The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man

by Lloyd Alexander

A wizard agrees to turn Lionel into a man just long enough for him to experience the excitement of city life

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Cats, Young Adult, Animals, Middle Grade

107 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series, The High King , was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969. Alexander's other books have also won the National Book Award and the American Book Award. He was also one of the creators of Cricket Magazine.

Reviews

[H.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies and gentlemen of the Goodreads jury. Don't let the fact that this book is cutesy-covered, middle-size fonted, and 100 pages thin fool you: This is NOT A BOOK FOR (JUST) KIDS. How do I know that? I submit as evidence: me. I read this randomly when I was a youngun and loved it. Years later, as a less-youngun, I was trying to think of a good book to give to a friend's kid and remembered this one. I reread it and discovered it was even funnier, cleverer, and sweeter than it had been first time around. If you think magically winsome stories belong to only those readers who aren't this tall, then sure, pass this one over. But if on deliberation, you think curmudgeonly wizards and talking cats with identity crises are the province of readers of all ages, I implore you to rule in favor of this book being worthy of your TBR list.

I rest my case.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall fun and enjoyable. I really liked the cat qualities Lionel retained as a human and how some human behaviors had to be explained to him. It highlighted things most of us take for granted. I would have liked more back story on Lionel the cat and his master before he was transformed. I also wish the only female character had more agency and personality.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Yes. Read this. Let your kids read this. Read this to your kids. (One of the characters talks in faux latin/lawyer-ese, but they'll either grok context from the story, or need to look a few words up. It's ok. Learning!) Lloyd Alexander, per usual, gives us a better developed cast of characters in ~100pp than most books do in a series. This one is about magic, friendship, doubt, humanity, triumph, making tough life choices, and how sometimes, making one choice means that you've irreversibly sent yourself down a singular path.

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, fun, keeps you hanging in there, which we did until the end.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Brightford. 107 pp. Sweet story about the wish of a wizard’s housecat. I quite enjoyed it. Read at https://archive.org/details/catwhowis...

The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man by Lloyd Alexander

[Jewels-PiXie Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is primarily aimed at children, it makes a great read for any age. Lionel the cat, wishes to be made a man by his Master, a conjurer. And from this premise a very lively and fun adventure begins. Lionel is charismatic and engaging, as we follow his journey and see just exactly where his wish takes him. He's a buoyant character, comical and with some really charming innocence. A wonderful adventure!

[Corinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was even more cracked out than I remember. It's clear Lloyd Alexander sat about watching his cats and thinking about how hilarious it would be if I person did all the same stuff, like catching rats in ones mouth and purring.

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still yet less annoying than any other Lloyd Alexander book I've read so far. By now I think I've seen enough, though, to know that I never need to read any more of him.

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one does it better than Lloyd Alexander. One of his early children’s chapter books, The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man contains all of his trademark wit, wisdom and warmth, as well as a valuable lesson and plenty of delightful characters.

After giving his cat the gift of speech, the magician Stephanus is now harangued by requests to turn him into a man. Lionel is desperately curious about the world of mankind, despite his master’s low opinion of the folk who live in the nearby town of Brightford -- according to him he once built a bridge for the whole townsfolk to share, only for the Mayor to seize control of it and place a toll over it. Stephanus left in disgust after that, and hasn’t returned since.

But Lionel won’t be deterred, and Stephanus grudgingly grants him his wish. Soon enough a tawny-haired, green-eyed you... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that the book titled "The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man", deserves four stars for six reasons. The first reason is because I never expected it to be a very good book but, it ended up being very interesting. The second reason I gave the story four stars is because the story was longer than I expected. I thought that it was going to be something like a picture book. Another reason I gave it four stars is because some of the words were in another language and I could not understand them. My fourth reason, is the storyline was jumping from place to place at some parts and didn't really stay on one topic at a time. The fifth reason, is that it did not make that much sense at certain parts like if somebody was telling you something but leaving out some parts. Finally, I chose to give it four stars because the author did a very good job making the story enjoyable.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great story from master storyteller Lloyd Alexander. This time a cat is turned into a man by his magician master in order to teach the cat, Lionel, a lesson. Instead, Lionel discovers what it is to be human. He sees all the pain and difficulty of the life of a man, all the baseness and depravity that men are capable of, but at the same time he finds what is best in a human life - what makes up for all the rest. The kindness and profound goodness that humanity is capable of and the love that he finds in himself for Gillian, a young woman in trouble with the unscrupulous leaders in town. And now Lionel has a decision to make. Will he return to being a cat or will he choose to forever remain a human? There will be no going back...

[Matt Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fun little book by the author of the Prydain series is a very quick read (I read it in about 30 minutes). Still, it was a fun adventure, and Alexander shows once again why he's one of the great classic fantasy authors. While adults will enjoy it, it's really aimed at young readers. Still, it's a quirky story about a cat who, thanks to magic, becomes a man and learns that humanity isn't all good. There are some lessons to be learned by all the characters, of course, especially the cat.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been searching for this book since I was eleven, didn't know the authour or title, read it when I was seven or something. A good few years of googling went into finding this book, so It's damned well good that I enjoyed it, otherwise it would have been ripped up and burnt. Awesome book, its like a fairy tale or something.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lloyd Alexander is one of my very favorite authors, but despite that I don’t think I have ever read this book before. It was a really cute read with a great message. I loved Lionel, Gillian, and of course, Dr Tudbelly. Lloyd Alexander’s works always have a deeper meaning which makes them a lot of fun to read.

**read for book scavenger hunt - a book with a cat on the cover**

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so short it's more of a fable than a novel, but I still love it. Just like Star Trek with its various characters explores the nuances of being human, Alexander provides his own views... though I'm still not convinced it would go quite like that.

[Tobinsfavorite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Alexander, but pleasant and engaging, and gently funny with mild peril.
I wanted it to end differently, but I suspect if I were still the age of the intended reader, I might like it better just as it is.

[Aprilleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, but a little predictable, which in no way diminishes the book's charm. All I could think about was how much the wizard would miss his cat.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a copy of this book in my local used bookstore. Having grown up reading and relishing Lloyd Alexander's novels, such as The Town Cats and Other Tales and The Prydain Chronicles, I bought this copy and set straight away to reading it.

In all honesty, I may have enjoyed this book more had I read it earlier in life (it is definitely meant for children) and had I not expected it to be about one of my favorite animals--cats. The cover and title are a bit misleading; this is not, in fact, a story about a cat, who only remains a cat in the first chapter. This is the story of a transformed man, carrying his animal-like innocence with him as he navigates life as a human. He discovers the cruelty and deception of his new fellow race, as well as kindness, love, and friendship. It's a cute story, though the plot is a bit predictable, not at all with the sharp cleverness of Town Cats. Still, I may hang on to this book. We have a little one on the way. Perhaps this can be added to his already-growing library!

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wizard warned Lionel that he wouldn't like being a man, for human beings were cruel and greedy and selfish, but Lionel had to see for himself. So off he went, tumbling headlong into a chaotic mess of currency, toll gates, licenses, kissing, and medicine. At first, Lionel just wants to explore, but the more injustice he sees, the more he wants to do something about it. But what can a cat do?

This is a terribly funny book full of puns and jokes and a warm heart. I very nearly returned this book to the library without reading it, but now I'm glad I took the hour or so to take in its quirks and adventurous moments. A hidden gem among children's novellas and well worth the read. I have no reason to believe that Mr. Alexander was writing about gender identity when he conceived of this book, but the way that identity is defined in this book is timeless and just as relevant today as it was when this book was written.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lloyd Alexander is definitely among my favorite authors, but I almost always find his shorter books to be his least satisfying works. The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man is typical of Alexander's standalone books, but feels much more condensed than I would have liked. Unlike much of his work, it feels like it was written for a more restricted audience of just younger children. Of course there is nothing wrong with this, but it does give this book much less staying power than it would otherwise have. The story and characters are cute and solidly written, but there is nothing that makes them stand out.

The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man would be a nice book to introduce younger kids to Alexander's work, and it's worth a try even if you're one of his older fans, but it doesn't hold up to most of his other stories.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light and pleasant read, I enjoyed this book as much as I expected to (I love Lloyd Alexander!) the moment I discovered it at the library. Lloyd Alexander is an excellent storyteller, and I think it's important to remember that he wrote mainly for children and young adults, because I find that some readers go into these stories with the wrong attitude or expectations. Even this book had a profound message within its pages, despite its innocent, lighthearted, and playful verbiage. It's a good story that doesn't require you to sit for long hours. I finished it in a few days and that's only because I have been packing for a trip and only had time to read a little right before bed each night.

[📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish it even though it is just 100 pages long. I didn’t know what to expect in the story at first so I read it from time to time. The story was relatable to what our society has become. Especially those people who took advantage of their power and made everything about money. I love all the characters specifically Gillian and Lionel. I never thought there would be a romantic connection between them.This book would be a nice thing to read if you want to finish a book in one sitting since its a short one. Moreover, the narration is smooth, light and fun even though it has a serious and important issue to tell.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit that this is my first book to read by Lloyd Alexander, but now I'm tempted to hunt up all the rest. Too bad libraries are now stocking mostly books from the last 20 years only.

In any case, this is a classic middle-grade fantasy novel with a cat whose owner, a magician, gives him the ability to talk. That makes the cat want other human characteristics and finally convinces him to turn him into a man. The cat then goes to the "evil" big city the magician warned him about and sets wrong things right...all while getting into trouble due to his cat nature. I loved the narration style. I wish more novels nowadays were like this.

[Cuauhtemoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for children/young adults, regardless of that I liked it and I gave a copy to my eleven year old to read. It contains all what is needed in a fantasy book: a wizard, a demoiselle in peril, a despot, a corrupt agent of the law, a physician/mage apprentice, and a cat.
I can see who Loyd Alexander tried to think through his cat. The author in fact had a few cats as part of his family, so this novella has additional value to me (a fellow cat owner).
The book is about a 100 pages and easy to read. I recommend reading this to your kids as a bed time story. It is a warm, fun story.

[Kate M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a kid I *loved* this, so maybe it's one younger readers would appreciate more than older ones. I was just so taken with the idea of a cat who turns into a human and stumbles around a city getting into trouble because he has no idea what human life is like! Had *no* idea originally that this was by such a stellar author as Lloyd Alexander. Just going to say, this isn't one of his best - it's mostly kind of silly and re-reading it I didn't feel drawn into the story. Lionel is not a compelling MC at all. He's innocently dumb and doesn't learn from his mistakes. I think the ending wrapped everything up nicely, however.

[Rebecca Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been slowly reading this charming and peaceful fantasy novel to Ellie (my six year old) at bedtime. It's a little tame for adult reading, but it is the perfect introduction to the fantasy genre for a child. I found the book to be gently humorous and full of great character and virtue to pass on to the children. As it happens, my seven year old is also looking forward to the opportunity to start reading this one 😊

[Yalonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely delightful tale! Lionel was a perfectly wonderful cat and he turned out to be an equally wonderful human. This was a refreshing reminder that we humans have the capacity for both good and evil ... our choices are what defines us. In the end, Lionel was not forced to be something he was not; he had changed himself so much that to return to that place was no longer possible. If only we would all work to be our best selves and support the efforts of other to do the same!

[Carrie Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made it a goal to read all of Lloyd Alexander’s books after loving his The Chronicles of Prydain series a few years ago. Sadly, this is another of his stories I didn’t enjoy as much as I wanted to. This is much too short and I wish there was more time devoted to getting to know Lionel, especially before he becomes a human. It is a children’s book though and I’m sure they would enjoy the adventure aspects of it. I think Lloyd Alexander always has interesting premises for his books.

[Lesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's refreshing that the main character is a cat.
The story follows the cat after he is transformed into a human by his wizard master.
The cat gets caught up in the ego, conflicts, and troubles that are unique to humans,
but he faces them head-on, and as he becomes more human, his way of thinking changes.
His feelings change.

He makes his own choices. The power of his will comes into play.

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book at least 50 times. My dad brought it home from the library one day after they took it off their shelves and gave it to me because he knew I liked cats. It was one of many little things he'd find and give me. I read it over and over again and picked it up at least once a year to read through it.