Reviews

A sequel to 'Bad Kitty', I went into this with high hopes and boy was I not disappointed. The writing, the footnote conversations, the pace, the plot - it was just as good as the first one, however this one seemed to have higher stakes and a bit more grittiness to it.

There is a romance for the main character, Jas, but I do like how it is not the main focus of the book. It's referenced and bubbling away in the background, which is just as well because there is SO much going on for the plot that focusing on some love affair with a boy would have taken away from the greatness of it all.

The ONLY (and I mean only) flaw is that there is a slight cliffhanger at the end, which wouldn't be a flaw in itself, but apparently there is no 3rd book in the works. Considering this was published in 2008, it makes me think the series was dropped, which is incredibly sad. The cliffhanger needs answering, and I need more Jas!

kt_mc's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

aiyshasbookrealm's review against another edition

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4.0

A recommended quick read that stands solid as a sequel, however I believe Michelle Jaffe initially intended another book in the series as I feel there where so many questions unanswered surrounding Jasmine’s mother. The plot surrounds Jasmine’s adventures in Venice separated from her friends and family. Whilst, the character’s are still so hilariously fun, the escapades of Jasmine are embarrassingly humorous, I felt the plot was unnecessarily confusing and that there where times where I had to stop and read over the page.

katranga's review against another edition

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5.0

WOW SO GOOD. I was worried it wasn't going to be as fantastic as the first one, but I should not have been concerned! Michele Jaffe is a goddess and her wit amazes me with every page. No seriously, this was a fantastic book likeeee omg. Jas is HILARIOUS, and brilliant, and sarcastic, and basically everything I'm looking for in a main character! I'd read about her going to the grocery store honestly, because I'm sure even that would become an ordeal for her. And I love her friends and everybody who came back from the first book and wow yeah. Tres awesomeo.

greergreer's review against another edition

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3.0

Seventeen year old Jasmine is on an extended stay in Venice, Italy at the start for her senior year in high school. Unforntantly this is not the place she wants to be. She would rather be in the states where she has left her best buds and her boyfriend. Oh Heavens!!

While in Venice she befriends an odd bird of a girl who just happens to get her self killed. The police have decided it is suicide but Jas knows better. Using her sleuthing skills and the
unannounced arrival of her fab friends and not so fab cousins she uncovers the truth with a bit of hijinks and dodging near misses by the killer.

missprint_'s review against another edition

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5.0

Jasmine Callihan is back and better than ever in “Kitty Kitty” by Michele Jaffe! And, boy am I excited about that. “Kitty Kitty” will be released in July 2008 by HarperTeen (part of HarperCollins coincidentally enough), so you’re seeing the review here first.

“Kitty Kitty” picks up a month or two after the ending of “Bad Kitty” (Jaffe’s madcap YA debut featuring Jasmine). This time around, Jasmine is in Venice, the most romantic city in the world, and in a beautiful hotel. The only problem is that Jasmine is there with her ogre-iffic father and her step-mother Sherri! In other words, Jasmine is really far away from her friends, her rock star boyfriend, AND the prestigious high school that would look great on her college applications.

Why you may ask? So Jasmine can be home-schooled (not from her actual home) while she takes intensive Italian lessons and her father writes his definitive book on the history of . . . soap. Jasmine is understandably put out by all of these abrupt life changes. But what really upsets her is the apparent suicide of her friend from Italian class–the mysterious and eccentric Arabella. Except Jasmine isn’t so sure that Arabella’s death really was a suicide.

Mayhem ensues as Jasmine begins to investigate Arabella’s life in order to understand what could have provoked her death. Atrocities include bangs on the head as well as an unfortunate encounter with a pair of white leather pants. Oh, and Jasmine turning to Mr. T as a new role model (although that last one might not be so bad depending on who you ask!).

Stylistically, Jaffe continues to use a variety of writing techniques to create a truly modern reading experience. Techniques that reappear in this volume include footnotes, e-mail and instant messaging excerpts as well as pictures created with words. These devices help keep the novel interesting–there’s a lot of information presented in a lot of different ways. At the same time, it makes readers extra aware that they are reading. But that’s okay here because it encourages a close reading of the text in some cases–an important skill found in what can be called a light read.

Some parts of the novel seem contrived, such as Jasmine’s friends coming to her rescue, but with blow dart pens and tricked out cowboy boots this novel, like “Bad Kitty” before it, is more cartoon than true-to-life-drama anyway. (A style that Jaffe once again pulls off very well.) And who wouldn’t want to read more about Jasmine’s motley group of friends? Best friend/fashion genius Polly; lock picking, wise-cracking twins Tom and Roxy; and even Jas’ evil cousin Alyson and her evil sidekick Veronique reappear with just as many made up words and fashion faux pas as before. My only qualm about the novel is that the cat angle that was so crucial to “Bad Kitty” is also not as strong here since no cats feature as more than passing characters in the narrative.

Another odd addition is the presence of a mysterious sender of e-mails and an as yet undeveloped sub-plot involving Jasmine’s dead mother (this person and the fact that Jasmine’s mother died when she was six turn up more in this novel than the first, which didn’t mention mysterious e-mails at all). Aside from being a fine example of a writer spinning backstories into a series as she writes the series, this new plot thread suggests that Jasmine will return again soon.

aira_reads's review against another edition

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4.0

I LOVE THIS BOOK! My Cousin introduced me the first book & I never fail to follow. It's fun packed & full of humour

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