Don't Trust the Cat

This book presents a shenanigans-filled story about a kid that gets turned into a cat. The protagonist Poppy McBean considers herself a conformist and a total rule-follower. Despite this, she is often the victim of her “friends’ ” bullying. One day, after getting bullied yet again, she makes a wish…one that comes true! She wakes up in the body of her cat, Mitten Man! In this new form, she braves the wilderness and the daunting world in feline form. Meanwhile, her cat (now living out as Poppy) attempts to be a more assertive kid in middle school. Both kitty and kid learn about their worlds and learn from each other as their shenanigans ensue. 

This book is a coming of age novel that teaches kids how to be assertive, while also teaching things like empathy, exploration, communication, being assertive and standing up for oneself. It’s a great read for kids with cats, a great gift for parents with reluctant readers, and recommended for all kids ages 10 and up.