The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook

by Joanne Rocklin

In this warmhearted middle-grade novel, Oona and her brother, Fred, love their cat Zook (short for Zucchini), but Zook is sick. As they conspire to break him out of the vetÆs office, convinced he can only get better at home with them, Oona tells Fred the story of ZookÆs previous lives, ranging in style from fairy tale to grand epic to slice of life. Each of ZookÆs lives has echoes in OonaÆs own family life, which is going through a transition sheÆs not yet ready to face. Her father died two years ago, and her mother has started a relationship with a man named Dylanùwhom Oona secretly calls ôthe villain.ö The truth about Dylan, and about ZookÆs medical condition, drives the drama in this loving family story.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Animals, Cats, Juvenile, Family, Fiction

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

I was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the land of four distinct seasons. The winters are so long!

Wintry days and nights inspired me to read many, many books, the most important thing a writer can do. Of course other seasons inspired me, too! And as soon as I learned to hold a pencil I began writing poems, stories, and diaries.

I have always owned cats (or they have owned me, a cliché, but true!) Coincidentally, all our cats have been authors, and I’ve compiled their writing secrets in the essay “Why Cats Write.”

And I have always lived within walking distance of a library. (O.K. in California, within almost-walking, but driving distance!) I love to read and write, but I also love to talk--especially about writing.

Reviews

[Molly G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for my indie bookstore boss from reading the Advance Reader Copy:

How can one children's book contain so many of The Big Difficult Conversations between adults and kids? And how does it manage it with such hope, humor and delight? From the death of a parent, the prospect of a step-parent, the illness of a pet, a child's responsibilities in a community, how siblings and friends can support and teach each other, the many aspects of honesty, even the joy of reading and a bit of ecological awareness; all are handled with fun, relatable characters, and seamless, vivid storytelling. Plus visits to a father and child's magnificent imaginary world (herein called "The Island of Rebusina". - The main character would point out that "herein" is a very good word to use for making up stories). Wholeheartedly recommended as an entry to heartdeep subjects, or just to dive into a very enjoyable story.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ella and I are searching through the library's Overdrive collection for a new audiobook to listen to. She loves cats, so this one's an obvious choice, but... "I dunno, Ella. It looks like it might have a dead cat in it."

"That's ok. Besides," she reasons, "If it's too sad, we can always listen to some Penderwicks afterwards and cheer ourselves up."

True. We are self-medicating bibliotherapists.

...

I don't know how I missed this one last year, but I'm almost glad I did. If I had read it last year I would have had to take it apart and measure its component parts according to the yardsticks of character, setting, plot, etc. Since I read it this year, I didn't have to wear my Mock Newbery hat, which gets heavy at times.

Instead I got to wear my Animal Story hat and my Triumph of the Human Spirit hat and my Stories Fix Everything hat and my Heartwarming Small Urban Neighborhood hat. It was very festive up on top of my head.

In conclusion, my hats and my kid and I all loved this book a whole lot. If your hats are similar to mine, you will probably like it too, but you may need some Penderwicks afterwards.

[max theodore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our cat's named Zucchini, and we call him Zook, but that's not the most important thing about him.

i’ll take “books i read as a kid and only vaguely remembered that turned out to hold up really well” for 500, alex.

i don't remember when i read this. long enough that the only scene i recalled was the scene where oona's family visits her dad in the hospital and smuggle their cat in with them, hidden inside a picnic basket. i did not remember how much this book is about coping with grief. specifically, this is a book about a ten-year-old girl coping with the loss of her father and the impending loss of her cat—because, spoiler alert, there are plenty of kids’ books named after fluffy animals that won’t make you bawl like a baby, but this is not one of them.

still, it's not doom and gloom all the way through; in fact, i'd say it's almost never doom and gloom. this book manages to approach death and loss and bittersweet endings in a way that is comforting and thoughtful, but not saccharine or condescending. and it's also about a lot more than loss—it's about storytelling, and lies, and how to tell the difference, and it's about new beginnings and teaching your brother to read and telling whimsical stories of your cat's fantastical past lives. and fundamentally, it is about a cat with twenty-four toes and a funny meow, whom everyone in this book loves very dearly, and it is about love, and i am tearing up again.

it's the warmth in this book's approach to love and loss, i think, that makes it so special: however sad at times, it is fundamentally a book that is kind. it can be hard to find children's books that aren't peppered with incidental bigotry—because so many (otherwise wonderful! brilliant! life-changing!) children’s books, when you peer at them, are prone to completely unnecessary fatphobia or racism or strictly delinated gender roles (often paired with an undercurrent of making fun of background characters or antagonists for traits like weight or appearance). but this book doesn’t have any of that going on! now, it’s not a social justice text; it’s a book about grief and a kitty cat. but there’s none of that background grossness. the main character is jewish; her best friend is desi, and there are some wonderful lines about the cultural exchange between their families. the most prominent man on page (oona’s mom’s new boyfriend) is a nurse, and allowed to be gentle and caring without anyone commenting on his masculinity. the bar, of course, is astonishingly low, but it’s worth noting that this is a book i would gladly give to a child without any compunctions about accidental bigoted messaging.

though i'd give that child some tissues, too. i am not joking when i say this made me cry like the world was ending. granted, i'm not at peak power right now (dental surgery.), but dear lord, this book really understands the beauty of loving a pet and the pain of letting them go. someone close to me went through that a few weeks ago; i'm glad i rediscovered this book now, and i'm glad i rediscovered it at all, because there's something very special about this one. highly recommended whether you've got kids to share it with or not; The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook feels like a good cry into the shoulder of a person you love very much, as well as the hug they give you afterward.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would you feel if your pet became very ill? Ten-year-old Oona Armstrong lives in an Oakland, CA, apartment with her mother Terri, five-year-old brother Fred, and their cat named Zook, which is short for Zucchini. Oona and Fred’s dad Max had died two years before from cancer. Nearby is O’Leary’s Pizza where the kids work to help bring customers in and they get to eat fried zucchini, the only vegetable Fred likes—and thus the cat’s name. Now Zook himself has become sick, so Oona comforts Fred by convincing him that the cat is only on the fifth of his nine lives and telling him some wild stories about some of the previous ones. Will Zook get better? What will happen to him?

Joanne Rocklin is the author of several books, including One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street, Strudel Stories, For Your Eyes Only!, Three Smart Pals, and This Book is Haunted. The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook does use the words “pee,” with reference to both cats and people, and “poopy,” as well as a few common euphemisms. There are some vague references to believing in love, magic, and God. The concept of “karma” is mentioned, and one instance of drinking wine occurs. Mom’s new boyfriend, whom Oona resentfully calls Dylan the villain, is a musician who sports an earring. Many parents will probably not have much problem with most of these items.

However, some parents may demur at Oona’s penchant for telling whoppers, as she does when she tries to sneak Zook out of the vet’s office and bring him home because she feels that he can get better only with them. Although a distinction is made between simple fictional tales intended for amusement or entertainment and outright lies meant to deceive or hurt, the book may become the occasion for some discussion on the importance of always being honest and truthful. Otherwise, this is a warmhearted middle-grade novel about a loving family, and, aside from some of the things which I mentioned earlier, my basic reaction to it is primarily positive. Also, any child who has experienced the serious illness or loss of a beloved pet will certainly appreciate the drama of the story.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oona and Fred have a cat named Zook. Zook is a sick kitty who has to get fluids to help his kidney's function. Oona is teaching Fred to read using rebuses and stories about the past lives of Zook. She is upset that her mom is dating Dylan (the villain) who she thinks is the past owner of Zook. There are misunderstandings, life lessons and big and little whoppers.

I am not sure if I would have felt the same way about this book if I had read it instead of listening to it. But since I listened to it, my opinion is not the best. The narrator uses voices for each of the characters and I have to admit they got on my nerves after a while. Listening to the book also highlighted some weaknesses in the writing that might not have been as noticeable reading it. For instance, Oona uses way too many phrases like for instance, for example, and also, and others. It isn't a normal way a child would speak (or anyone really) and it is pretty annoying. The story isn't bad though and I am sure kids will enjoy this tale about Oona, Fred and Zook. It also offers a good starting point for discussions on telling the truth, letting new people into your life and death and grief.

[Jenna Scribbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teachers, Parents, and Librarians, You Need This Book

Five Stars

For those of you searching for a well-rounded, thorough, imaginative tale, look no further. The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook is a rare book. Lovers of Junie B. Jones will enjoy this story.

Joanne Rocklin takes a multitude of elements and weaves them beautifully throughout this story. Some details are silly, others small, and a few of them matter most. A flower pot, sweatshirt, catmint, secrets, and loving family members with us and those who have left. I’m almost speechless at how well these images were brought together in this book. Authors with this kind of talent are meant to write for children and I’m so glad Ms. Rocklin does.

Adults looking for titles appropriate for young, advanced readers should also give this title a try. There are some deep subject that more sensitive readers will cry over. Heck, I cried - and loved every minute of it.

My first five star read of 2012. Highly recommended for people of all ages.

I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher for review purposes.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT!!! Well, only kind of a spoiler alert. I'm sure it will come as no big surprise to you that this is a "meet cat, love cat, cat dies" kind of book. And since I have an old cat, this was at times a very tough book for me. But they way we get to "the end" through Oona's personal growth and the stories (and whoppers) that she tells is more than enough reason to go through this even though you know the cat is done for. It was a sweet and wonderful book.

[Gesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe suggest for book club?

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son begged me to read this. I did. And it was adorable.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oona and her five-year-old brother Fred are still mourning the loss of their father, who died of cancer, when their cat, Zook (named for his love of zucchini) also falls ill. Determined to protect her brother from any more sadness, Oona tells him that cats have nine lives, and Zook is only on his fifth. Continuing a tradition begun by their father, Oona begins using rebuses to tell Fred stories about Zook's other lives. In the meantime, Oona struggles to deal with the fact that she may have stolen Zook, and from none other than the man her mother has just begun dating.

I am not a cat person, but I loved One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street so much that I knew I wanted to read Joanne Rocklin's next book, regardless of the subject matter. The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook, like Orange Street, demonstrates Rocklin's unique way with language that sets her books apart from other contemporary middle grade novels. In Orange Street, it was her use of different points of view that made the story so strong and emotional. Here, the use of memories and stories add emotional depth to what turns out to be much more than a sad pet story. In fact, thanks to Oona's spirited and uplifting narrative voice, this book didn't make me very sad at all. Even when Oona faces difficulties, her optimism and desire to help her brother buoyed my spirits and kept me looking on the bright side, rather than wallowing in melodrama.

Another strength of this book is the strong sense of setting. The alley where Oona and Fred first find Zook, the pizza restaurant where they sometimes work, and the animal hospital where Zook is a patient are all conveyed with such colorful details that I could imagine them vividly. Place isn't necessarily central to the story, as it was in Orange Street, but being immersed in Oona's world made her that much more credible as a character, and that much more interesting to read about.

I did struggle at times to keep track of all that was happening in the story. This book takes on a lot for just one novel - loss of a parent, illness of a pet, memory, friendship, storytelling, learning to read, sibling relationships, parents going on dates - and at times, it felt like too much. It took me a while to get an understanding of what the real story was, and even then, I felt distracted by Oona's stories. But what I did think was maybe the most clever thing about the entire book was the subtle ways in which Oona's stories were influenced by the events happening around her. Each story that she tells to Fred exists not in isolation, but as a product of Oona's state of mind at the time of the telling. I think the fact that the details of her stories obviously parallel people and events from her life really saves the storytelling framework of the book from becoming a gimmick and ties the entire book together in a very satisfying way.

It would be hard for any book to match One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street in my estimation, since it spoke to me on so many levels and is so beautifully crafted, but The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook was not a disappointment by any means. It's a great book for cat lovers, girls with little brothers, any child who has lost a parent, and especially classrooms learning about storytelling. It's hard to name any read-alikes, since the book does take such a unique approach, but I could see it appealing to kids who like the Julia Gillian books by Alison McGhee, Socks by Beverly Cleary, and the 1964 Newbery Medal winning It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville.

[Jen Bigheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oona and her brother Fred aren't thrilled about their beloved cat Zook (Zucchini) being kept at the vet after an illness. They decide to take matters into their own hands and break the cat out of kitty jail. In order to convince Fred that Zook will get better, Oona tells some pretty tall tales about the previous lives of Zook. Zook has been a Royal Cat among princes and princesses, and a Ghost Cat living with a wretched old woman. Each story reflects Oona and her brother's Fred lives as they try to accept their father's death two years prior and their mother struggles to move on. As Oona and Fred fantasize about Zook's previous existences, Oona wrestles with the real-life events that led Zook to live with them.

I am still smiling months after reading this book! I love the dynamic characters, especially Oona, and the way Oona puts her own little spin on everyone. Her mom's new potential boyfriend is "villain" not Dylan, for example, and she has such an analytical and inquisitive mind. She is more than just creative, I would venture to say that she is one smart cookie (that is a real scientific term), and her use of rebus's to engage her brother are quite genius. She is more than likable, and when the tender moments come along with Zook and even her mother, I proudly bawled like a baby!
The story itself is sweet, endearing, humorous, and full of family learning moments. Oona and Fred have lost their father and are about to loose their beloved family pet. Unfortunately, the theme of loss is something many children go through at an early age. ZOOK deals with those sensitive issues with ease and a few laughs. The interview with author Joanne Rocklin gives a little more insight into the book, but just for the record....I loved it and is one of my favorite middle grades of the year!

Interview at the blog: http://www.jenbigheart.com/2012/03/re...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from someone in administration. I'm not sure, even now, why the ESL administrator sent it to me but it's definitely marked "To Laura Gonzalez".

I'm curious why it was sent to me. I thought maybe the book itself might give me a clue. It doesn't. It's an uncorrected proof so maybe she got it for free and is passing it on. So now I guess I'll have to ask.

In any case, I loved it. There were times when I was really bothered by the adult agendas. I understand that the book is set in Oakland, CA, but"Urban farming" has been around since before Victory Gardens. Does it really need such a big push? The author does a great job of portraying the joys of multiculturalism. Does she really need to create a new word, "Multi Culty", to define what was beautifully portrayed by friendships? The maxim "show, don't tell" rose to mind as I read.

I loved the way this book deals with death. There's a lot of dying and death in this book but it's handled with a loving hand.

I'm thinking about leaving this book at my vet's office to be given to a grieving child. Or I might set it aside to give to a grieving student.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story lover's story. Oona and her brother younger brother, Fred, have a cat named Zook who has been sick. Oona tells Fred how cats have nine lives and Zook is only on his fifth life. Their father died several years ago from a long illness, and now it is just them, Mom and the cat. What Oona has never told anyone is how she found Zook- through less than totally honest means. Oona needs to come to terms with Zook's health, while taking care of Fred (which she claims is one of her 5 jobs). This is a great example of how to tell a story. Includes at the back of the book rules for telling a story. Pair this with Word after Word after Word.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a Caudill nominee that ought to win! Oona and her brother Fred are worried about their cat Zook, who is sick at the vet's office. So to make Fred feel better, she starts telling him the stories of all Zook's previous lives. Those are intermingled with all the past and present changes in their own lives - their father's death, their job at a pizza parlor, their friends, their mother meeting someone new, all whirling together to remind the reader of the importance of interconnectedness and of taking happiness where you find it and telling stories true and false. E.M. Forster for an upper-elementary set, adorable but not too sweet. Decidedly a share-with-a-friend type book.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 comforting chocolate chip cookies.

Cover Love: Yes. I love the colors and the cats. I love how big the title is. It is very eye catching.

Why I Wanted to Read This: I adored One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street also by Joanne Rocklin. I was excited to read this one!

Read the rest of my review here on my blog.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes cozy novel like this one stay on your mind and in your heart? A narrator with a true and unique voice, rebuses, gardening, pizza, stories within the story, beautiful people that you want in your life, the asking of BIG life questions, and one special cat. Rocklin's writing is invisible in Oona's voice.

Run out and get this book. There are a few moments that I would describe as "hankie required" but don't let that scare you off!

The audio book is awesome!

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a sad ending they have to put down Zook (short for Zucchini, since he loves it fried) , due to his liver failure. The vet said, that he's only going to live for a few day, and suffer the pain if they won't put him to sleep. :(

Apparently, he was abused by the previous owner, and found a bb gun pellet in his body with a cut on his right ear. Thank goodness Oona and her brother loves him very much, and adopted him.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was attracted to this because of the awesome, street-art-inspired cover. I hoped it would work for booktalking, but ultimately found it to be a little too soulful for that.

I really liked the Oakland setting, depiction of living within walking distance of familiar businesses. It's really a book more about people than about Zook. And grieving, and transitions.

Sweet, but a handseller in my community.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, but not cloying, book about loss and how we cope with it that should be suitable for mid-graders (although I, as an adult, enjoyed it too). The main character is a plucky, humorous, and somewhat unreliable storyteller who learns that her stories can both hurt and help, and also that she isn't always as smart as she thinks she is.

[Jenny McCally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my 9 year old son. We both loved it. It was difficult for me to read aloud some of the powerful parts regarding loss. The book is very well-written and I felt like all the characters were developed so well, that they could live next door to us. There is a sense of community in this book with just a few characters. I look forward to reading other books by this author.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oona and Freddy love their old cat Zook, but he is pretty ill, so Oona uses stories to help herself come to grips with the that fact. Wonderful characters, a warm family and set of friends--this book would be a great read-aloud in the middle grades classroom.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oona and her little brother, Fred, are trying to heal after their Father's death. When their old cat, Zook, gets sick they must examine their feelings about death and what happens next. A beautiful book, which I look forward to sharing with children.

[Fen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would open a book and think nothing of it. But I picked up this book and I felt
Warm. Oona and Freddy and zook and dylllan and all of the characters in this story...they speak to me. What phin said to oona touched my heart. This is my favorite book out of the 207 others I read. (I wrote it down)

[Ghost Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. An amazing tale based around the common "cats have nine lives" myth. The book can be sad, but there are many theories and other things, including mini stories and many other things! Would highly recommend! 😁

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was tearing up during parts of this...

[Barb Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun romp involves a cat named, Zook, who meows like a bull horn, "EE-OW! EE-OWEY!" so it be heard above all beings with a pulsating heart. Remember the wild-haired scientist Emmett who loved to shout "Gadzooks!" in the movie, "Back to the Future?" Zook's name makes me think of him and I picture the cat with wild eyes and hair sticking out like porcupine quills. But Zook's name comes from O'Leary's famous fried zucchini that was used to catch him. Yum, yum. Or yuck, yuck depending on your tastes. Oona, the wildly-wordy narrator, along with her loveable five-year-old brother Freddy, spews words like geysers. The two have made-up words, vernacular words, play-on words, big words, misspelled words, 1st grader words, long strung-together-like-on-a-string hyphenated words, and more. I think "pickapoo tree" is my favorite. Or maybe you like pittooee, frazzlebug, fiddle-i-fee, rowdies, playskool, wonnerful, yaba-blabba (second favorite), humongous, autodidact, rebus... you get the point.

So eat some taffy 'cuz this one's a laffy. Okay, that's lame... I'll leave the word-smithing to the rockin' Rocklin. Even if I can't smith a word (or is that sword? Never-mind), I can promise you laughter, strong characters, a layered plot with great details, and a delightful word bonanza. Ten-year-old Oona's cat, Zook, gets sick and has to go to the vet. Oona tells some whoppers to the people at the clinic as she tries to sneak Zook back home. Oona has The Rainbow Whopper Theory, meaning some of her whoppers or lies can vary from white whoppers (play on the word white lie) that means a person lies to make someone feel better to black whoppers (evil lies like the color black) that are meant to hurt. Then there is the fuzzy in-between blue, yellow, and red lies. It's like lies on a scale of 1 to 10. Oona tells her younger brother Freddy some white whoppers because she wants to protect him from feeling sad. Their father died two years ago and the family, including Zook, miss him terribly. Freddy doesn't have much of an appetite and Oona wears her dad's old Oakland Raiders sweatshirt... EVERY... SINGLE... DAY. Ew. She worries about Freddy and is more patient than most sisters.

When their mom starts dating another man, Oona notices her mom's "weird, chirpy voice." The problem is this man is the one Oona has named, "The Villian." He is the person who she thinks might have previously owned Zook. He's the man Oona thinks shot Zook with a BB gun. He's the man who is evil to animals and she doesn't want to have anything to do with him. But no one knows this because Oona removed Zook's name tag when she found him. She didn't want Zook returned to his previous cruel owner. This whopper is a tough one for Oona to deal with all by herself. When mom invites the Villian to dinner Oona is difficult and rude. Later, she realizes that her mom is happy and it is the Villian making her feel this way.

The amazing details, strong character voice, and humor are what hooked me. Take the previous paragraph where Oona is talking about observing her mom's happiness. "Happiness is all over her. Her fingers are happy, holding the fork to her happy mouth. Her elbows on the table are happy. Her shiny orange hair is shooting off happiness sparks, pulled up in a new happy hairstyle. And her eyes; her eyes are happy. I'm sad because I realize her eyes haven't looked like that for a long time. And it's the Villain who's making her feel that way." I laughed about her elbows feeling happy and the description of her red or strawberry-blond hair as orange. I found myself rooting for Oona and waiting for the next outrageous thing she would say or do.

Have you ever gone to a kids movie where there is adult humor and the kids don't get it but you do and you are laughing away while they look at you and hiss, "What's so funny?" This book has quite a bit of that. It would be a great read aloud because it entertains both adult and child. The theme of death is one that you'll want to discuss with your child and if they are going through the phase where they are afraid of death (age 8-10) then hold off reading this until they are older. At 200 pages it is a fairly quick read. Oona sounds too old for a ten-year-old in some spots but it is so funny I really don't care, such as when she describes the receptionist, "This one is wearing dangly, sparkly earrings with circles and spokes. They look like cat toys, and under normal circumstances I'd probably warn her about those earrings. Not the greatest fashion choice if you work around cats." Funny, but not the language of a kid. And Freddy would not be able to developmentally tell the story he does at the end because he is learning to read - only fluent readers can retell like that and normally they are not in kindergarten, but only a primary teacher is going to know that instead of the average reader. Plus, we'd loose the whole clever part where Oona teaches Freddy to read with rebuses. Freddy's made-up story is necessary in advancing the plot and showing how the characters change when telling stories to help them deal with loss, grow as individuals, and make sense of the world. It also shows how their father, The Great Rebus-Maker and Whopper-Teller lives on through them.

In an interesting twist at the end Oona finds out the truth about Zook's past and sweeps some whoppers out of her life. This is a story about stories, a story about words, a story about names. On the one side you have a serious storyline of loss and on the other side you have the joy and silliness of using made-up words and stories. It makes me want to be silly. Or spew sentences like Dr. Suess, "Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all!" Truly a winner.

Reading Level 4.6

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oona finds a cat that has been injured and, thinking the cat was abused by his owner, she keeps him and renames him Zook - although on his tag (which she hides) it says Mud. She tells stories to her younger brother Fred, about Zook's five lives, not the usual nine lives that cats are said to have.

Oona is not pleased when a new man comes into her widowed mother's life, and she secretly calls him
"villain" since Oona is sure the cat had belonged to him. This story is very interesting for MG and up, with the characters displaying honest behaviours, reactions, and emotions. A great story of family dynamics.

[Pınar Aydoğdu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Türkçe’ye ‘Sevgili Kedimin Beş Canı’ olarak çevrilmiş ve Altın Kitaplar etiketiyle basılmış bu kitap 10 yaşındaki Oona’nın hüzünlü ama huzurlu yaşamının bir hikayesi... Babasını çok küçük yaşta kaybeden Oona ve beş yaşındaki kardeşi Fred şimdi de çok sevdikleri kedilerini kaybetme endişesiyle karşı karşıya kalırlar. Geniş bir hayal gücüne sahip Oona kardeşinin endişesini azaltmak için ona kedileriyle ilgili hikayeler uydurur, ama bu arada müthiş hayal gücü onu pek çok yanlış anlamalara da sürükler. Büyük yürekli bu küçük kızın hikayesi gözlerde yaş bırakırken içinizi de ısıtıyor.

[Cym · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I loved the stories within the stories, the details that Oona notices. Now I know that “whoppers” are not only the yummy food that comes from Burger King. :-)

I am glad I bought this book from Biblio, for my eldest daughter and me to read.

It’s about coping with loss and changes in life. About telling lies and the horrible feeling it evokes. About love for family and accepting things that make our family members happy.

[E Oxford · Rating 1 out of 5]

As funny as the name Zook is, this book is a dud. If you're looking for a fun read aloud, this isn't it. Everything is a lesson, everything is hard. People die. Cats die. This is the real l8fe atuff people deal with that they try to read fun books to escape from.
And good grief, the forced literacy lessons about tone and voice. It's like the author read "How to write a middle grade book"
Pass.