bmstale2's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shainalite's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Catalyst is the second book from Sarah Beth Durst I picked after The Bone Maker. It's middle grade, adventure magical realism book sprinkled with magic and humor. Reading this book is a fun adventure focusing on how someone tried to fix something that's meant to be different from the known standard. I laughed a lot because of Harrison, and I want to have a supportive brother like Alex. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Cassandra Morris, and I love it. The narrator successfully brought the story to life by narrating each character differently. I love butter-mouse's parts! I love the conflicts and how they're solved. So many things to love from this book especially the audiobook version
ravenlily's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
shoelessgirl's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Delightful. This would be 5 stars when I was 12 :)
_ems28's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
booksandlists's review against another edition
4.0
Read it with my 10yo daughter, cute enough that I also enjoyed it
sfbookgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love cats. This book has a cat. I love this book. This middle-grade story (although I think it’s better for children grades 4-6), is about Zoe and her continuously growing kitten Pipsqueak. Just three days after Zoe finds the kitten in her garage, Pipsqueak is already the size of a chonky cat! What will Zoe do? And how will she hide this from her parents?
The author, Sarah Best Durst, is clearly familiar with all of the hilarious quirks that a common house cat possesses. I couldn’t help but cuddle up with my cat while reading this book too. The story is a perfect introduction to the realm of fantasy and is excellent for cat lovers of all ages.
marziesreads's review
4.0
Sarah Beth Durst's latest middle-grade fantasy centers on a giant kitten named Pipsqueak. Well, actually, Pipsqueak started out really tiny but overnight, after she is rescued by soon-to-be-twelve Zoe, starts growing. And growing. And... GROWING. In a little over a week, Pipsqueak is bigger than a mountain lion. And talking and reading books. Zoe doesn't know whether to be utterly delighted with her new companion (she's been quite down, anticipating her older brother's departure to college) or terrified that tabloids and scientists are going to find Pipsqueak and take her away, making Pip's life a misery. How can she keep her safe? Taking her friend Harrison and his older cousin Surita into her confidence, she hatches a plan to get Pipsqueak to her Aunt Alecia, who lives at a sanctuary in New Hampshire and knows all about unusual animals. It will take some serious sneaking around, like lying to Zoe and Harrison's parents that they're at Surita's summer camp, and riding Pipsqueak to New Hampshire. And some of that riding might involve hopping from roof to roof to avoid being seen down on the ground. It sounds like lots of fun except for the fact that Zoe is expecting Aunt Alecia to "fix" Pipsqueak, as in somehow make her a regular housecat again. Can she? And even if she could, should she?
This is a sweet fantasy about learning to accept change and situations that don't meet your expectations. Sometimes the best way to learn about and accept change is to be a catalyst for change. The novel is a good selection for summer reading for children between the ages of ten and thirteen years of age.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sweet fantasy about learning to accept change and situations that don't meet your expectations. Sometimes the best way to learn about and accept change is to be a catalyst for change. The novel is a good selection for summer reading for children between the ages of ten and thirteen years of age.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.