Cat & Cat Adventures: Journey into Unibear City: A Graphic Novel

Cat & Cat Adventures #3

by Susie Yi

Squash and Ginny are on the case!  In this third snack-fueled adventure, the cats high-tail it back to the spirit realm to investigate a magical mystery.

The Dragon Witch’s magical artifact collection has  gone missing, and the whole forest is covered in mysterious slime ! Squash and Ginny follow clues to places old and new, like Mewmaid Ocean, Bum Bum Bog, and eventually to a  secret tunnel  that leads beneath Unibear City, the hub of the spirit realm. Deep underground, Squash and Ginny discover a conniving plot by a dangerous new foe. They rush to recover the artifacts, stop the slime, and save the day—and quick!  Otherwise, life in the spirit realm may never be the same… 

Genres: Graphic Novels, Cats, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Comics, Animals, Fiction

96 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2023

About the author

Author-illustrator of graphic novels.

Based in Orange County, California, I’m often in an oversized sweater drawing, writing, and enjoying some video games.

I received my BA in molecular & cellular biology from Harvard University and a MS in computer science from the University of Chicago. For many years, I worked in healthcare and then tech, before serendipity and passion took me along for a creative pivot.

Because of my experience in different industries and experiences, I’ve been able to see many perspectives. In my storytelling, I love to combine my personal memories along with diverse life experiences and thoughtful messages for both kids and adults alike.

Reviews

[AquaMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So yeah... I preordered this and it arrived in my hands yesterday.

This is such a cute series, and this third book is no exception. Here we find Squash and Ginny, our snack-obsessed feline friends, getting an emergency call for help from their friends in the Magical Realm, where the snacks are (apparently) superior to anything that can be found this side of the portal. Apparently a mysterious evil is afoot. And it is stealing all the magical artifacts. And kidnapping anyone who dares try to stop it. The only clue is a trail of slime and some strange footprints.

And do our friends accept the challenge? Of course!

And do they save the day again? Absolutely!

No spoilers, though.

This third volume of Cat & Cat Adventures calls back to the first two books, revisiting familiar places and welcoming back old friends. It also sets up the plot for what is sure to be a lengthy series...or at least another handful of books.

So far this series has been adorable and lots of fun. I'm hoping it continues to be so.

[Katarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute graphic novel for kids, the characters are adorable and funny, there is a bit of a mystery, cats and unicorn.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorably illustrated book with the cutest expressions! I’m amazed at all the thought and detail in every scene. So happy seeing the third adventure of Squash and Ginny!

[el (celestialbronz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susie Yi really has a gift for telling heartwarming story nicely

[Proserpine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was witty and captivating. Squash and Ginny are always so lovely🥹🧡🤍

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still cute! If only environmentalism were as easy as defeating one evil unibear and a menacing yet adorable robot.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

adorable!! susie yi i love your adorable art

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to pick up a third Cat & Cat at indie bookstore day. My niece and I loved the first two and this one was just as funny, cute, and kind as the first two. Excited for future adventures with Squash and Ginny.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squash and Ginny are relaxing at home when they get an urgent call from Willow. Someone has stolen all the magical artifacts Willow was guarding and they left weird purple slime everywhere. It's a huge mess and mystery. Ginny and Squash quickly travel to the magical world to help clean up and follow the trail to hopefully recover the magical artifacts.

Another fun quest in the magical world with two kind cats. This is a delightful series for fantasy adventure fans just getting into middle grade level reading. The cats get to revisit places they've been to in previous adventures and see old friends, while also being genuinely helpful, meeting new friends, uncovering a dastardly plot, and getting new magical assignments for the future. The art style is cute and the text is larger and clearer (and more succinct) than a lot of other middle grade graphic novels, making this a good pick for reluctant readers and kids with visual acuity issues.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Being slimed captured or slimed is the worst thing experienced by anyone in the book.
Ethnic diversity: N/A in this fantasy realm
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: The magical world is called the Spirit World, but it is just full of mythical and fantasy creatures, not really spirits or ghosts or anything like that.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ginny and her one-eyed friend Squash are cats who have an active detective spirit that comes alive at night while their human is asleep. The action gets going right away when their dragon friend Willow knocks on their window to ask for the cats’ help solving several mysteries, that may be related. Yucky green slime is everywhere, and the Dragon Witch’s magical artifact collection has been stolen. Their investigations take the friends underneath Unibear City to the Spirit World, where they meet new foes but ultimately make new friends and solve the mystery.

This cozy magical fantasy should have early elementary cat-loving readers excited for the other books in the series. Yi does a nice job of referring to the other two books throughout this story, so it’s fine to read it out of order. The vivid digital art, which channels “the endless source of energy that only cats sitting in your lap can provide…” makes the fantastical journey and the many other animals that Ginny and Squash meet a fun adventure. There’s a map, and even a maze that readers can trace. None of the monsters are truly terrible, and the cats are adorable.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute graphic novel for kids who love to read, but still want plenty of images while they do it.

My daughter loves this series, and we've read all of them as part of our long distance reading sessions with grandparents. Journey into Unibear City features Squash and Ginny revisiting friends and destinations from the former two books while solving yet another mystery. This adventure is full of cute animals doing their best in the name of conservation and sets up the potential for many additional books. It's a colorful, playful way to address big topics (like environmentalism) in a way that's easy for kids to understand.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

At face value this series would be okay, and I tried really hard to take it that way, but at the end when you have the king talking, it sounds just like someone saying, "All cars must change to "green energy."" (Which is untrue, because electric cars are worse for the environment than cars that use gasoline.) I just don't like books with a subliminal message that says, "don't use fossil fuels" and tries to brainwash my child. The adventure part is great in these books. They would be better if they weren't so environmentally conscience.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squash and Ginny investigate howThe Dragon Witch’s magical artifact collection has gone missing, and why the whole forest is covered in mysterious slime. Squash and Ginny follow clues to places old and new, like Mewmaid Ocean, Bum Bum Bog, and eventually to a secret tunnel that leads beneath Unibear City, the hub of the spirit realm. Deep underground, Squash and Ginny discover a conniving plot by a dangerous new foe.

[Matt Glaviano · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seem to have really enjoyed the second volume in this series; I think I read it first. Since then, I've read the first and third volumes... and enjoyed them much less.

This volume in particular felt disjointed, not funny, and poorly told.

I'm questioning my reading of the second one at this point. Maybe it just hit at the right moment, and I'd also dislike it if I went back, fickle reader that I am.

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squash and Ginny return in the third book in the series. The two cats are called to action by their friends, and after quickly packing their bag of snacks, they race off to the Spirit World to help their friends. Why is their slime everywhere? Are some of their friends missing? Where did they go? Squash and Ginny travel to Unibear City to find the answers! VERDICT: An exciting mystery with fantasy adventure. The two cats' mission never changes from always helping their friends.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a comic equivalent of a pb&j sandwich, the Cat & Cat adventures are sweet and comforting. Our heroes solve a mystery and encounter a bad guy--and unlike the other antagonists in past books, this one doesn't seem to care about redeeming himself, yet.

[Jasmin Weir · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Amazing Adventures of Squash and Ginny: Book 3

This book is an amazing book, which is perfect for 1st and 2nd graders. It teaches the lesson of using things properly, in this case, it could hurt the environment.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art in these books are always so cute. Mr Seagull wrapped in a blanket is just adorable. Thank you for reminding me that they have owners! I do forget. Another great story and appreciate the reminders to previous books as well.

[Lucia Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been loving these books. This series is so cute, and they characters all have depth and imagination to them. These are great books for kids beginning to read I can't wait for the next book and for the one that's coming out this year!

[Colleen Earle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Rebecca Duchesneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just so stinkin’ cute! I have to get the other two.

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and charmingly drawn. I enjoy this series.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also want a magical vacuum that can clean anything!

[Elaina Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the storyline it was a wonderful story and I think you should read it and thanks to the author I read this book twice today
And I love the Little map page And the maze page

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first in this series is still my favorite. Little graphic novel fans will delight in these continuing adventures of Cat and Cat (Squash and Ginny.)

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great graphic novel for my first grader; it took us about an hour to read and she loved Ginny and Squash.

[Julia ☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Squash and Ginny so much!!!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to the series!

[Zahra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute and fun like the first two but I didn’t feel as invested in it.

[ℛ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adorable story of Squash and Ginny, and ofcourse more snacks for them too. 🩷