The Thirteenth Cat

July 12, 2021
Twelve-year-old Brooklynite Zoey loves spending her summers with her aunt Alice in small-town Bexhill, relishing its slow pace and the porch swing at her librarian aunt’s home. But Alice warns Zoey away from the dense forest next door, owned by secretive and hostile neighbor Miss Dupree, who lives alone but for 13 cats. When Zoey sees a small, malnourished feline fleeing the others, she rescues the creature from what seems like a clear case of neglect. Furious, Miss Dupree vows revenge for the theft of Thirteen, whom Zoey renames Nia, inspired by the story of a girl raised by cats. Shaken by their encounters with the frightening elderly woman, Zoey and new friend Lila seek to avoid her and the ever-spying cats. But after a visit from Miss Dupree’s fashionable niece Zleta bewitches Zoey, she realizes that there is more to the cats—and Miss Dupree—than meets the eye. Though the assumed-white characters’ dialogue occasionally verges on wooden, Hahn (Guest), an expert at crafting accessibly scary middle grade suspense, skillfully imbues her nimble thriller with sensibilities fairy tale and feline. Ages 8–12.

July 15, 2021
Cats, friendship, magic, and mystery form the core of this eerie tale. Zoey is looking forward to a relaxing summer at her aunt's home, away from the city. She's intrigued by the woods and the house next door, but Aunt Alice tells Zoey to stay away from the mean Miss Dupree and her horde of wicked black cats. When Zoey encounters the cats, though, one of them is very friendly and seems to be in desperate need of love and care. Zoey and her new friend, Lila, may be scared of Miss Dupree and think she's a witch, but that won't stop them from rescuing the poor, sweet creature from the neighbor's apparently neglectful clutches. Miss Dupree is enraged, and her wrath comes down upon Zoey and Lila in evil, magical ways that put the friends in grave danger while revealing the horrifying truth about her cats. The straightforward narrative and simple yet spooky worldbuilding quickly draw in readers, and the story maintains a brisk pace. The friendship and family drama are fairly superficially developed but still nicely balanced within the paranormal mystery, and the magical elements provide enough intrigue to keep the story interesting. Readers who want everything explained and fleshed out should look elsewhere, but those seeking a quick, chilling tale will be satisfied. Main characters are assumed White. Easy, entertaining horror fluff with just enough sharp claws. (Horror. 8-12)

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August 1, 2021
Grades 3-6 Zoey is excited to spend her summer with her Aunt Alice in the quaint town of Bexhill, but her aunt's neighbor Miss Dupree is far from charming. Zoey is warned by her aunt to stay away from Miss Dupree and her house, which is surrounded by feral cats and "No Trespassing" signs. However, one of the cats--a weak, small one named Thirteen--comes to Zoey, and the girl keeps it, incurring Miss Dupree's wrath. Another neighbor, Lila, becomes Zoey's comrade in paranormal sleuthing, and once they share their spooky interactions with Miss Dupree, they conclude that she must be a witch! Then Miss Dupree's niece comes to visit, but it becomes apparent that there is also something strange about her. Mysteries and eerie happenings abound, and they seem to be wrapped up with Thirteen. It's up to the girls to discover the truth even if it means putting themselves in danger. Horror maven Hahn conjures up another heart-pumping read for the younger set that strikes the right balance between thrills and chills.

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October 1, 2021

Gr 3-7-Twelve-year-old Brooklyn, NY, native Zoey is spending her summer in Bexhill with her Aunt Alice when strange events start to occur. Zoey notices a pack of black cats, led by a long-haired white cat. They are all owned by the cruel yet fashionable Miss Dupree who is not pretty, but not ugly; not old, but not young. After a run-in with Miss Dupree, Zoey and her friend Lila are turned into cats. Lila and Zoey team up with Nia, another girl-turned-cat, to break the evil spell Miss Dupree has cast on them. This tale is creepy and reminiscent of Roald Dahl's The Witches. Readers will feel a sense of dread as the story comes together and they realize why the girls have been turned into cats. There is little character description, so it's up to the reader to imagine what Zoey and Lila look like. The ending is happy, but also sad; not everyone is saved, which makes the horror all the more effective. VERDICT This twisted tale would be good for older elementary students who love stories with magic, witches, and impending doom.-Maeve Dodds, Charlotte Mecklenburg Lib., NC

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