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Katie the Catsitter #5
Villain Con
Welcome to Villain Con! Is Katie the Catsitter actually a villain?! Find out in this bestselling girl (and cat) power graphic novel series that’s perfect for fans of Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley Twins, and anyone who loves cats!
Sometimes the line between villain and hero can be hard to see.
Middle school is a roller coaster and lately Katie doesn't know which way is up or down, who's a hero...and who's a villain. Even the people she cares about most keep surprising her. Are Katie's best friends leaving her behind?! Katie just wants things to stay the same--but is she holding her friends...and herself back? Maybe it's time for a change. Afterall, Madeline is running for mayor to try to change things in the city. Maybe Katie's changing too. And maybe some of the things she thought she knew about villains--and about heroes--were wrong. Is Katie ready to move forward...even if means moving away from her friends?
Get ready for more friendship and fun, more drama and disguises (and cats, definitely more cats!) in Katie the Catsitter: Villain Con!
Sometimes the line between villain and hero can be hard to see.
Middle school is a roller coaster and lately Katie doesn't know which way is up or down, who's a hero...and who's a villain. Even the people she cares about most keep surprising her. Are Katie's best friends leaving her behind?! Katie just wants things to stay the same--but is she holding her friends...and herself back? Maybe it's time for a change. Afterall, Madeline is running for mayor to try to change things in the city. Maybe Katie's changing too. And maybe some of the things she thought she knew about villains--and about heroes--were wrong. Is Katie ready to move forward...even if means moving away from her friends?
Get ready for more friendship and fun, more drama and disguises (and cats, definitely more cats!) in Katie the Catsitter: Villain Con!
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Colleen A.F. Venable
52 books447 followersYou might know me from such films as "Colleen's Fourth Birthday Party" and "Colleen Falls Down Over and Over Again While Ice Skating."
Fun facts!
-I have a huge connect-the-dots tattoo.
-I accidentally started an international holiday.
(See National Pancake Day or Lumberjack Day, every Sept 26)
-I once sang back-up on an album nominated for the Polka Grammy.
-I can't sing.
-When I was 18, I broke a national coed jump-rope record.
My debut YA graphic novel Kiss Number 8 was a National Book Award Longlist title, an Eisner nominee, and a Prism award finalist.
My graphic novel series Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye (illustrated by Stephanie Yue) was nominated for an Eisner for Best Publication for Kids and awarded “Best Book” recognition from Kirkus Reviews, NYPL, Bank Street, and the Junior Library Guild.
I grew up in the trees of Walden, New York….well, not very high up the trees, since I always got scared, but I did carve my name in a lot of low hanging boughs. I had an older sister, a dog, a cat, a million fish, and an imaginary pet hamster named, yup you guessed it, Hamisher. Why have an imaginary friend when you can have an imaginary friend that can fit in your pocket!
I went to Wagner College and double majored in English and Studio Art, winning the award of “biggest dork” (aka first in my class)
I love graphic novels more than I love having feet and I really do love having feet. They keep my shoes on.
Pssst My name is actually spelled Colleen AF Venable. No punctuation. My birth name was Colleen Ann Venable, but in 1994 I asked to change my middle name to Felicity, because that's the sort of thing you do when you are 14. So I started to go by Colleen AF...mostly because I was bad at typing periods. The internet either ruined my name or made it SO MUCH COOLER. You can decide.
Fun facts!
-I have a huge connect-the-dots tattoo.
-I accidentally started an international holiday.
(See National Pancake Day or Lumberjack Day, every Sept 26)
-I once sang back-up on an album nominated for the Polka Grammy.
-I can't sing.
-When I was 18, I broke a national coed jump-rope record.
My debut YA graphic novel Kiss Number 8 was a National Book Award Longlist title, an Eisner nominee, and a Prism award finalist.
My graphic novel series Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye (illustrated by Stephanie Yue) was nominated for an Eisner for Best Publication for Kids and awarded “Best Book” recognition from Kirkus Reviews, NYPL, Bank Street, and the Junior Library Guild.
I grew up in the trees of Walden, New York….well, not very high up the trees, since I always got scared, but I did carve my name in a lot of low hanging boughs. I had an older sister, a dog, a cat, a million fish, and an imaginary pet hamster named, yup you guessed it, Hamisher. Why have an imaginary friend when you can have an imaginary friend that can fit in your pocket!
I went to Wagner College and double majored in English and Studio Art, winning the award of “biggest dork” (aka first in my class)
I love graphic novels more than I love having feet and I really do love having feet. They keep my shoes on.
Pssst My name is actually spelled Colleen AF Venable. No punctuation. My birth name was Colleen Ann Venable, but in 1994 I asked to change my middle name to Felicity, because that's the sort of thing you do when you are 14. So I started to go by Colleen AF...mostly because I was bad at typing periods. The internet either ruined my name or made it SO MUCH COOLER. You can decide.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 25, 2025
✨️HAVE NOT READ YET LOL✨️
Eeeeee. I love the plot of this! I'll see u in June!!!! 🥰🥳🤞
Eeeeee. I love the plot of this! I'll see u in June!!!! 🥰🥳🤞
June 23, 2026
This series continues to bring me immense joy in so many ways and it’s not just because my beloved girl Charlotte is immortalized in it ❤️
July 27, 2026
After many exciting adventures battling supervillains and saving New York City from evil robots, Katie the Catsitter is happy for a slightly calmer (though no less stressful) assignment: supporting her superhero mentor Madeline Lang, aka The Mousetress, in her mayoral campaign. Madeline is running to unseat the smarmy Mayor McDean, who has banned all superhero activity in the city (including spandex and grappling hooks) and seems to have formed an alliance with the villains. Katie works to gather signatures to get Madeline on the ballot, helps her with debate prep, and promotes her pro-education, pro-animal rights platform, all while negotiating some sticky social stuff within her friend group, especially with her best friend Beth. Beth reveals that she has auditioned to attend an elite performing arts school, and Katie is devastated at the idea that they won’t be together the next school year, and the slight rift that results has a ripple effect among their other friends.
When Madeline’s campaign team (consisting of neighbors Benito and James, Katie and her mother, as well as Madeline’s 200 superskilled cats) seek to uncover the Mayor’s connection with the city’s villains, Katie and her mom go undercover to Villain Con, a convention being held at Coney Island. While there, Katie is surprised to encounter some of her friends and their families, and begins to wonder how she can ever be sure who is a villain and who is a hero. The political plot thickens as teachers are being replaced due to suspected heroism and people are getting arrested on the streets for doing kind acts, all leading up to the candidates’ debate on the eve of the election. There is a great deal of tension while Katie and company wait for the results of the election as well as Beth’s audition; neither turns out quite as expected but both lead to meaningful change.
Unlike other books in this popular series, Villain Con is mostly talk and not a lot of action. Katie’s fans might be disappointed by the lack of fighting, high-tech gadgetry, and superhero activity, but will certainly enjoy the dramatic twists and turns of both the mayoral race and the friendship issues. As always, Katie is trying to balance her work as Madeline’s sidekick with her social life; keeping Madeline’s true identity a secret is harder than ever in this installment but also seems to be less crucial. Readers will take to heart the many not-so-subtle social justice-themed messages embedded in the story: teachers as the real superheroes, the importance of election integrity and voting rights, and the value of self-identity and self-expression. The illustration style is reminiscent of many popular graphic novel artists, but the attention to detail is noteworthy. Fast-paced scenes with lots of snappy dialog are presented in an easy-to-follow panel format; pop culture references, humorous superhero names, and the identification of each cat’s special talent (“Boumi: Haberdasher; Jolie: Hacker”) will warrant multiple re-reads. Notes from the author and illustrator are included at the end, featuring highlights of their recent joint book tour. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
When Madeline’s campaign team (consisting of neighbors Benito and James, Katie and her mother, as well as Madeline’s 200 superskilled cats) seek to uncover the Mayor’s connection with the city’s villains, Katie and her mom go undercover to Villain Con, a convention being held at Coney Island. While there, Katie is surprised to encounter some of her friends and their families, and begins to wonder how she can ever be sure who is a villain and who is a hero. The political plot thickens as teachers are being replaced due to suspected heroism and people are getting arrested on the streets for doing kind acts, all leading up to the candidates’ debate on the eve of the election. There is a great deal of tension while Katie and company wait for the results of the election as well as Beth’s audition; neither turns out quite as expected but both lead to meaningful change.
Unlike other books in this popular series, Villain Con is mostly talk and not a lot of action. Katie’s fans might be disappointed by the lack of fighting, high-tech gadgetry, and superhero activity, but will certainly enjoy the dramatic twists and turns of both the mayoral race and the friendship issues. As always, Katie is trying to balance her work as Madeline’s sidekick with her social life; keeping Madeline’s true identity a secret is harder than ever in this installment but also seems to be less crucial. Readers will take to heart the many not-so-subtle social justice-themed messages embedded in the story: teachers as the real superheroes, the importance of election integrity and voting rights, and the value of self-identity and self-expression. The illustration style is reminiscent of many popular graphic novel artists, but the attention to detail is noteworthy. Fast-paced scenes with lots of snappy dialog are presented in an easy-to-follow panel format; pop culture references, humorous superhero names, and the identification of each cat’s special talent (“Boumi: Haberdasher; Jolie: Hacker”) will warrant multiple re-reads. Notes from the author and illustrator are included at the end, featuring highlights of their recent joint book tour. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
July 20, 2026
Katie is trying hard to help Ms Lang make it in the mayoral campaign. Things are made more challenging as the current Mayor makes superheroes, super equipment, lairs, and all things related illegal to even talk about, let alone show up. Her skateboarding friends are all obsessing about getting into an arts/music/theater school next year or the year after and Katie is afraid of being left out and losing them in the coming years. But at least she thinks she might have a big break when she gets her hands on tickets to Villain Con for her and her mom, where Katie hopes she can get proof that the current mayor is a supervillain.
Grumpy neighbors to the rescue! Oh, ahem, forget I ever said that. I like that the author mixes in all the superhero fun with some real world problems readers can relate to (like friends going to a different school and having to learn how to be honest with friends about your likes and dislikes even when it differs from theirs). I love Katie and her mom's relationship, and the good group of friends and neighbors they have around to support them and those in their circle (like Ms. Lang and Beth's mom others the anti-super laws hit hardest). It's a fun superhero/cat/friendship graphic novel.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Katie is white American, Ms Lang is Black American, Beth is half Latina American, and I think another friend is Asian American.
LGBTQ+ content: I don't remember anything.
Other: Someone is trying to rig the vote but realizes the error of their ways, confesses, and drops out of the race.
Grumpy neighbors to the rescue! Oh, ahem, forget I ever said that. I like that the author mixes in all the superhero fun with some real world problems readers can relate to (like friends going to a different school and having to learn how to be honest with friends about your likes and dislikes even when it differs from theirs). I love Katie and her mom's relationship, and the good group of friends and neighbors they have around to support them and those in their circle (like Ms. Lang and Beth's mom others the anti-super laws hit hardest). It's a fun superhero/cat/friendship graphic novel.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Katie is white American, Ms Lang is Black American, Beth is half Latina American, and I think another friend is Asian American.
LGBTQ+ content: I don't remember anything.
Other: Someone is trying to rig the vote but realizes the error of their ways, confesses, and drops out of the race.
July 17, 2026
I’m still so thrilled that this series exists and kids get to read this. Colleen Venable is so sneaky! On the surface it is about cats who are superheroes, but there’s also the plot where Katie’s neighbor, Madeline, is running for mayor because she wants to make a real difference in her city. I’ve never seen a story that tackles politics and voting in such a graceful way. Any young audience can read this and understand the impacts that leadership has on a community and the individual people in it. It never talks down to the audience, never over explains or gets preachy, and there wasn’t one moment where I was bored. It was funny and entertaining, and now I’m inspired to go out and get involved in my community. Colleen, Stephanie, please don’t stop making Katie the Catsitter books! Keep inspiring our kids to take over the world!!
July 17, 2026
Katie the Catsitter: The Animated Series NOW.
I demand this.
Katie the Catsitter, book #5: Villain Con by Colleen AF Venable & Stephanie Yue
Reading history:
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!
Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept on a small piece of paper with the book.
Started July 11th, 2026.
Finished July 12th, 2026.
July 11th, 2026: read chapters 1-6 (pp. 1-100) + chapter 7 (pp. 101-105) in physical copy.
July 12th, 2026: read chapter 7 (pp. 106-110) + chapters 8-13 (pp. 111-213) in physical copy.
I demand this.
Katie the Catsitter, book #5: Villain Con by Colleen AF Venable & Stephanie Yue
Reading history:
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!
Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept on a small piece of paper with the book.
Started July 11th, 2026.
Finished July 12th, 2026.
July 11th, 2026: read chapters 1-6 (pp. 1-100) + chapter 7 (pp. 101-105) in physical copy.
July 12th, 2026: read chapter 7 (pp. 106-110) + chapters 8-13 (pp. 111-213) in physical copy.
July 3, 2026
This is amazing!! A perfect ending to our beloved series. It's thanks to my little sister that I was one of the first to read this; the day it came out she encouraged me to put a hold on it at our library. So you can be assured it is a big hit with middle schoolers, as well as young adults like me who like a fun, light read :)
I'm so glad Katie stays true to herself even amidst some changes to her friend group and favorite heroes. Loved learning more about the backstory of Mrs. Piper and the mayor! And Lupe's family!!
I'm so glad Katie stays true to herself even amidst some changes to her friend group and favorite heroes. Loved learning more about the backstory of Mrs. Piper and the mayor! And Lupe's family!!
July 16, 2026
I really enjoy this series- and I love recommending it to my students!
It’s got a silly side to it (how can it not? With those cats!!!) and also a serious side, that tackles some great topics.
Perfect for middle grade readers who like realistic fiction & animals!
It’s got a silly side to it (how can it not? With those cats!!!) and also a serious side, that tackles some great topics.
Perfect for middle grade readers who like realistic fiction & animals!
Want to Read
April 18, 2026This contains huge spoilers . do u still want to read this? If u have not read book, don't read this.
HAVE NOT READ YET
HAVE NOT READ YET
July 23, 2026
4,5/5
I loved the romance sideplot with Arelene❤️❤️❤️
I loved the romance sideplot with Arelene❤️❤️❤️
July 23, 2026
Not the best book in the series, but still so much fun! I feel like these books are the spiritual successors to Squirrel Girl by Ryan North.
July 25, 2026
I love this series so much!! Katie is such a good character, and I loved the storyline of this one. And as always, the cats were so fun!!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews