Leonard

by Carlie Sorosiak

He’s not a stray house cat, he’s an immortal being. And now he must choose whether to return to his planet or remain with his new human friend in a humorous, heart-tugging story from the author of I, Cosmo.

The cat that Olive rescues from a flood has a secret: he’s not really a cat at all, but an alien who crashed to Earth on a beam of light. The cat, whom Olive names Leonard, was prepared to visit the planet as a human—but something went wrong. Now Leonard may never know what it’s like to hold an umbrella, go bowling, or host a dinner party. (And his human jokes still need some work: Knock, knock. Who’s there? Just Leonard. It is me.) While Olive worries about whether she will have to move after her mom and her new boyfriend get back from their summer vacation, Leonard tries to figure out how to get from South Carolina to Yellowstone National Park, because if he’s not there at the end of the month, he’ll miss his ride home. But as Olive teaches Leonard about the beautiful and confusing world of humans, he starts to realize how much he cares about this particular one. A sweet and dryly funny story about what it means to be human—and what it means to be home.

Genres: Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Animals, Audiobook, Fiction, Childrens, Cats

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2020

About the author

Carlie Sorosiak is the bestselling author of I, COSMO, as well as two novels for young adults, IF BIRDS FLY BACK and WILD BLUE WONDER. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @carliesorosiak.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a galaxy far, far away, beings are immortal. Each being, to celebrate one’s 300th birthday, is allowed to visit Earth for one month. The being can take on any form it likes… penguin, elephant, or human etc…and spend that month experiencing life on Earth in the chosen form. The beings study life on Earth by watching things like I Love Lucy shows. One of these aliens has been planning his trip to Earth for quite a while, and he is ready to take his place as a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park. He has dreamed of his month on Earth. Leonard says, “I’d … carry many useful things in my pockets: a Swiss Army knife, a butterfly net, a variety of pens for writing. Humor is a valued trait among humans, so for an entire year, I exclusively prepared jokes.” He wants to hold an umbrella in his hands, and he really can’t wait to have hands. But sometimes excitement overcomes one and one loses focus. This is what happens to our little alien. He loses focus on his way to Yellowstone, and instead of becoming a park ranger there for the month; he becomes a cat in South Carolina, rescued from a storm by an eleven-year-old girl named Olive. I absolutely loved every word of this book. It made me laugh out loud, it had lots of tension to keep the pages turning, and it brought me to tears. The story concept is unique, the characters are all believable and interesting, there is lots of humor, and the writing is spectacular. Every human that is or was ever owned by a cat…or an alien…should read this little treasure.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest opinion. The views expressed by this reviewer are entirely my own.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It's so cute and heartwarming. I love Leonard. Wow, this is a book I really needed to read right now. I highly recommend to all pet lovers. Also, how can you resist a book with such a cute cover?

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here Puss Puss Puss.

You know how The Borg are a "hive mind"? Well, that's kind of what Leonard starts out as. An immortal spirit, part of a collective. BUT, every 300 years they get a month on Earth in the body of one of its creatures. Leonard wanted to be a Park Ranger based in Yellowstone, but somewhere on the way to Earth, he miscalculated and ended up in the body of a stray cat...in the middle of a storm...stuck up a tree! Lucky for him, 10 y.o. Olive rescues him in Grandma's boat; much to Grandma Norma's displeasure. This then, is the story of Olive and her alien-infested cat, and it's a bloody good story at that. The plot is interesting and different, and the writing style is easy-going and relaxed. The ending is beautiful and heart-warming. Psst...don't tell anyone, but I even had a wee tear in my eye.

I think this is supposed to be a children's book, but any gal or bloke of any age would like this. It's so original and different. I was so impressed, that if we get a cat before we die, (and I'm sure we will), I'm going to call it Leonard...unless it's a female...and I'll still call it Leonard.

Best book I've read in a while. Good onya Carlie. 🐈‍⬛🐈😻😽😸

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find yourself, even if where you find yourself is on another planet, in a strange body, with a seemingly unlimited supply of fur.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, funny story about found family. Leonard's thoughts about cleaning himself made me laugh out loud.

[Hally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept, quirky humorous writing, warm tone, life-affirming message. If you like aliens and/or cats and want to be reminded of your love for the messy human experience then you'll appreciate this lovely little read.

[Nisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Haig'in İnsanlar kitabını biraz anımsattı. Bilmiyorum ilk hangi kitap yazılmış ama bu kitap bir canlı olarak bir yere bir aileye ait hissetmenin güzelliğini anlatıyor. İçinizi ısıtan güzel bir kitaptı. Yazarın Ben Cosmo adlı kitabını da alıp okumayı planlıyorum.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

My granddaughter is reading this book for OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books). I decided to read it too, as we do that sometimes, and then share our thoughts.
I enjoyed the book and felt that it had some lovely points about what family and belonging mean. I’m looking forward to comparing notes with my grandchild.

[Scarlett O · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 really cute but not my fave

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why was this young adult book more suspenseful, touching and yes, even insightful than most adult novels?! The choice to live each day is not a new theme for a book, but it still resonates deeply and seems fresh in this book.

It's a new take on the 'alien on earth' trope, and the characterization of Leonard, the alien accidentally transformed into a cat as opposed to a Yellowstone Park Ranger as he intended is both believable as an adult reading this, as well as age appropriate. This was a library read, but I'm going to buy my own copy.

[AquaMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really cute! The tone of the book reminded me a bit of Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures....except in place of a super-intelligent squirrel we have a super-intelligent alien trapped in the body of a house cat. Maybe Flora & Ulysses with a healthy dose of Lilo and Stitch mixed in.

Yeah...that's it!!

But know this: I'm a sucker for animal books. Especially ones featuring human/animal friendships (because animals can make the best kinds of friends)...and extra especially ones where the animal friend in question lives to see the end of the story (Good News: This is that sort of book!!). And this particular animal story especially resonated with me.

Firstly, the characters:
I adored Olive! She doesn't try to be something she's not. She is who she is and is ok with it...mostly. Yes, she's a bit unique and quirky, but this is what I liked best about her. Because I was that kid who was...a little different, a little odd, a little too introverted and a little too interested in observing my world rather than participating in it. That kid who related better to animals than to peers and preferred it that way. Truthfully, I still am that way. It's not something you outgrow. It's just something you learn to balance. Olive was awesome, though, and she was the perfect match for Leonard. And Leonard!! His (Their? I'm not sure the sort of creature they originally were before becoming a cat identified with genders. It would seem no...) character arc as he/they slowly became more and more catlike, as he/they learned about humanity and bonded with Olive... Gave me a big dose of the feels!! Even side characters like Q were well-rounded and full of color. The plot was adorable, but it was the characters that made this story what it is.

I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give too much away. But DO read it! It's a story that'll make you happy. And in these weird times, we ALL could use some happy!

But seriously, you guys. This book made me want to go find my cats and hug them. Especially Gizmo, the rescue cat who rescued me.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since starting work as a bookseller about a year ago, I've been reading far more children's fiction. I loved Carlie's book I, Cosmo (told from the perspective of a golden retriever) last year and was really excited when My Life as a Cat was announced. I loved it - thanks to Nosy Crow for the ARC.

In the story, aliens from Leonard's galaxy get to spend a month in the body of an Earth Creature on their 300th birthday. He had dreams of being a park ranger. He'd researched every part of it, longing to own the uniform, sleep in a tent, all of it. Except, something goes wrong, and Leonard becomes... a house cat. Luckily, young human Olive is around to rescue him.

With just a month to spend on Earth, and a whole lot of exploring to do - albeit without opposable thumbs - adventure ensues. This is a quirky, heartwarming story exploring what it means to be a human, discovered through the eyes of an alien cat. Perfect for young animal (and alien) lovers!

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conceptually, this sounded promising. An alien who accidentally becomes a cat! There's all kinds of plot-fodder there but the author presents us with a rather tame tale of a girl who has internalized a random remark by her mother's new boyfriend before being sent to spend the summer with her grandmother. By the end of the book, said boyfriend and mom have magically broken up with no explanation given and the alien has decided it likes being a cat with fEeLiNgS and being part of a family is superior to the hive mind existence on his home planet even though a hive is just a really big family. Maybe kids who really like cats would be into this but its mostly boring; it never plays out like there's anything actually at stake for the characters.

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher for review.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book filled me with so much joy and warm feelings, oh my goddd! An alien that is accidentally turned into a cat and befriends a human girl and learns about the goodness of humanity?! Yes, yes, triple yes!
I loved this book from the moment I started it. The joy and love of cat ownership is apparent on every page. I definitely cried many times because of big feelings.
I look at my cats with even more love and wonder, musing what if they were an alien life form that befriended and loves me.

I'm definitely going to suggest this in my library to any kid who loves animals, and especially to cat lovers.

Cat owners, prepare for big feelings!

[P.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you a cat person? Me ... not so much. Actually, not at all. But I loved this book because it was also about an alien who came to Earth to study humans. During his arrival he is almost drowned due to an error in his calculations. His error becomes his salvation when he is adopted by Olive who makes it her mission to help him return home even though that will break her heart. What made this book special is that it celebrated people who are different or weird in Olive's words. Today's world is too fixated on segregating the different and abandoning the weird. Individuality should be celebrated.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the cover doesn’t grab you, the story will. A fun story about the importance of family and what it means to be human and what it means to be home. I cannot wait to book talk this with my students.

[Natalie Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this made me so happy.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to have a cat called Leonard. A large orange tabby, my Leonard was composed, elegant, and very very cool. I don’t believe my Leonard was an alien, but then again - after reading this book, can anyone really be sure? 😆

Leonard (My Life as a Cat) is an absolutely wonderful romp of a book - you, (along with your middle-schooler) will laugh, will cry, and will be touched in places you thought you’d squirreled away deep within your heart.

Leonard tells the story of an alien en route to Earth for a one month educational jaunt as a visiting human. In this native alien world, emotions are not experienced, allowing humans to provide mountains of interesting data for alien discovery. (In a hilarious side-note, Leonard learns much of what he knows of humanity through research based on old tv episodes of I Love Lucy).

Unfortunately, Leonard’s plans for his visit go awry when he mistakenly ends up surfacing on earth in the body of cat, in a location thousands of miles from his intended travels. He is now totally dependent on human aid to allow him to make the rendezvous for his trip back home. Luckily for our hero alien (and the reader ), Leonard is rescued by a delightful eleven year-old, Olive, and along the way learns a lot about being human, being loved, and how it feels to meet one’s soul mate.

This book is charming, engaging and crazy laugh-out-loud funny in many places. I just have to call out a few of Leonard’s (as-a-cat-wishing-he-was-human) observations

🖊 Humans write books, share thoughts over coffee, and make things for absolutely zero reason.

🖊 I wanted to try a cheese sandwich. I wanted to go to the movies. I wanted to walk with someone by a river on a blistering hot summer day.

🖊 Do you know how lucky you are to have eyebrows? Do you?

🖊 Perhaps this is as close as humans will come to infinity: gazing out at the sea, toes in the water, feeling a part of something huge, yet being very, very small themselves

And finally, what it all comes down to:

🖊 All it really takes, she’s taught me, is one good friend.

5 stars for this lovely lovely book.

A big thank you to LibraryThing, Early Reviewers program, the publisher, Walker Books US, and the author, Carlie Sorosiak, for an advance review copy of this book. All thoughts presented are my own. ❤️

[whatbooknext · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a galaxy far away.... there is a planet that has a name indecipherable to humans. The beings on this planet don't have bodies or feelings or individual personalities. They are part of one being.

When they turn 300 years old, they have the opportunity to visit a planet called Earth and adopt the body of any creature they wish for one month. One alien has been looking forward to this visit for so long. It has studied humans at length and is fascinated in everything about them. It has chosen to be a Yellowstone Park Ranger, looking forward to camping in the outdoors and experiencing everything Nature has to offer.

But....on its way to Earth it is distracted and something goes wrong. He wakes in a cat's body stuck up a tree, with a raging flood below, in a terrible storm. Luckily for him, a young human has disobeyed orders to stay safely inside and she is on her way to save him.

The alien is soon named Leonard by the young human. Her name is Olive, and she is staying with her grandmother while her mum is holiday with her new boyfriend.

Leonard is confused. All his studies were on humans, not cats! He's not sure how to act, sleep, walk, or even eat like a cat. As he struggles with this unplanned existence, a new worry comes to him. He's nowhere near Yellowstone Park. His kind will not know where he is for his collection in a month's time!

This is a story for everyone, not only animal lovers. Leonard's observations of the humans around him are entertaining as are his struggles to behave like a cat to avoid detection. Soon the truth must be shared if Leonard is to go home.

Like in the movie E.T., Olive and Leonard get to know and understand each other well, even without the technology at their fingertips. It's also a story about extended family dynamics and self esteem and individuality when you are deemed different from your peers.

As a cat lover I was attracted instantly by the cover, and I truly enjoyed this story. It is so much more than an alien who becomes a cat who is saved by a girl.

From the author of multi-award winning - I, Cosmo, (about a dog and his boy), My life as a Cat has swiftly gathered its own awards as a great middle-great read.

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a wet and windy Sunday, and the smallest needed entertaining. I could not face another game of Monopoly or a rerun of the current favourite movie...so we took to the bookshelf to find a book as yet unread to curl up with together.
My Life as a Cat is a touching story about loneliness, friendship and acceptance masquerading as a children's story about an alien who finds himself in the wrong place. There was something for each of us to love in this...and we both have rather warm and fuzzy feelings for Leonard, the hero of our story.
Leonard is part of an alien race, and each member of this race gets the opportunity to come to Earth on their 300th birthday and experience life amongst humans for one month. They can take whatever form they like, and our character has researched his plans meticulously. Unfortunately for Leonard, something goes wrong on his journey and he ends up in the body of a stray cat, miles away from his intended destination of Yellowstone.
Thankfully Leonard is rescued by Olive, a young girl staying with her grandmother as her mother has a new boyfriend. She's dealing with the loss of her father, so Leonard becomes a handy companion to spend time with. There's trips to the aquarium where Olive's grandma works, and some wonderful scenes between Olive and Leonard once he establishes a way of telling her the truth about his identity.
From start to finish this book entertained us. We laughed, got a bit emotional and thoroughly enjoyed our adventure with Leonard.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly charming and heartwarming story about 2 creatures who just want somebody to love and to love them back. Leonard is an immortal alien whose trip to earth is messed up as he does not inhabit a human body, but that of a cat. He is also not in Yellowstone where his hive mind planet mates will pick him up in one month. He is rescued by Olive, an 11 year old who has been pawned off on her hippie grandmother for the summer as her mom and soon to be stepfather (who has nothing good to day to or about Olive) are looking for a new home. Desperate, Leonard communicates his situation with her, despite being advised never to trust a human. She is determined to get him back where he belongs on his home planet, but as time passes and Leonard gets used to grooming himself, eating crunchies, and feeling the surf on his paws, he wonders if it wouldn't be so bad to stay here with Olive even if it means becoming mortal.

I just loved this! Reminiscent of Charlotte's Web, and tugs at readers' heartstrings while examining the complexities of what it might mean to be human after all.

[bookholiczkaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

slodka, idelana na jeden wieczor ksiazka z literatury dzieciecej ktora jest zabawna i wzruszajaca, jest powiescia o tym co tak na prawdę znaczy miec rodzine. myslalam ze bedzie to najzwyklejsza ksiazeczka o slodziutkim, porzuconym kocie, przygarnietym przez mala dziewczynke. lecz nie. naszym głównym bohaterem jest kosmita Leonard ktory nie mial ani ciala ani najlepszego przyjeciela lecz ma sie to zmienic. mysle ze ksiazka spodoba sie dzieciom i tym mniejszym i tym troszeczke starszym ;)

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story about belonging, and the weird yet beautiful thing we call life. Lovely book for children who don't want bum jokes and dragon packed adventure, but something a little more gentle. Leonard the alien/cat and his friend Olive offer a tale that is fun to read, but also invites questions about belonging, and the nature of humanity.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when an alien accidentally downloads into a cat rather than a human and has a 1-month deadline to get from the East Coast to Yellowstone National Park for a ride home to his planet? That's the premise of the entire book. It's a cute idea. I was looking for a short audio book, and this fit at just 4 hours. It was mildly entertaining but nothing to write home about.

[Sabrina Apczynski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sort of read along with my daughter (10), she read it first and then handed it over to me with the directive to “Read”. Such an adorable, heart warming quick read. Lots of funny references and poignant observations about what it means to be human. Highly recommend.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for book club and didn't initially know that it was YA. I read it with my daughter and found it delightful. At once funny and poignant, it allowed me to discuss some important topics with her like what is love and what makes a family.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could I would give a higher rating.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leonard is a stray alien, not a stray cat. And now he must choose whether to return to his planet or remain with his new human friend Olive.

[Natalie Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute and heartwarming story. A little long for beginning readers but any cat lover will love to hear the thoughts of a cat.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've now read all 3 of Carlie Sorosiak's middle grade books and they are all perfectly delightful. If you love Secret Life of Pets stories, then any one of these books will make you smile.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it!! Reminded so much of our cats!!