What do you think?
Rate this book
Petscapade
Five friends join together to form the Mystery Book Club. However, what starts as a fun Saturday afternoon meet-up, soon develops into an investigation. Someone is stealing cats in the neighbourhood. Guided by the books they love, the friends search for the culprit. Will they be able to catch the thief before he strikes again?
A coming of age tale set in the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, the story takes the youngsters through an adult world of prejudice and social norms. As they attempt to solve the mystery, they also learn to navigate new waters.
This will also appeal to lovers of cozy mysteries and vintage settings like the well-loved Enid Blyton books, and bring in a new era of amateur sleuths.
A coming of age tale set in the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, the story takes the youngsters through an adult world of prejudice and social norms. As they attempt to solve the mystery, they also learn to navigate new waters.
This will also appeal to lovers of cozy mysteries and vintage settings like the well-loved Enid Blyton books, and bring in a new era of amateur sleuths.
ebook
5 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 6, 2019
**Actual Rating 3.5**
Overall
Cute read for kids who like mysteries involving multiple kiddos. I struggled with some of the situations being genuine but they were entertaining. The most genuine part of the story was the varied adult responses to the children's shenanigans. Some where very supportive while others were against their choices/involvement. That was a very good lesson. A secondary part of the story that was very heartening to read, were the cultural difference between Sri Lanka and the U.S. For those who don't live in that region, they could benefit from seeing what other cultures are like (such as not being able to bring books home, servants, and the strict social interactions of children from bothering neighbors and the like). One drawback was the adult-like dialogue for such young children - I wasn't sure if this was something common in Sri Lanka.
Rating
3.5 Stars (rounded up)
The case of the missing cat isn't the most interesting part of this story but acts as a platform for multiple lessons. For sure a children's book.
Where did I get it?
I received a copy from the author. This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.
Overall
Cute read for kids who like mysteries involving multiple kiddos. I struggled with some of the situations being genuine but they were entertaining. The most genuine part of the story was the varied adult responses to the children's shenanigans. Some where very supportive while others were against their choices/involvement. That was a very good lesson. A secondary part of the story that was very heartening to read, were the cultural difference between Sri Lanka and the U.S. For those who don't live in that region, they could benefit from seeing what other cultures are like (such as not being able to bring books home, servants, and the strict social interactions of children from bothering neighbors and the like). One drawback was the adult-like dialogue for such young children - I wasn't sure if this was something common in Sri Lanka.
Rating
3.5 Stars (rounded up)
The case of the missing cat isn't the most interesting part of this story but acts as a platform for multiple lessons. For sure a children's book.
Where did I get it?
I received a copy from the author. This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.
December 23, 2018
Petscapade is the story of four girls and a boy, 9 years old, who form a mystery book club. When a purebred kitten goes missing they decide to use their knowledge to solve the mystery of whether the cat has wandered off or been stolen. The novel starts out quite slowly and the reader needs to show patience as this is a gently paced book. The cover fails to inform or interest the reader.
About a quarter of the way through the novel I discovered it was taking place in Sri Lanka. I'm not sure if I missed that indicator earlier on. It's important to realize this as the way that children speak is unusually articulate and adult for 9 year olds.
"Yes, it is rather," agreed Lal, with a grin.
There are several cultural behaviors that may strike North Americans as unusual if they are not aware of the context. For example, the children are not allowed to bring fiction books to school to read and their social interactions are strictly controlled. Once the reader realizes the environment, it becomes quite intriguing to learn new customs and terms.
The story is told in a straightforward manner with little emotion. However, There are moments of humor.
Cara laughed. "If every grumpy person is a criminal, we would all be in jail!"
The author doesn't shy away from controversial viewpoints.I think this book should launch some interesting discussions about our abysmal treatment of animals such as supporting pet stores, eating meat, and abandoning pets.
I'm not sure political remarks belong in a book for 9 year olds though.
"And she is Tamil..." Amal broke off.
There is one beautiful paragraph that will give food for thought.
"I have taught my son that sometimes, you need to intervene to help others. I don't believe in sitting on the sidelines watching the world fall apart. Children must be taught to take whatever action they can to make the world a better place."
The case of the missing cat, which turns out to be cats actually, is resolved positively even though the children are discouraged and sometimes condemned for their actions in trying to locate the missing kitten. The lesson of perseverance is worthwhile.
About a quarter of the way through the novel I discovered it was taking place in Sri Lanka. I'm not sure if I missed that indicator earlier on. It's important to realize this as the way that children speak is unusually articulate and adult for 9 year olds.
"Yes, it is rather," agreed Lal, with a grin.
There are several cultural behaviors that may strike North Americans as unusual if they are not aware of the context. For example, the children are not allowed to bring fiction books to school to read and their social interactions are strictly controlled. Once the reader realizes the environment, it becomes quite intriguing to learn new customs and terms.
The story is told in a straightforward manner with little emotion. However, There are moments of humor.
Cara laughed. "If every grumpy person is a criminal, we would all be in jail!"
The author doesn't shy away from controversial viewpoints.I think this book should launch some interesting discussions about our abysmal treatment of animals such as supporting pet stores, eating meat, and abandoning pets.
I'm not sure political remarks belong in a book for 9 year olds though.
"And she is Tamil..." Amal broke off.
There is one beautiful paragraph that will give food for thought.
"I have taught my son that sometimes, you need to intervene to help others. I don't believe in sitting on the sidelines watching the world fall apart. Children must be taught to take whatever action they can to make the world a better place."
The case of the missing cat, which turns out to be cats actually, is resolved positively even though the children are discouraged and sometimes condemned for their actions in trying to locate the missing kitten. The lesson of perseverance is worthwhile.
November 18, 2018
Kids who like animals will be interested in this story of the Mystery Book Club's search to find Precious the kitten after it turns up missing. The book is set in Sri Lanka, opening up a unique world to me as an American. The author did a good job describing the sights and sounds and daily life in her country that includes regular families having maids, cooks and chauffeurs, something not seen in many Western countries. The police were called when the cat disappeared, which was strange to me as one would be penalized for alerting the authorities for something like that in the U.S. I also wondered why the parents were threatening to punish the kids for asking neighbors about the missing cat. It seemed natural to me that they'd be doing all they could to find a beloved pet. These are cultural differences that can teach children about how life differs around the world. A copy of this book was provided to me by the author for an honest review.
August 13, 2018
A fun, engaging meow-done-it that will appeal to YA and Not So YA readers alike. The characters are people you want to spend time with, and yet each comes complete with flaws. The dialog is clever without feeling staged or forced. But what really impressed me about the book were two things. First off, I was happy to spend time in a world where kids DID something besides just posting endless selfies. Secondly, I was surprised by the story's depth and nuance; how authority figures, whether parents or policemen, were sometimes supportive and open-hearted, sometimes closed-minded instead. And when the mystery is finally solved, both reader and sleuths learn a valuable lesson: wrongdoing can result not from evil, but confusion and human failings.
Here's hoping there's a sequel soon. Our cats are already getting antsy.
Here's hoping there's a sequel soon. Our cats are already getting antsy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews