Title: Paws in the Piazza: Harley's Venetian Adventure
Author: Jerilyn McIntyre
Illustrator: Ken Shuey
Publisher: Bristlecone Books
Date: December 11, 2013 (1st ed.)
Paperback: 96 pages
Ages: 10 - 14 years old
About the Book
“Back home, I was content to be just an ordinary house cat. I didn’t get out much. But it’s different here in Venice.” How different? Harley quickly finds out after his family arrives in Italy. He takes up with a group of local cats who roam wild in the alleys and neighborhoods of Venice, and meets the mysterious Angela, a beautiful white Angora who steals his heart. Then he becomes embroiled in a fierce and ongoing war between his friends and a rival band of cats, and discovers the magical order that underlies life in the enchanting and historic city that is his new home.
My Take
I thought this was a cute book. It made it seems like the cat was experiencing life like we would. It takes you on the journey of a cat that goes on a trip with his owners. We learn about how life in another country is for a cat. This cat gets to experience the ups and downs of meeting new cats. Some are good and some are bad. He gets in fights and for his safety joins a group. He also finds another cat that he falls for.
The story is not a hard read. Most children can get through it pretty fast. My daughter is 11 and she didn't have a problem reading it at all. There aren't that many pages, so they won't get too discouraged about it lasting forever. I did feel as though the story was more of something an adult would enjoy over children, but who is to say they won't like it also. After all it is a story about a cat. Also, the illustrator has a couple of hand drawn pictures to give you an idea of what the place looks like and the different cats in the town. What I would have loved to see, would have been a picture or two when the cats were underground having their meeting. That would have been cool.
All in all, it is a book that I am sure young readers would really enjoy.
This complementary book was given to me by the author for my honest review.
