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Scratch: a novel of magic by Paul A Janson
Gittie and Renie knew their cat was special, but they didn't know how special Onyx was until he started scratching sick people and then they were magically cured. When they tried to tell everyone what happened no one would believe them until it was almost too late.
Mass Market Paperback
First published July 19, 2014
306 people want to read
About the author
Paul Janson
22 books11 followersPaul is the middle child of three boys, born and raised in New England. Though he is now a practicing Emergency Department physician, his formal education began at the Boston University College of Engineering. He worked briefly for NASA during the Apollo project where one of the engineers convinced him to apply to medical school. Paul went on to attend Boston University School of Medicine intending to pursue bio-medical research, but grew to like the practice of medicine too much to give it up.
While working at Boston City Hospital (now Boston Medical Center), Paul met his wife, Mary. She was his supervisor, but he somehow managed to get up the courage to ask her out and eventually, to marry him. That was 39 years ago. The couple spent their honeymoon year in Eastern Kentucky, Appalachia, because they wanted to go somewhere that really needed physicians. With breaks to return to their training, the year extended to six years. Paul and Mary understood that if they were not there, it was likely that no one else would have been. Exhausting work, but fulfilling.
Paul did end up doing research, publishing a dozen articles including three pieces in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. One of the articles outlined the response of patients with renal failure and bleeding, and became the basis for the current treatment of these patients, still in use almost forty years later.
Paul's favorite journal publication was co-authored by Deepak Chopra, who was an endocrinology fellow at the time. It was Deepak's first time being published, but certainly not his last!
Since that time Paul has certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Emergency Medicine. He practices now in Lawrence, MA, in one of the busiest ED's in the state, and in one of the most medically underserved areas in the state.
Paul is actively involved in teaching Family Practice residents, and was the director of the Massachusetts chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians' course on board exam review and preparation until five years ago when the course was closed.
He has written several articles for traditional print publications and online sites, along with a biweekly humor column in the local Newburyport, MA newspaper, titled: The Port Planet.
In addition to being a writer, Paul is a musician who performed locally, with recorded music available online.
Paul says "Mary and I live in Georgetown, MA, on a small farm of sorts with chickens and dogs and cats... and love. My family is one of my greatest joys, especially the adoption of my two daughters from Ecuador, now twenty years ago. They have added meaning to our lives and expanded our cultural adventures."
While working at Boston City Hospital (now Boston Medical Center), Paul met his wife, Mary. She was his supervisor, but he somehow managed to get up the courage to ask her out and eventually, to marry him. That was 39 years ago. The couple spent their honeymoon year in Eastern Kentucky, Appalachia, because they wanted to go somewhere that really needed physicians. With breaks to return to their training, the year extended to six years. Paul and Mary understood that if they were not there, it was likely that no one else would have been. Exhausting work, but fulfilling.
Paul did end up doing research, publishing a dozen articles including three pieces in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. One of the articles outlined the response of patients with renal failure and bleeding, and became the basis for the current treatment of these patients, still in use almost forty years later.
Paul's favorite journal publication was co-authored by Deepak Chopra, who was an endocrinology fellow at the time. It was Deepak's first time being published, but certainly not his last!
Since that time Paul has certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Emergency Medicine. He practices now in Lawrence, MA, in one of the busiest ED's in the state, and in one of the most medically underserved areas in the state.
Paul is actively involved in teaching Family Practice residents, and was the director of the Massachusetts chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians' course on board exam review and preparation until five years ago when the course was closed.
He has written several articles for traditional print publications and online sites, along with a biweekly humor column in the local Newburyport, MA newspaper, titled: The Port Planet.
In addition to being a writer, Paul is a musician who performed locally, with recorded music available online.
Paul says "Mary and I live in Georgetown, MA, on a small farm of sorts with chickens and dogs and cats... and love. My family is one of my greatest joys, especially the adoption of my two daughters from Ecuador, now twenty years ago. They have added meaning to our lives and expanded our cultural adventures."
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 9, 2015
Full disclosure: the author provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. that in no way affected the comments which follow.
Very cute YA story about a black cat named Onyx who has magical powers, and a nice choice for cat-lovers. Thoroughly enjoyable, with what I have come to think of as Paul Janson's talent for writing excellent dialogue. The characters and their interactions are very believable, and I liked Jeffrey Boragine's story line.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this!
Very cute YA story about a black cat named Onyx who has magical powers, and a nice choice for cat-lovers. Thoroughly enjoyable, with what I have come to think of as Paul Janson's talent for writing excellent dialogue. The characters and their interactions are very believable, and I liked Jeffrey Boragine's story line.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this!
April 26, 2015
reviewed
October 11, 2019
A story about a cat with unusual powers and knowledge.
Onyx belonged to a woman who loved him but had to give him up when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Or was it because his duty to her had been fulfilled? After all, if Onyx had not scratched her badly enough to see a doctor, her cancer might not have been caught in time.
Fortunately Onyx stayed within the family and went on to help other people in his own, special, way. How he managed to know who needed him and how to be in the right place at the precise proper moment, is a mystery. But then, we all know that there are many things about cats that people or even science can not explain.
This is written in language simple enough for mature young readers to understand but there are tough topics covered, more than medical issues. It is a book that will touch your emotional center and adults will also enjoy.
I enjoyed the writers casual style and the nice flow of this story.
I often speak to my own cats and appreciate when they do seem to know I need extra attention.
Onyx belonged to a woman who loved him but had to give him up when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Or was it because his duty to her had been fulfilled? After all, if Onyx had not scratched her badly enough to see a doctor, her cancer might not have been caught in time.
Fortunately Onyx stayed within the family and went on to help other people in his own, special, way. How he managed to know who needed him and how to be in the right place at the precise proper moment, is a mystery. But then, we all know that there are many things about cats that people or even science can not explain.
This is written in language simple enough for mature young readers to understand but there are tough topics covered, more than medical issues. It is a book that will touch your emotional center and adults will also enjoy.
I enjoyed the writers casual style and the nice flow of this story.
I often speak to my own cats and appreciate when they do seem to know I need extra attention.
January 28, 2016
Onyx, a black cat with magical powers, is the heroine of this cute YA novel. Onyx's scratches change people...by sending them to the hospital, by changing attitudes, and by saving lives.
Owned by two young girls, Bridgette and Renee, Onyx knows all and sees all, but has a face that is inscrutable, giving away nothing. They know their cat is special, but they never realized how special until they were the ones in trouble and only he could save them.
Overall, a cute read that has some mystery, some magic, and lots of pizza and time off from school.
A few little niggling things: The dialog between characters is a bit stiff (too formal), and the vocabulary could be, at times, overwhelming to younger readers. In particular, the medical language...which makes perfect sense to those in the medical field...might be off-putting to those who aren't. Oh yeah, it is usually ten years between tetanus booster shots, not five unless there is trauma or possibility of infection.
Owned by two young girls, Bridgette and Renee, Onyx knows all and sees all, but has a face that is inscrutable, giving away nothing. They know their cat is special, but they never realized how special until they were the ones in trouble and only he could save them.
Overall, a cute read that has some mystery, some magic, and lots of pizza and time off from school.
A few little niggling things: The dialog between characters is a bit stiff (too formal), and the vocabulary could be, at times, overwhelming to younger readers. In particular, the medical language...which makes perfect sense to those in the medical field...might be off-putting to those who aren't. Oh yeah, it is usually ten years between tetanus booster shots, not five unless there is trauma or possibility of infection.
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October 16, 2014Scratch has been awarded a four star review by IndieReader giving it an IndieReader Approved status. "SCRATCH is the story of a remarkable cat and his loving family. Whether coincidence or miraculous power, Onyx is usually found in the midst of the action, observing it with the supercilious mien that all cats seem to share." Full review will be posted in 3 - 4 weeks.
The Kirkus review is now available:
"A YA novel about a pet cat with magical powers.
Janson (Mal Practice, 2013) tells the tale of a cat whose instincts and mysterious powers create both havoc and harmony for the family with whom he lives.... It’s clear that, more than his hapless owners, the cat seems incredibly aware of what’s going on in the world around him; in his own way, he protects them and their friends and helps make the world a little better."
The Kirkus review is now available:
"A YA novel about a pet cat with magical powers.
Janson (Mal Practice, 2013) tells the tale of a cat whose instincts and mysterious powers create both havoc and harmony for the family with whom he lives.... It’s clear that, more than his hapless owners, the cat seems incredibly aware of what’s going on in the world around him; in his own way, he protects them and their friends and helps make the world a little better."
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews