The Curious Cat Spy Club

January 5, 2015
Kelsey has always wanted to be a spy, and opportunity arrives when she stops an escaped zorse (half zebra, half horse) from running into traffic. The zorse—which lives in the animal sanctuary run by Kelsey’s popular, kindhearted classmate Becca and her family—leads the girls and a fellow middle schooler, nerdy Leo, to discover a bag of kittens stuffed in a Dumpster. The three save the kittens and vow to find out who committed the crime, forming the Curious Cat Spy Club, complete with their own secret clubhouse. They also decide to earn money to feed the kittens by tracking down lost pets, which leads to another mystery: why are so many pets disappearing in their town? There’s plenty of action in this series opener, but Singleton (Snow Dog, Sand Dog) also handles the story’s emotional layers well, including Kelsey’s father’s loss of his job and the developing friendships among the three members of the club (who are from different social strata in their school-day lives). Pet lovers will enjoy the animal-centric focus, and the mystery will keep them guessing. Ages 8–12.

March 1, 2015

Gr 3-5-Kelsey Case wants to be a detective. She has a spy backpack full of supplies and she's read Harriet the Spy. Now all she needs is a case. When Kelsey, Becca Morales, and Leo Polansky discover newborn kittens stuffed into a trash can, she knows she's found her mystery and maybe even a new best friend. The trio quickly hide the kittens in an old shed and form the Curious Cat Spy Club to find out who dumped the kittens and why. With red herrings, lots of twists and turns, and adventure, this caper is sure to keep kids entertained. VERDICT A fun mystery series that's a sure bet for animal lovers, recommended to fans of Jane O'Connor's "Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth" series (HarperCollins) who are ready for something a bit longer and ever-so-slightly darker.-Terry Ann Lawler, Burton Barr Library, Phoenix, AZ

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2015
Three children from disparate social groups at middle school team up to solve a mystery, becoming friends in the process, in this series kickoff.Kelsey Case, a budding spy, is shy and quiet; Becca Morales, whose mom runs an animal sanctuary, is bubbly and popular; and Leo Polanski-well, he's just weird. But also brilliant and much better characterized than the two more generic girls. The plot is set in motion when Kelsey rescues Becca's runaway zorse (a horse/zebra cross) and hears mewing coming from a dumpster. Big-brained Leo is able to figure out how to move the heavy top, and the children find three kittens in a bag along with a clue, a receipt from a pet supply store. Determined to save the kittens and find the culprit, the three unlikely compatriots form a secret group, the titular Curious Cat Spy Club. Unfortunately, after the engaging setup, a long dry spot ensues as the children work the mystery and get to know each other, and the story doesn't catch fire until the suspenseful final quarter. Although the novel clearly ends with the mystery solved, it leaves enough relationship questions unresolved to hopefully start the next installment at a gallop. Although readers may have to push through the slow-moving middle, this enjoyable mystery has a satisfying ending and a neatly calibrated level of suspense for middle school readers. (Mystery. 8-12)

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