Book Review by Aarene Storms: Cat Girl's Day Off

Cat Girl's Day Off by Kimberly Pauley

Natalie Ng's two sisters have "Class A Talents": Emmy is a chameleon, able to blend in perfectly with her surroundings. Viv has X-ray vision and the gift of truth divination.

All Natalie can do is talk to cats.

Nat considers her Talent more of an embarrassment than a gift. She has sworn her family and best friends to secrecy about the nature of her ability rather than face the shame of being known at school as "Cat Girl." And yet, it is Natalie's unusual aptitude that leads her into a crime-fighting adventure complicated by a movie film crew and cast intent on re-making Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Funny and fluffy, this breezy read will appeal to girls who like a little bit of humor and magic or fantasy mixed into normal high school romance stories. The talking cats almost entirely steal the second half of the book.

Rating

No cussing, no sex, some kissing, a few threats of violence from the Talented villain. Recommended for ages 14 and up.

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian

Richmond Beach Library