Although able to understand English, Pete the cat is unable to speak it and so must find a clever way to communicate with Alex about the men who burglarized his home and kidnapped his little brother, Benji, in order to get him back safely. Reprint.
Thrilling & engaging without being too scary or dark. Of course there is a happy ending. The theme is not subtle, but not annoyingly in your face, either: The more you know, the more prepared you are, the more you'll be able to face challenges. Additionally, as the author says, "We can't control what bad people do, but we can choose how we react."
Highly recommended to families with anxious or sensitive children. Read it aloud to them at their pace, discuss throughout, give them a chance to get inspired to be braver or stronger. I wish I'd read something like this when I was young, as I'm still all too sensitive now.
Btw, the content is not more intense than so many books for this age group that are fantasy or historical fiction... it's intense because it happens to kids who are just like some of the kids we know, in a town that could be ours or our cousin's. It's very immediate.
Also it has plenty of discussion opportunities about humanitarian efforts, not just rescuing injured animals.
(rating rounded down from 3.5 only because most of my four-star books are significantly better/ ones I enjoyed more)
The author should have warned anyone that was about to read this book that it's only for animal torturers or anyone who thinks that a cat bleeding to death is hilarious. This book is horrible. I'm very touchy about animals getting hurt, and I couldn't handle when a kid got kidnapped and his cat got tortured, too. I was thinking, why would they ever write such a book, for kids? Even an independent, sensitive adult wouldn't be able to handle such treachery.
What really stinks is that I was enjoying it at first and I was going to use it for a book report, which is only 1 week away. Now I have to find a new book. Hopefully, there are not a lot of people out there who would enjoy the book.
Spy Cat by Peg Kehret is an adventure with the cat and the little boy being the ones to find the burglars who have been breaking into homes in the neighborhood. It has excitement, adventure and animals. Parts are funny, such as when Pete the cat eats the burglar's hamburger and fries.
This is a quick fun read that shows the strong bond between kids and their pets. I liked it! (Karen's review)
In “Spy Cat” there is this boy named Benji and he has a cat named Pete. Benji loves Pete, and Pete loves Benji. Benji and his family moved into this new neighborhood and there were some burglaries all around the place. No one has seen or heard them, and they didn’t get caught. Benji comes to homes he was supposed to go to his neighbor’s house but he goes to his house first. He sees two people in his house- you have to read to find out who! I enjoyed this book because I like how the book shows how Benji and Pete are feeling at that moment. There are some action and dialog that seemed interesting. There was some comedy in there that had me chuckle. The plot was very intersecting and the characters in the story were perfect for the scene and the action. I like the writing of how the author wrote because I can really visualize the book. The only thing I didn’t like in the book was that it left too many cliffhangers at the end of the chapter. I would get so hooked into the book and it would just leave me there. I think that the author could make the book better by not leaving us on a cliffhanger, and keep going maybe one more chapter and then maybe go to the next scene. The person who would enjoy this book is someone who likes fiction, cats, and a spy action dialog. I was expecting to not like this book because at the beginning of the book it was boring and nothing was happening but when I got closer to the middle it got really fun to read.
This is an entertaining and dramatic story in the Pete the Cat series about a family with a smart pet cat who helps to track down thieves breaking into homes in a new housing development.
The book is 'coauthored' by the author's cat, Pete the Cat, and the cat's perspective is humorous and insightful. It's the sequel to the book The Stranger Next Door, but we haven't read that one yet.
Our oldest borrowed this book from her elementary school library. I thought it would be a fun, fast read and it certainly was.
interesting quote:
"Burglars take more than household goods. They also steal peace of mind." (p. 15)
Pete the cat sences that something is wrong. Pete can't talk to his owner verbally ,Alex, But he can sole crimes, and he knows when something arent right.And somethings wrong right now, someones been breaking into houses in Pete and Alex's neighborhood,and they're not just stealing people's personal property, their stealing people's peace of mind and their pets!!!!! When burglars break into Alex's house, they catnap Pete. But luckly for Pete, Alex's Brother,Benjie, rescues Pete. But Benjie gets himself kidnapped in the process by the thieves. Can Alex And Pete discover the clues and rescue Bengie.
I started this book yesterday and finished it today due to the multitude of other things I am doing at once. It is age-appropriate for Cora-chan the neko in my lap.
The plot introduces the avid younger reader to spy literature with as little distress as possible. The ending I could take or leave.
The novel, Spy Cat, by Peg Kehret, is about a series of burglaries in, a boy named Alex’s, community. The burglaries upset the people in the community very much. It was upsetting Alex’s family too since Rocky’s house got robbed and they’re neighbors. So, Alex’s little brother, Benjie, tries to go out and catch the burglars and get all their stuff back that was in there house because they got robbed. Then, he gets kidnapped! Pete tries to run after him but he get hurt trying to help him. When his Benjies parents got home they were freaking out. Benjie was supposed to go to Mary’s and her grandmother's house next door. Then Alex and Rocky, Alex’s best friend, put MISSING flyers up all over town. Pete tries to help Alex and Rocky find the clues that the burglars and Benjie left. Benjie is with the burglars still. Nobody has found him yet. They must have went out of the state. In the book there are 191 pages. The type of Genre the book is Adventurous. The way that the author writes the mood makes me have suspense. It also wants me to read on and never stop. For example, on page 93 it says,”...Benjie crawled along the edge of the house toward the front door and waited for the men to come out. He didn’t have to wait long.” this build get suspense. Whenever Kehret talked about the characters I got to know more about them and the struggles they were. Like, whenever Mary lost her ferret she was sad and devastated. Also all of the struggles Benjie was in to get away from the burglars. As I read I pictured the setting in my mind. Kehret wrote really clear that I could picture it into my mind. For example, whenever Benjie was stuck in the back on the truck I could picture what situation he was in. In the end I felt relieved that everyone okay and nobody was hurt. I recommend this book to whoever likes reading suspense and adventurous books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Pete the cat lived with the Kendrill family. Benjie was in 1st grade, Alex who was in 6th grade and Mr. and Mrs. Kendrill. A girl named Mary and her grandma moved in next door. They had tons of animals. One night they were robbed and one of the animals was stolen. Then the Kendrill family got a new kitten that Pete wasn't too happy about. Then the robbers broke into the Kendrill's house. Pete tried to stop them. He got into their truck and started biting and scratching them. Then Benjie came to help Pete. Pete got flung out of the truck, but Benjie got taken. Benjie was hurt and scared. The robbers finally reached their destination, it was a giant warehouse. Benjie jumped out of the truck and ran into the warehouse. The robbers were chasing him. Mrs. Kendrill didn't know where Benjie was and called the police. Benjie hid from the robbers, but they were still after him. Then a police car showed up. Mrs. Kendrill and the police officer came out. The robbers were thrown in jail and Benjie was saved with all of the Kendrill's belongings. I like the book Spy Cat. It had adventure, action and suspense. I also liked the book because I like cats. I also thought It was funny when the robbers were fighting with a cat. The only bad thing was that the book didn't give that much background information about the characters. I also thought It was weird when the robbers stole an opossum. This is definitely one of the better books that I read this year. I would recommend this book to people who like adventure and cats.
this book is about 4 kids and 2 cats.the kids names are alex,rockey,mary, and benjie and one day rockey and his family went to a resturant and a harware store, and while they were gone alex was watching the news with his family and he heard the news lady say BREAKING NEWS THIS JUST IN ANOTHER VALLEY VEIW HOME ROBBERY.and after that they broke in to mary and many more homes.the next night the robbers broke into alex house and just so happens benjie alex's littler brother was home.pete the cat was in the van trying to get proof of there name but he heard the door slam and the bobbers opened the door and pete was there. they made pete stay with them but when benjie noticed that pete was gone so he went out side and he saw THE van.so benjie went sprinting out of the driveway. but finally they stoped.BUT TO KNOW ANYTHING ELSE YOU MUST READ SPY CAT!!!!!!1
Spy Cat is a juvenile nonfiction book that will be welcomed by young animal lovers and mystery fans alike. Pete, the titular feline, solves a mystery involving a burglary ring, despite his humans' obliviousness.
Other reviewers have commented that the Spy Cat series hearkens back to an earlier era; the children speak with much more formality and have much more freedom than most twenty-first century youngsters. Students (and their parents) may enjoy this break from the bratty banter of the Hannah Montana wannabees, however.
Spy Cat is more of a fun read than a humane education choice, however. Kehret's books are usually fine sources for animal welfare content, but aside from some discussion of wildlife rehabilitation, there wan't a lot of humane ed content in this one.
I thought this was a pretty good book.The book is about the Kendrill family. Alex who is in 6th grade Benjie who is in 1st grade and there mom and dad Mr and Mrs. Kendrill.The Kendrills have a cat named Pete.Well one day when no one was home but Pete but Pete noticed something wierd when he heard someone come inside the house.So Pete went to go check and guess who was thier robbers and they were robbing the kendrills stuff and put it in there van.Then Pete decided to sneak into the van and when the robbers were done they meet pete and pete bit and clawed them but when they finally stoped him.But guess who just got home and saw it benjie did so they threw pete out and took benjie with them.They took him all the way to A warehouse were they kept all the stuff the stole.Then when they were putting the stuff away Benjie escaped. Read the book to figure out the rest.
Peg Kehret is one of my favorite children's mystery authors, though they are never usually 'scary', more what I call 'spooky', but I like the spooky atmosphere. They usually all teach a moral lesson, which I do like about them, and they sometimes show what to do in a dangerous situation and what not to do. The books by her and 'Pete the Cat' are some of my favorites by her, but I like the 'Ellen and Corey' series a little better. I also like some of the single books like 'Stolen Children'. I've never read the 'Frightmares' or the 'Disaster' books by her. I'm not a cat fan, I really don't like cats, so I am surprised to enjoy the books in this series , but I like the way Peg Kehret writes, even she can make me like cats for a short period of time, (until I finish the book series). I did like the first better than the sequel, but this is a good book.
Thieves have been robbing houses in Alex's neighborhood! One day, Alex and his brother Benjie were at school, and their parents were out. When Benjie came home, the thieves were at his house! Benjie and Alex owned a cat called Pete, and he was worried that the thieves would take him. Pete was in the thieves' van when they came back into it. Benjie thought the thieves had took him, so he confronted the thieves, but they captured him! Will Benjie get saved? Will the thieves get captured? Read this book to find out! I really like this book. You have got to read it. This book is one of my favorite books!
There have been a bunch of burglaries in the area where Alex lives, and Pete the spy cat is determined to protect his humans - and wishes that they could understand him. But when burglars do come and Alex's younger brother Benjie and Pete the cat are the only witnesses, what will happen?
A quick read, this book is not remarkable, but not bad. I thought the parts written by the cat were not so original, but otherwise the book was good. Kids who like animals and mystery books will enjoy it.
Spy cat is unusually interesting in that the story is told from the point of view of both Alex and his cat Pete who understands what humans say and reads what they write. Along with the help of his younger brother Benji, Alex and Pete manage to solve the mysterious burglaries that plague the surrounding neighborhood. The twists and turns they take leading up to the burglars capture are well worth reading.
After reading this book, I know I'm a fan of this author, and would like to read more of her writing. The story is a neat and fun one, and with just mystery and intrigue to keep one going through the book to see what happens. Mind you, this book is geared for the younger age (Juvenile/YA), as obvious by the "talking cat", but it's one you and the kids can enjoy, maybe even together. :)
I have to say this is one of my favorite books. I gave it a five star because you never know what will happen next. It is also really neat because the cat has parts in the book where he is talking. How would you feel if burgalaries happened all over your neighborhood week after week? Well, that's how the Kendrill's feel. Alex and Benjie feel, they don't know when their house is coming next.
I thought that this was a great book. It was confusing because of the characters changing and the point of view that changed. If you really understand it, it’s a great book. I would have to give this book 4 stars because it had great action and lots of great details. There are many different things that happen in this book; things that will have you keep turning the pages.
I gave this book 5 stars because this book is all about adventure and it is very exciting. What I really loved is it gives people who read this book an idea of what goes through a cats mind on a average day and this cat thinks he can be a spy and to help his owners brother bengie from the kidnappers .Does Pete save him or do they never see him again.
There is these people that are moving in next door. and benjie came into the house and said that there was people moving in. But then he kept on going in and out of the house. Then finally came back in and bothered pete there cat while he was eating breakfast. I didn't like this book because the book was to complicated to read for me. I recommend this book to people who like to read mysteries.
This is a wonderful book for any age group to read. If you love animals and love a good mystery, this is the book for you. one of my students now has book his mother, grandmother, and now me hooked on this series. I can't wait to read more of the series. Kudos!
My nine year old, reluctant reader CHOSE to spend his free time reading this book - that alone is worth five stars! He loves the mix of tension and humor in the Pete the Cat books and we're quite sure that our own chunky, sassy calico cat is related to Pete. Kudos to Peg Kehret for getting kids excited about reading!
This book was the best book I read in 2nd grade. I even re-read it in 5th grade too. This book is about a boy and his brother. Soon one finds a cat in a box to go along with there other cat. One day when they are coming home from school something happens to one of the boys. There older cat has to figure out how to communicate with the humans to save the boy.
Another great read. I love this author. This is the story told from the perspective of a child AND the cat. The crisis for this story is burglary. As always, this author teaches the reader how to deal with specific types of issues.
this is a cool one when i saw the cover i fell in love with it. it is about these robberys that keeping happening on a street the robbers eventually rob the main charecters house and grab there cat. Read it for yourself to see what happens.
I like this book because it's mystery and adventure and i love those kinda of books. Mary is in a adventure and so is benji and alex .I can realat to mary because she likes to take care of injured animals and I do to.