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224 pp.
| Random
| January, 2021
|
Trade
ISBN 978-0-593-30632-1
$20.99
|
Library
ISBN 978-1-9848-9564-6
$23.99
|
Paper
ISBN 978-1-9848-9563-9
$12.99
|
Ebook
ISBN 978-1-9848-9565-3
$8.99
(
2)
4-6
Illustrated by
Stephanie Yue.
Color by Braden Lamb. To join her two best friends at a pricey sleepaway camp outside of the city, plucky Katie, star of this entertaining graphic novel, puts up a flyer in her apartment building to advertise her entrepreneurial talents and earn some quick cash. Unfortunately, Katie is no match for spry Mr. Quinn, who can carry his own groceries up the stairs, or Mrs. Bell's plants, which require complicated watering instructions. Katie finds her perfect job cat-sitting for Ms. Madeline Lang, who has somehow kept her 217 felines a total secret from the building's snoopy super. These not-so-average cats have varied, impressive skills and intellects that they use to test Katie, so much so that she starts to suspect Ms. Lang might just be a supervillain...but things aren't that simple. Yue's drawing style will remind readers of Raina Telgemeier's work (most recently
Guts, rev. 9/19), and the occasional departures from standard paneling keep the visuals feeling fresh. Venable includes a cast of supportive adults who provide Katie with scaffolding to grow out of old friends and into new hobbies that complement her love of animals. This enjoyable book (for which a sequel is promised) will pique the interest of readers who like their masked heroes with a penchant for animal activism.
Reviewer:
Niki Marion
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2021