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The Tale of the Curious Cat
An Eye for an Eye!
Natalie Holland has always been a bit too curious for her own good. She knows she should just mind her own business, but she can't resist the unknown. When Natalie and her little sister Carey stop at a strange booth at the local crafts fair, Natalie is instantly drawn to both Shadow, a sinister-looking black cat, and the carved wooden cat behind a sign that says, "BEWARE! DO NOT TOUCH." Curious Natalie can't resist. But the minute she picks up the carved cat, she sets off a chain of events that ends when Shadow races off his perch. . .and straight into a speeding car.
Shadow's mysterious owner Wanda vows Natalie will pay for her curiosity. Shadow is waiting to return from the dead--and Natalie is going to help him. Unfortunately, she only has one life to give. . .
Natalie Holland has always been a bit too curious for her own good. She knows she should just mind her own business, but she can't resist the unknown. When Natalie and her little sister Carey stop at a strange booth at the local crafts fair, Natalie is instantly drawn to both Shadow, a sinister-looking black cat, and the carved wooden cat behind a sign that says, "BEWARE! DO NOT TOUCH." Curious Natalie can't resist. But the minute she picks up the carved cat, she sets off a chain of events that ends when Shadow races off his perch. . .and straight into a speeding car.
Shadow's mysterious owner Wanda vows Natalie will pay for her curiosity. Shadow is waiting to return from the dead--and Natalie is going to help him. Unfortunately, she only has one life to give. . .
- GenresHorror
119 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 1996
About the author
Diana G. Gallagher
158 books57 followersDiana G. Gallagher was an American author who wrote books for children and young adults. She also wrote the space opera The Alien Dark (1990), but was best known for her tie-in work for television properties including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed, Star Trek and The Secret World of Alex Mack, among others.
She was also a prolific filk creator, winning Pegasus Awards in 1986 and ’94. Gallagher won a Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist in 1988 under the name Diana Gallagher Wu. She sometimes also wrote under the name Diana Burke.
Born in 1946, in Paterson, New Jersey, she lived in Florida with her husband, the writer Martin R. Burke, who predeceased her in 2011. Gallagher was married four times; her third marriage was to author William F. Wu (divorced 1990).
Gallagher died December 2, 2021 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75 years of age.
She was also a prolific filk creator, winning Pegasus Awards in 1986 and ’94. Gallagher won a Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist in 1988 under the name Diana Gallagher Wu. She sometimes also wrote under the name Diana Burke.
Born in 1946, in Paterson, New Jersey, she lived in Florida with her husband, the writer Martin R. Burke, who predeceased her in 2011. Gallagher was married four times; her third marriage was to author William F. Wu (divorced 1990).
Gallagher died December 2, 2021 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75 years of age.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 29, 2025
I was really looking forward to this one as I tend to love cat-themed horror whether it be witchcraft-like or killer animal or whatever... but this one ended up being sooo disappointing and probably my least favorite AYAOTD book I've read so far.
Can't recommend this one.
Can't recommend this one.
June 9, 2019
I really enjoyed this one! It’s definitely my kind of story! It was “Pet Semetary” meets “The Tale of the Twisted Claw.” Betty Ann was perfect for telling the tale!
Siblings were involved in this one but it more so dealt with a character flaw of one of the siblings. Natalie is curious to a fault. Like her curiosity gets her and others into trouble and she never pays the price or takes responsibility...everyone else has to on her behalf. Her curiosity gets the best of her at a town fair and she ends up killing this cat. The lady that owns the cat, Shadow, is a total witch or dabbles in black magic and she makes her pay the price.
Siblings were involved in this one but it more so dealt with a character flaw of one of the siblings. Natalie is curious to a fault. Like her curiosity gets her and others into trouble and she never pays the price or takes responsibility...everyone else has to on her behalf. Her curiosity gets the best of her at a town fair and she ends up killing this cat. The lady that owns the cat, Shadow, is a total witch or dabbles in black magic and she makes her pay the price.
June 29, 2019
This one sort of reminded me of the episode where the girl “sells” her internal traits to become beautiful and popular. Since that was always one of my favorite episodes, I enjoyed this book perhaps more than I should have.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews