zorasorel's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.25
singerji's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lberestecki's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 Stars.
The overall idea of the story was cute, but I had some major issues with it. First of all, it was hard for me to get over the fact that Becca's mom let her bring her friends around wild animals unsupervised and that these kids were taking care of month old kittens in a shack instead of trying to find a different shelter or foster home. But those were adult reading a kids book issues. My other big issues were character based. I didn't like that Skeet was semi-redeemed; he was a bully, and while it is important for kids to empathize with why bullies are mean, the way Becca acted with him was too much. I also really just didn't like Kelsey very much; I didn't find her particularly likable, and I wish she had been a little less obsessed with Becca.
Overall, this was one of those kids books that I felt is "just for kids" and not enjoyable for adults.
Received from Netgalley.
The overall idea of the story was cute, but I had some major issues with it. First of all, it was hard for me to get over the fact that Becca's mom let her bring her friends around wild animals unsupervised and that these kids were taking care of month old kittens in a shack instead of trying to find a different shelter or foster home. But those were adult reading a kids book issues. My other big issues were character based. I didn't like that Skeet was semi-redeemed; he was a bully, and while it is important for kids to empathize with why bullies are mean, the way Becca acted with him was too much. I also really just didn't like Kelsey very much; I didn't find her particularly likable, and I wish she had been a little less obsessed with Becca.
Overall, this was one of those kids books that I felt is "just for kids" and not enjoyable for adults.
Received from Netgalley.
faeriedrumsong's review against another edition
4.0
wonderful animal loving sweet gentle mystery. little to no romance, lots of genuine mystery, very little scary stuff.
great middle grade read! looking forward to the next when I have time.
great middle grade read! looking forward to the next when I have time.
scostner's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not a cat lover, but I do like mysteries, so it sort of balanced out in this case. The CCSC (Curious Cat Spy Club), is founded when three schoolmates rescue some kittens that have been tossed in a dumpster. Finding the kittens brings the kids together, even though they are very different. Leo is an only child and doesn't seem to have many social skills, but he is very smart and likes to build gadgets like drones and robots. Becca lives at the Wild Oaks Animal Sanctuary with her mother and is part of the most popular group of girls at school. Kelsey shares an apartment with her 3 siblings and her parents; she likes to observe people and wishes she could be a spy. Together they decide to take care of the kittens and find out how they wound up in the dumpster.
I like the way the story not only includes the mystery of the kittens, but also shows the everyday lives of the characters. They have their club, but there is still school, chores, and family life, too. And the differences in the home-life of each kid are very typical in the real world. Becca's parents are divorced. Kelsey's father lost his job and is searching for another one. Leo's parents work long hours and are never around. Details of how much care the kittens need and what a commitment it is to care for them also add realism to the story. It sounds fun and adventurous to rescue animals, but then you have to feed them and empty the litter box and pay for the cat food and litter - there's a lot of responsibility involved.
Fun realistic fiction with a bit of sleuthing and danger mixed in. A good read for middle grade animal lovers, especially those who enjoy a series where they can encounter the same characters in each book.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
I like the way the story not only includes the mystery of the kittens, but also shows the everyday lives of the characters. They have their club, but there is still school, chores, and family life, too. And the differences in the home-life of each kid are very typical in the real world. Becca's parents are divorced. Kelsey's father lost his job and is searching for another one. Leo's parents work long hours and are never around. Details of how much care the kittens need and what a commitment it is to care for them also add realism to the story. It sounds fun and adventurous to rescue animals, but then you have to feed them and empty the litter box and pay for the cat food and litter - there's a lot of responsibility involved.
Fun realistic fiction with a bit of sleuthing and danger mixed in. A good read for middle grade animal lovers, especially those who enjoy a series where they can encounter the same characters in each book.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
3.0
When three kids from different social circles discover three abandoned kittens in a dumpster, they are instantly bound together by a secret plan to keep them. As they struggle to keep their new pets secret from their families and work to find the person who dumped the kittens in the first place, Kelsey, Becca, and Leo form the Curious Cat Spy Club. As they discover clues and follow leads, each of the three realizes how important their new friendship has become and how disappointed they would be to see it come to an end.
This is a strange book. Though the intended audience seems to be middle grade, the large font size and friendship-oriented subject matter make it feel more like a beginning chapter book, even though it is not necessarily that easy to read. The characters are interesting, but overblown at the same time. Leo is too much of a geek, Kelsey is too obsessed with becoming best friends with Becca, and Becca is too stereotypically pretty and popular. Many events of the story are far-fetched, including the opening scene where Kelsey helps Becca rescue her zorse (that is not a typo) and the ultimate discovery of the criminal's identity. The writing style is breezy and quick, and the subject matter is high-interest, but throughout the book something just feels off.
Kids who have grown to love reading by way of the Cam Jansen series, or other straightforward mystery stories, will be the most likely to enjoy this book. It is a perfect next step for readers who are ready to move beyond chapter book mysteries, but who are not quite ready for more complicated nuances of character or plot. In that sense, it is also an excellent read-alike for the latest Nancy Drew series, Nancy Drew Diaries. For most libraries, this should be considered an additional purchase, though it might circulate well in communities with high demand for lower-level middle grade books.
This is a strange book. Though the intended audience seems to be middle grade, the large font size and friendship-oriented subject matter make it feel more like a beginning chapter book, even though it is not necessarily that easy to read. The characters are interesting, but overblown at the same time. Leo is too much of a geek, Kelsey is too obsessed with becoming best friends with Becca, and Becca is too stereotypically pretty and popular. Many events of the story are far-fetched, including the opening scene where Kelsey helps Becca rescue her zorse (that is not a typo) and the ultimate discovery of the criminal's identity. The writing style is breezy and quick, and the subject matter is high-interest, but throughout the book something just feels off.
Kids who have grown to love reading by way of the Cam Jansen series, or other straightforward mystery stories, will be the most likely to enjoy this book. It is a perfect next step for readers who are ready to move beyond chapter book mysteries, but who are not quite ready for more complicated nuances of character or plot. In that sense, it is also an excellent read-alike for the latest Nancy Drew series, Nancy Drew Diaries. For most libraries, this should be considered an additional purchase, though it might circulate well in communities with high demand for lower-level middle grade books.
thisgrrlreads's review against another edition
2.0
I saw this book talked yesterday and was excited to read this quirky, animal-filled mystery. It's certainly cute, but there is a lot of exposition and you really have to suspend some disbelief for these kids to solve the mystery.
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