About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing their first big standardized test or feels overwhelmed by classroom evaluations. Using the irreverent and hilarious lens of a cat who might lose her feline status if she fails an exam, Nick Bruel provides a perfect outlet for school-related anxiety. It is an ideal choice for kids who feel like they do not fit the traditional mold of a student or who struggle with the pressure to perform. The story follows Kitty as she is forced to take a high-stakes exam by the Society of Cat Aptitude. Through its graphic novel format, the book explores themes of identity, the absurdity of one-size-fits-all testing, and the fear of failure. It is perfectly pitched for the 7 to 10 age range, offering a mix of slapstick humor and genuine empathy for the stress of being judged by others. Parents will appreciate how it uses satire to deflate the power that tests hold over a child's self-worth.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with the stress of evaluation and the threat of loss of identity (Kitty being told she might not be a "cat"). The approach is metaphorical and highly satirical. The resolution is realistic and empowering, focusing on Kitty being herself rather than a perfect test-taker.
