Monday, April 23, 2012

Book Review And Give-Away ! "Cat Girl's Day Off" By Kimberly Pauley

Jump back world!  This is NOT your Mama's  (or your Grandma's or your Aunt's)  adventure/mystery book that features cats! There is  a new generation of cat lovers and now there is a new book just for them!



Cat Girl's Day Off  by Kimberly Pauley, is part of the new Tu Books imprint of
 LEE & LOW BOOKS. (Tu publishes multicultural MG/YA science fiction and fantasy.)

What words would I use to describe this book? Hip. Fun. Crazy. Sensitive. Action-packed. Hilarious. Relevant. Cats. Of course there are cats!

Cat Girl's Day Off is a mix of fantasy, mystery, paranormal activities, keen insight as to the goings-on in the mind of a cat, adventure and excitement geared to  readers who are in Grades Six and up.

Award-winning author, Kimberly Pauley
 (Sucks to Be Me) has the main character (Nat Ng pronounced "ing") narrating in an intriguing, humorous, conversational, teenage-angst ridden style that will resonate with the mega-hip preteen/teenagers of today.

When I said the book is "hip" there is Nat (aka "Cat Girl") who has hair streaked with purple,  bi-racial parents (she is half Asian and so many of her thoughts/comments were so funny I kept thinking of the Asian comedienne, Margaret Cho), there are numerous mentions of blogging, the Internet, texting,  pop-culture, this book is NOW. It will resonate with the wise-beyond-their-years, Reality TV- watching, plugged-in, Internet savvy young people of today.

AND IT FEATURES CATS.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

"Nat Ng has always tried to keep her "talent" of being able to converse with cats a secret. But after Nat's friends maker her watch a viral Internet video, her secret talent suddenly catapults them to the forefront of a celebrity kidnapping mystery and a race against time through Ferris Bueller's Chicago. The only thing crazier than talking to cats may be what they have to say."

To read an exclusive interview with Nat Ng click here

Pauley is in touch with  pre-teen/teen  issues such as middle-child syndrome (speaking as one who happens to be a middle-child, I could completely relate!), teenage embarrassment, insecurity and feelings of being unnoticed that are ageless, they have tortured and plagued young people for decades. 
Cody's "catch-phrase"


I enjoyed this book far more than I expected to. I found the conversational style and humor delightful. The suspense/action held my interest. It was a quick-read. Each chapter features a different quote pertaining to cats. I found the comments/conversations that Pauley had the cats saying throughout the book to be comments that reflected a true understanding of cat behavior and what they WOULD say if we could KNOW what they are really thinking.

I like reading books and watching TV shows/movies  that center around the minds and activities of young people today. I love that I have many friends who are young. I think having a knowledge and understanding of their world helps to keep ME young mentally. It keeps me "hip" and "relevant."  (at least I think so! You can stop laughing now). To have that world conveyed to me through a half Asian teenage girl, with purple streaked hair, who has sensitivity, insight, humor and sarcasm far beyond her years, AND  who possesses  the talent of being able to talk to cats,  makes it that much more enjoyable!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Kimberly Pauley is the author of the award-winning
 Sucks to Be Me, which was honored on the YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list. The sequel, Still Sucks to Be Me, appeared on theVOYA Best Science Fiction Fantasy list. Born in California, Pauley has lived everywhere from Florida to Chicago and has now gone international to live in London with her husband and their son. She wrote Cat Girl’s Day Off because she wanted to share with the world what cats really think. Visit her online at kimberlypauley.com



GIVE-AWAY!! U.S. ONLY (sorry!) To enter to win a copy of CAT GIRL'S DAY OFF by Kimberly Pauley you MUST leave a comment telling me, if your cat could NAME ITSELF, what would it's name be? (Comments that do not answer that question will not be eligible to win). DEADLINE TO ENTER: 11PM MONDAY, MAY 7th, WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY, MAY 9TH. GOOD LUCK!!

If you wish to purchase Cat Girl's Day Off click here


I was sent a preview copy of Cat Girl's Day Off to review and was offered a give-away for my readers. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.



30 comments:

  1. Sounds like a cool book. Phooey I can't enter.. I'll have to look for it :)

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  2. Sounds great I bet my cousins teenage daughter would love it.

    What would my cats name themselves
    Artemisia probably likes her name and is content being Artemisia.
    Scylla would probably prefer not to be named after a monster. She would perhaps like the name Amelia.
    Sure Socks would prefer a more distinguished name Malone maybe.

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  3. Hello! It looks like it is very interesting book...

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  4. So glad you liked it! I am a middle child myself... :-)

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  5. Great catch phrase, Cody! LOL!!

    Thanks for the review and info to this fun fab book!!

    Take care
    x

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  6. Great review, Caren! I, too, loved this book. And I love your statement that reading books about young people and watching tv shows about them keeps your mind young. Now I have a much better excuse for watching some of the shows on the CW network than just the fact that they're one of my guilty pleasures!

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  7. Hip, fun, crazy,... book? Sounds like a very interesting book. I think I should give it a go!

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  8. @ Brian lol

    @Priscilla, you know what? Even though Rosie loves dogs I think she is at the age that would be perfect for this book! I think she would enjoy it!

    @Ingrid King thank you!!! Shhhh.....now you and I BOTH have that excuse! That is the excuse that I am using for things that I watch! lol

    @Old Kitty thank you!! You are welcome! xoxoxo

    @Kimberly loved it!!! I could tell that you are a middle child...you hit the nail on the head and were so insightful on so many things that you mentioned. I sooo enjoyed your book! Thank you for stopping by!

    @Amin it is!

    @Artemisia love it!!! Yessssss it is perfect for your cousins teenage daughter!

    @Alittlesprite, so sorry!! I am sure you will enjoy it though! It is written in a conversational style that I am certain that you will like!

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  9. Sounds like a really FUN read with a slightly different "slant" than a lot of similar books out there. Sammy has said he would like to have been named "Chuck"....why? Who knows....if there's one thing I've learned is NOT to try and figure out everything cats think!!

    Pam (with Sam supervising)

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  10. Great review! This book sounds pretty cool and I just may have to give it a try myself! Thanks!

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  11. FaRADaY: if I could name myself, I'd be ..... PANTHER KING! Yes.

    MAxwell: *eyeroll* Dude. You really don't suffer from inferiority complexes or anything do you. Sounds like a fun read!

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  12. The book sounds very interesting even to me and I'm only a bunny

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  13. That sounds like a very fun book. I wonder when it'll get here...

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  14. Great review and mum says she will look out for the book.. Sounds fun... HUgs GJ xx

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  15. That is a great review. But don't put us down in the drawing. Take care.

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  16. It sounds like a very fun book! We thought of Ferris Bueller's Day Off right away when we saw the cover. : )

    So, if Katie were to name herself...I believe she'd be inspired by another celebrity Minnesotan - Prince. No, her name would NOT be Prince. It would be some crazy *symbol* of feline perfection that no one could pronounce. So she'd be called simply, "The Cat Formerly Known As Katie."

    ; )
    Glogirly

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  17. Nice review! The book sounds like lots of fun. We think Moosey and Sammy like their names very much. Moosey might want to be called "Graphite Jr.," since he exhibits SO many of the traits and behaviors of our Angel Graphite (they never knew each other, and look nothing alike, but we're amazed by the uncanny similarities in their personalities). :)

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  18. Thank you for the review. It sure sounds like a fun read which I could use about now in fighting Loews Hotels. Plus, I have not read books by younger authors and would love to! You're right--it keeps you young.

    OK.
    Jean Pierre would want to be named Clint (after Clint Eastwood) because he's a calm, cool sharp shooter. While other siblings are scrambling to get the moth,he sits and observes and when siblings are pooped out, Jean Pierre, takes a couple of steps, flies in the air and in one swat, the moth is dead.

    Here's more..well you asked
    Helio would want to be named Pavarotti because he loves to serenade the females.

    Geisha, well she's a supermodel and knows it. But a petite supermodel. so mabe Eva Longoria.

    Johnny Walker is an eater not a drinker and would want to be named Johnny Rocket after the diner that serves juicy diner burgers.

    Hansel & Gretel, they are both shy and saved from clutches of evil witch so they would keep their names.

    Christine Michaels
    for Blog Sisters
    www.riverfrontcats.com

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  19. Oh Dog! June Buggie said that if he could name himself he would have a name that Jen could NOT turn into a cutesy nickname! He's thinking something like- Jupiter or Caesar. *rolls eyes*

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  20. Dear Caren and Cody,
    Cody, me is so happy to be back and thanks yous so much for sneaking through the tunnel to visit me! Yous is one special Man Cat. me is still not 100%, but me is much better. Thanks yous for your purrs.
    Caren, me can't imagine being anything but Penelope! Me loves my name Penelope, the faithful wife of Odysseus, kept suitors at bay for twenty years while her husband fought at Troy and suffered Poseidon's wrath on his return home.
    Me thinks that lots of peoples can hear us cats! That's why me thinks there is the Cat blogosphere!
    Kisses
    Nellie
    PS - Me just gots your Christmas Card! When Mommy and Daddy tooked me to the vet on Saturday for a check up, they stopped at the Post office & the Danville outpost and the peoples at the outpost had found your card to us when they cleaned out the back room! Thanks yous!

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  21. @My Darling Nellie, WHAT???!! You just got my Christmas card??? Are you kidding me!!! OMC!!! I hope that at least made you begin to feel better! Love, Cody

    @Katie/Glogirly too funny. When I adopted Cody his name was PRINCE....I have written in the blog many times about him being known as the "cat formerly known as Prince" lol

    @Christine/Blog Sisters...wow!!! now THAT was an entry!!!! Thanks for the fun info!

    @Marg thank you, sorry you aren't entering though :(

    @rumpy ohhhh Jupiter is WAY COOL!!

    @meowmeowmans you know, it is quite possible that Graphite's soul is in Moosey. I believe in strange things like that!

    @GJ it was highly enjoyable! I truly loved it!

    @The Furries I hope you will be able to get it!

    @speedy you are so darned cute! You aren't "only a bunny" you are an adorable bunny!

    @Rykers "Panther King!!" love it!!

    @Bassetmomma awww thank you!!! Maybe Fred and Gloria would like it too? Even if they ARE doggies?

    @Pam and "Chuck" er, Sammy...I think Sammy is a MUCH nicer sounding name! MOL!

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  22. It sounds like a book The Girl would really like! Should we try our luck again? Oui Oui would pick the name "Julibee" because she is just so happy, full of fun and celebration of life.

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  23. If Spitty could name himself I think he would prefer to be called Your Majesty. Ha ha ha! Since I am a high school teacher, I see more teenagers than anyone could ever need or want....one of them might like this book, though ;-)

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  24. This sounds like a totally fun book! Would love to win!
    I have 5 girls & think they are mostly happy with their names but if we go with their peronalities...
    Souixsie rules the roost with an iron paw so she would probably choose Supreme Princess Souixsie.
    Sammi - she is a tiny 5lb cat who loves causing chaos so she might choose Aris after the Goddess of chaos. LOL
    Surrey - she might choose Sunshine, Love or Happiness because she is a sweet sweet love baby who just wants love from everyone, all the time.
    Saki - I rescued her last year & she is a Siamese mix with gorgeous big blue eyes and an only cat complex. LOL she might rename herself Uno in hopes that she might become just one cat.
    Sassy - well she fits perfectly. Long haired Calico who is more than a little feisty & quite the talker. Only thing I can imagine her changing her name to is Cathy (Chatting Cathy).

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  25. ooooo that's an easy one, if Misty could name herself it would be princess :) she is quite the diva. thanks for the chance to win!!!

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  26. Ooh yet another cat book for me to read! I just started reading 'After Cleo: Came Jonah' by Helen Brown (the sequel to Cleo), and I have 'A Street Cat Named Bob' and 'A friend like Ben' to read next but I will also add this one to my list! :o)

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  27. My cats name is Lucy (often referred to as Lucifer). But I think she might refer better to the name of Adele... everyone wants to shower her with love and affection because she's so sad and lonely, but then she just turns her back when she gets the attention and bites.

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  28. If Jack could name himself he would like me to call him "I am so going to give you so many cookies!!"

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