This is the first book in a phenomial series or actually series of series, written to appeal to middle school population although accessible to older and younger readers alike. These books captivated my daughter's imagination.She kept talking about about them and begging me to read them until I finally gave in and then I too was hooked. The author or actually authors are actually four women working together under the pen name Erin Hunter. The series is a memorizing tale of 4 clans of cats, Thunderclan, Shadow Clan, River Clan and Wind Clan, who live in the wild. It chronicles their lives and adventures. The cats have their own code of behavior and caste system and mystical religious base. At the beginning of all the books is a detailed accounting of each clan and its leaders, deputies, medicine cats, warriors, apprentices, queens and Elders. the This book establishes the main characters and intoduces the readers to the lives of these very human animals. They mirror the good and bad in all of us and warm your heart while keeping you on the edge of your seat, staying up all night as my daughter sometimes does to find out what happens next. This first book introduces the chartacters that set the stage for many books to come. It starts with Rusty, a kitty pet who leaves the comfort of his human cared for existance to become a clan warrior and finally a great leader. both you and your students will enjoy these books and they definitely lend themselves to discussion of the deeper subjects in life. Be sure to check out the website www.warriorcats.com for more information.