Scan barcode
thebookishnarwhal's review against another edition
5.0
A middle grade read (teen & YA) but I really enjoyed this story from author Tim Cummings! Surprisingly deep, it reminds you no matter the age, people all struggle and could benefit from kindness. If you’re into sci fi, fantasy, cats, and almost-teens with sass, this is for you!
˗ˏˋ
elcademia's review against another edition
1.0
thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
i was really excited to read a middle grade novel that explores grief and how it can affect different people (and animals), but especially children. but there were some moments that left a bad impression, more specifically two where i almost put the book down.
the story opens with the main character talking about her breast size and how they were C-cups are twelve years old and not double Ds. this served no purpose later on in the story and was also just wildly inappropriate. young girls around that age are highly prone to body image issues, and already having the main character have C-cups was not a good idea. having the story start with talking about a child's breasts is so disgusting.
the second instance was when Tess says that depression is contagious. yes, i understand she's twelve and probably doesn't understand mental health. but the fact that an adult wrote this and was okay with showing this to children??? this entire dialogue exchange was so unnecessary and was so harmful to those that suffer from depression.
ultimately, i couldn't get over these two instances (as well as others but these two were the ones that stuck out most to me), and with them being towards the beginning of the story, it left such a terrible impression on me. i couldn't enjoy the rest of the story.
i was really excited to read a middle grade novel that explores grief and how it can affect different people (and animals), but especially children. but there were some moments that left a bad impression, more specifically two where i almost put the book down.
the story opens with the main character talking about her breast size and how they were C-cups are twelve years old and not double Ds. this served no purpose later on in the story and was also just wildly inappropriate. young girls around that age are highly prone to body image issues, and already having the main character have C-cups was not a good idea. having the story start with talking about a child's breasts is so disgusting.
the second instance was when Tess says that depression is contagious. yes, i understand she's twelve and probably doesn't understand mental health. but the fact that an adult wrote this and was okay with showing this to children??? this entire dialogue exchange was so unnecessary and was so harmful to those that suffer from depression.
ultimately, i couldn't get over these two instances (as well as others but these two were the ones that stuck out most to me), and with them being towards the beginning of the story, it left such a terrible impression on me. i couldn't enjoy the rest of the story.
kim_sabin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Alice the Cat perfectly captures the messiness and magic of surviving tweendom while navigating loss. Tess is the protagonist I needed at almost fourteen. She is brave, and curious, and open. Her singular voice and devotion to Alice kept me rooting for her all the way to the end. Cumming's knack for combining vibrancy with great heart is admirable. His scenes leap off the page! I was smitten with Cotter's imagination and sweet persistence. I was moved by the compassion and acceptance shown to Eddy. I was wowed by Dami and Lunar and the Shirley Jackson nod to the haunted house that gathered them all, helping Tess finally address her grief. The final moments highlighting the importance of the parent child relationship totally captured my heart. Alice the Cat is full of wonder, just like the childhood that lives inside us forever.
painters_tools's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the best books for kids I've ever read. Reading some of the other reviews on this site, I am cracking up at the overly sensitive, inaccurate, puritanical scrutinizations. I was like, Huh?? It's such an important book for all ages about death, grief, emotion, friendships, and hope. Plus, I cracked up through the whole thing. Cotter is so funny and adorable. And the emo teens stole my heart. Highly reccomended book! I will read anything Tim Cummings writes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Animal death
Can't wait to see this as a movie. It's so visual.ashylibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
This one started with such potential for me. I appreciated that Tess's grief was shown through her anger because that is often how it can manifest for people. I had issues with a few things, however. I did not like how Cotter seemed to force dates on Tess to assist her with things. I just didn't feel like it was ever handled in a way that showed that forcing someone to go on a date with you after them telling you "no" multiple times just because they are asking for your help is not okay. I also didn't love the way Tess's dad's depression was handled. I appreciate that it was shown in the book and that it showed just how much depression can pull apart relationships, however, I don't think it was ever resolved in a way that helped Tess (or readers) understand what it is or why people struggle with it.
Overall, I thought the premise of this book was cute and silly, but those few things I mentioned above were so prevalent that I couldn't ignore them and I felt they really took away from the story for me.
This one started with such potential for me. I appreciated that Tess's grief was shown through her anger because that is often how it can manifest for people. I had issues with a few things, however. I did not like how Cotter seemed to force dates on Tess to assist her with things. I just didn't feel like it was ever handled in a way that showed that forcing someone to go on a date with you after them telling you "no" multiple times just because they are asking for your help is not okay. I also didn't love the way Tess's dad's depression was handled. I appreciate that it was shown in the book and that it showed just how much depression can pull apart relationships, however, I don't think it was ever resolved in a way that helped Tess (or readers) understand what it is or why people struggle with it.
Overall, I thought the premise of this book was cute and silly, but those few things I mentioned above were so prevalent that I couldn't ignore them and I felt they really took away from the story for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Animal death, and Death of parent
eamdp's review against another edition
I was too scared about how sick the cat was getting to finish the book
oracle7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I couldn't put it down. It's very smart because it really contains everything I think books like this should contain. It's sad, scary, angry, funny, and very hopeful in the end. All of the very weird and interesting characters have a completed arc. I think this book is good for kids needing a story about grief and emotion. I also think it questions faith and religion and the afterlife in s really smart way. It's well written, like a mixture of poetic and simple. I will buy this for people and also make sure it gets into my library.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Animal death, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
smlaurie's review against another edition
4.0
I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.
Alice the Cat is a unique story told in the first person voice of almost 13 year old Tess. She has a fresh and observant voice with the favorite insult of “buttnugget” and sees the people and world around her in rich detail:
There is a tree named Stanley and Tess refers to her depressed and grieving father as the Zombie.
Alice the cat is suicidal and is family to Tess: “Cats can see inside humans. I think they see souls. I think souls look like milk to them. Alice and I were sisters.” It is Alice that leads Tess to the haunted house and the beginning of her adventure trying to save Alice, while she also navigates her anger management issues and the profound feelings from the death of her mother 10 weeks ago.
The story manages to be funny, sad, touching and hopeful. This would be a great book for preteens–those dealing with grief and loss and those who are not.
2023 PopSugar Reading Challenge #46: A book with a pet character.
Alice the Cat is a unique story told in the first person voice of almost 13 year old Tess. She has a fresh and observant voice with the favorite insult of “buttnugget” and sees the people and world around her in rich detail:
“I love all the colors–blue water, purple sky, my mom’s red hair, green eyes, pink face, and peppery freckles.”
“They dressed in black t-shirts with scary faces on them, wore combat boots, lined their eyes in black, teased their hair into bird nests, and worshipped graphic novels, manga, vampires, horror movies, emo music, and death.”
There is a tree named Stanley and Tess refers to her depressed and grieving father as the Zombie.
Alice the cat is suicidal and is family to Tess: “Cats can see inside humans. I think they see souls. I think souls look like milk to them. Alice and I were sisters.” It is Alice that leads Tess to the haunted house and the beginning of her adventure trying to save Alice, while she also navigates her anger management issues and the profound feelings from the death of her mother 10 weeks ago.
The story manages to be funny, sad, touching and hopeful. This would be a great book for preteens–those dealing with grief and loss and those who are not.
2023 PopSugar Reading Challenge #46: A book with a pet character.
lailiving's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Netgalley and Fitzroy Books for providing me this advance reader copy of this book
The review I left below is purely based on my reading experience for Alice the Cat by Tim Cummings
Alice the Cat is a challenging read for me even though it's labelled as middle grade. The main character experienced grief and anger which were showed through her words and actions. The magical realism element is okay, but I found it insufficient to provide me the convincing backstory and motives especially for the ghost. Some characters need more exploration like Eddie, I'm curious about what really happened to him, and Alice the Cat herself, even though she is the title of this book, I didn't get her part enough so it feels like she's so faraway from me as a reader.
I love how it ended, the closure for Tess and her dad, the therapy, the support she needed, and also the new friends she made there (and of course the issue she mentioned earlier in this book).
The review I left below is purely based on my reading experience for Alice the Cat by Tim Cummings
Alice the Cat is a challenging read for me even though it's labelled as middle grade. The main character experienced grief and anger which were showed through her words and actions. The magical realism element is okay, but I found it insufficient to provide me the convincing backstory and motives especially for the ghost. Some characters need more exploration like Eddie, I'm curious about what really happened to him, and Alice the Cat herself, even though she is the title of this book, I didn't get her part enough so it feels like she's so faraway from me as a reader.
I love how it ended, the closure for Tess and her dad, the therapy, the support she needed, and also the new friends she made there (and of course the issue she mentioned earlier in this book).
emoleeb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5