A review by marya_morevna
Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen by Wendelin Van Draanen

4.0

These books are all so sweet, and they deal with really big issues, both emotional and material (like in this book - animal fighting). But they're also uncomfortably carceral. I really love how they develop Gil Borshch's character, and his relationship with Sammy. But the justice in the book always hinges on someone getting arrested and going to jail. And when it comes to people who force cats to fight each other for entertainment, that DOES feel like more fitting justice than it does in many other instances. But...is carcerality really what we should be striving for? Is it what a kids' book should be presenting as justice? But also I really love these books.