Portland, Oregon.

She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 99 votes)
5 stars
37(37%)
4 stars
35(35%)
3 stars
27(27%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
99 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
kurorin579
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This book is, perhaps, my least favored among the four.

It presents a super sweet story, yet I'm not entirely fond of the fact that Jane departs from her family and makes the decision to remain in the city.

The character of that one man was truly creepy, and I had no liking for him whatsoever.

It seems that Jane deserved better.

Maybe if the story had developed differently, with Jane finding a way to balance her life in the city while still maintaining a connection with her family, it would have been more to my taste.

And that creepy man, his presence really detracted from the overall enjoyment of the book.

I couldn't help but root for Jane to find someone better, someone who would treat her with kindness and respect.

Overall, while the story had its charming aspects, these elements prevented it from being a favorite of mine.
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-Ulysses
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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We are now at the end of the four-book series, Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin.

We truly relished this entire series. For each and every one of these books, our girls would firmly insist that we read the whole book in one sitting.

Taking into account the length of the stories, it indicates to me that they were extremely interested.

I believe that the story concluded in a nice manner and was a great finish to the series. However, we wouldn't have objected if there were more installments.

The adventures of the catwings and their friends were engaging and full of charm.

The characters were well-developed and the settings were vividly described.

It was a joy to read these books with our girls and watch their faces light up with excitement.

We will definitely be keeping this series on our bookshelf to read again in the future.
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ArkansasKing1
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is a charming short story and audiobook narrated by the author. One doesn't necessarily have to have read the entire series to enjoy this particular story, although it can enhance the experience.

Jane is a unique cat with wings, known as a catwing. Her mother has cautioned her not to show herself to humans as they might capture her and lock her in a cage. However, Jane is growing tired of life on the farm and decides to venture into the city. She flies through a window and encounters a seemingly very nice man. To be honest, he does give the impression of being kind, but he also closes the window, trapping poor Jane. What occurs next is neither extremely bad nor entirely good. She must find a way to escape, and that makes up the remainder of the story.

Are there any issues with this story at this reading level? Absolutely not. There is a theme of tolerance for those who are different, which is evident yet not overbearing.

Are there any modesty concerns? None whatsoever.

I would happily read this short story again, and I'm even considering rereading the entire series. It has a certain sweetness to it that is truly endearing.

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Renee96
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I came across this from a friend on Twitter and immediately made the purchase.

It isn't the first in the series of these "taking flight" (Meek) books. The tales center around a family of cats that possess wings and lead a secluded life on a farm.

I couldn't help but chuckle at how superbly it is written in comparison to countless other "first chapter" books.

It is simply exquisite, clever, worldly, charming, deep, and sophisticated, all while remaining enjoyable and playful - much like a cat.

The author has managed to create a unique and engaging world that draws the reader in from the very beginning.

The characters are well-developed and the story is full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cats, fantasy, or just a good read.
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GirlsPenetration
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I read this book right after finishing Catwings #2, "Catwings Return". The story here definitely has a more ordinary shape, and it concludes with a Happy Ending. The happy ending manages to tie up the angst that I had at the end of Book 2. However, this book loses one star due to a lazy Midcentury America "whitebread" vibe in the human-related parts. LeGuin really should know better than to present such a cliché. It also loses another star because I found the middle "trials" section rather boring. There wasn't much excitement or new elements introduced during that part of the story. It felt like it was just dragging on, making it a bit of a slog to get through. Overall, while the happy ending was nice, the other aspects of the book detracted from my enjoyment.

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LoonyB
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Pretty sure I found the other three of this quartet secondhand a few years ago. It was truly a stroke of luck to discover this volume by itself at a used book sale this weekend. I am simply delighted.

Haven't read them in a while. Even though I know these books left quite an impression on me when I was young. I had a rather faint recollection of not being overly fond of this book. But upon re-reading it, I can definitely understand how it made a younger me feel uncomfortable. However, as an adult, I found myself not only enjoying the story but also deeply meditating on the subtext that Le Guin so skillfully wove into it. It's quite remarkable how my perspective has changed over the years. I'm now able to appreciate the depth and complexity of the story in a way that I couldn't when I was younger. It makes me wonder how many other books I've read in the past that might have a whole new meaning for me if I were to read them again as an adult.
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Aya101
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The first book I read as a kid and probably my favorite was a magical adventure.

It took me to a world filled with wonder and excitement. The characters were so vivid that I felt as if I was right there with them, experiencing all their joys and sorrows.

The story was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what would happen next.

Even though I have read many other books since then, this one still holds a special place in my heart.

It was the book that ignited my love for reading and opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me.

To this day, I can still remember the details of the story and the emotions it evoked in me.

It truly was a remarkable and unforgettable reading experience.
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alexismv
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Le Guin's works vividly demonstrate that the concept of a happy ending is not uniform for all individuals.

Each person has their own unique path and destiny, and it is essential for them to respond to their inner calling.

What might be a source of joy and fulfillment for one person could be completely different for another.

Le Guin challenges the traditional notion of a one-size-fits-all happy ending and encourages readers to embrace their individuality.

By doing so, we can better understand ourselves and the world around us.

Her stories serve as a reminder that we should not conform to society's expectations but rather follow our hearts and pursue our own version of happiness.

In this way, we can create a more meaningful and fulfilling life for ourselves.
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