Real Hamsters Don't Bite

by Alexis Cleoford

The truth is not only fur deep...

52 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2017

About the author

Would you like a free comedy about cats? Send your request to writtenstoryplanet@gmail.com.

Alexis is the author of the Mighty and Brennon middle- grade book series. Alexis writes children’s books, comedy, and YA books. She also volunteers at a cat and dog shelter as well as helps animals of all shapes and sizes as best she can.

Reviews

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title, Real Hamsters Don't Bite, caught my attention. It's available as an e-book, and author Alexis Cleoford generously sent me a copy. It's the story of housecats Mighty and Brennon, who understand themselves and all their neighborhood cats to be under attack from hamsters. Mighty is the decision-maker among the cats, and decides that they need an adventure to the magical realm advertised as Cat Land in order to escape their worries, accompanied by melted cheese that appears to be falling from the sky.

All told, the book has some good background information on cats, including foods that are either bad for them or downright toxic to them; it tackles the spectrum of naughty behavior on through full-on bullying and its consequences; demonstrates the importance of compromise, mutual accommodation, and goal-setting. There's some very good stuff here, but I was a bit confused by the reference to bright and multi-colored lettering--aren't cats partially color-blind, just like dogs? Likewise, the part where the owners gave the cats showers (vs. baths--most notably a flea bath) at the end of their (mis)adventures was a little curious. On balance, however, this is a cute series and a great book to have in your kindle or e-reader for those "OMG I need a kid's book ASAP situations."

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Close encounters of the cat kind is this whimsical tale of two cats, Mighty and Brennon, who feel like there’s more to life. At least that’s Mighty’s viewpoint. Brennon basically sees life is good as is.

The idea of a change of pace happens when Mighty and Brennon are in the dungeon, a.k.a., pet hotel. Even though they have fresh water and food, Mighty knows this dungeon is not a good place to be; there has to be something better. Something grand where cats are treated like royalty. Well, such a place exist, or so thinks Mighty as he spies out the perfect place on TV. That place: Cat Land. As they ponder this fantastic place, yellow goo falls from the sky and they are attacked by hamsters. The persistent rodents keep it up and the cats realize they have to find Cat Land and get away from all this terrible sky fall and cat smashing rodents.

The adventure begins as Mighty and reluctant Brennon travel to find this exotic cat paradise. Along the way, Mighty and Brennon meet an assortment of other cats and learn the real reason behind the yellow skyfall as well as why the hamsters are attacking cats. The real reason will surprise the reader.

Real Hamsters Don’t Bite by Alexis Cleoford is a tale kids 8-12 will certainly enjoy. Told from Mighty’s perspective, one gets a glimpse into the world of cats, fictitious, but with a sprinkling of true cat facts.

[The Bookish Panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to thank Ela at Written Story Planet for sending me a free e-book copy of Real Hamsters Don't Bite in exhchange for an honest review.
All thoughts are my own.

I received my copy today and finished it while my one year old took his nap. This is a middle grade chapter book about two cats, Mighty and Brennon, they are unhappy at being left at a pet day care. Mighty sees an add for a place called Catland and he imagines it to be a wonderful place where cats are pampered. He decides he wants to leave home and convinces Brennon to go with him. There is also an issue about hamsters attacking cats. Cats everywhere are surprised and confused and scared. Mighty and Brennon try to figure out what to do about that on their journey to catland.

I don't want to spoil it so I am going to stop describing it there. I gave it a 4 star, because I am way beyond the targetted audience, however, it is a cute, fun story that kept me intrigued and it is a quick read. I finished it in a day. I think when my one year old is enough to comprehend story time and able to read on his own, I think he may like this book. I would have no issues getting it for him as it is cute, clean, and fun.

( I was asked to post my review on Amazon, however I am having trouble getting it posted. So this same review will get posted as soon as I can get it uploaded.)

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

My TBR read-down continues with this short novella from author Alexis Cleoford, who generously emailed me a PDF of her book, Real Hamsters Don't Bite. It's the first book in an humorous animal series, Mighty & Brennon. Mighty and Brennon are two housecats who are not thrilled about being sent to a "pet hotel" while their humans are on vacation. When they arrive home, Mighty - the leader - decides it's time to strike out on and find Cat Land, a sort of paradise for cats, where they're treated as they should be (remember, people used to worship cats: they have never forgotten this). They also stumble onto a mystery: hamsters are attacking cats! But... real hamsters don't bite, do they?

Real Hamsters Don't Bite is a novella - only about 50 pages - and is available via ebook or paperback through Amazon. Narrated in the first person by Mighty, the bolder cat of the two, there's some humor and a sense of adventure. Brennon is the more cautious of the two, giving readers a nice little dramatic - and fun - foil to play off of. Black and line drawings throughout add some interest. Give Real Hamsters Don't Bite a shot if you have animal fiction fans.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author sent me a free copy to review, so I sent back my thoughts in a rather disjointed way over time. Or at least it felt like it took me forever to get down to it.
In public, I will tell you, please read this charming novella which concerns the lives of two kitties named Mighty and Brennon when they have to unfortunately stay at a Pet Hotel. It might be coming to your library soon.

This book is aimed at a middle-school crowd, but please don't let that stop you, there are still many gems in here to treasure. It definitely reminded me of when I was the target age, cross-referencing all the strange terminology I found across a few dictionaries, or at least talking words like Toxoplasma Gondii out with whomever I encountered. (toxoplasmosis is the #1 reason why you have to clean out your litter boxes every day!)

So I definitely enjoyed Real Hamsters Don't Bite, and I think that all the research behind it was valid.

[Ellen Pilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real Hamsters Don’t Bite: Mighty and Brennon Run Away to FInd Cat Land and Unzip the Truth by Alexis Cleoford is a wonderful children’s book. It is a chapter book for grades 4-9, but could easily be read aloud to younger children as well and is even fun for adults.

Two cats, Brennon and Mighty are not happy about having to stay at a Pet Hotel so once their parents pick them up from there, they decided to run away and find Cat Land where cats are treated the way they wish to be treated. Along the way, they discover cats are being tortured by hamsters and decide to put a stop to that.

I enjoyed the writing style as well as little bits of information about cats that children will learn as they read the story. For example, we learn some foods are poisonous to cats like onions. I highly recommend this book for any age. I look forward to reading more in the series.
*Disclaimer- I received a free ebook in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.

[Jenelle Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually received a free copy of this, but then I decided to buy it anyways. My daughter and I were supposed to be reading it at the same time, but she reads slow. And I accidentally finished it.

I really liked this. I thought it was funny and well written from a cat's point of view. My only complaint is that I occasionally got a little confused? But that isn't a real complaint, because I am not a cat. Everything from a cat perspective meant that sometimes it took me a bit to figure what the heck Mighty was describing. But that amused me.
I thought this was fun and entertaining, I really liked Mighty and his quest.

I'm waiting to hear what my daughter thinks. She seems to like this book, she's a really really big fan of cats, even if she isn't a big reader.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received this book for free from the author.
It is a simple short chapter book, aimed for young readers.
The story is simple and captures the imagination of the life of two cats as they go on an adventure.
The writing is good and takes on the voice of a cat pretty well. It definitely is a kids book, but some of the words are a bit big for a young age group.
The story seems a bit disjointed at times, but is still simple and easy to follow.
Overall, a decent book from a young author.

[Sadie Forsythe]

Won through Goodreads. An odd children's book, in the sense that I'm not sure the age range it's aiming for. Being a chapter book I would think ones a bit older, but the writing is a little amateurish for older children. Conversely, some of the words are too large or younger ones. So, I'm left uncertain.

Similarly, the anthropomorphized cats seem to have an unbalanced knowledge. They know how to read, use a map, what transportation and TV's are, but can't recognize a cow.

All in all however, it's not a bad little book. The voice sounds very cat-like, in that it's aloof, scattered and easily distracted. That makes for an unfocused read, but works for a cat. And while, as an adult, I might have technical questions, a child might truly enjoy it. I'll pass it my kiddos and see if it's the 7 or 10-year-old that likes it better.