Miss Cat

Gr 5 Up--The detective agency run by Miss Cat gets a much-needed case when retired widower Mixus Maximus arrives asking for help in locating his kidnapped canary, Harry. Miss Cat, a fair-skinned child in a cat hood, begins her investigation with interviews and site visits throughout town. Her catlike movements and her "sharp senses," her excellent hearing and ability to "land on both feet," set her up as the purrfect investigator for the case. As she locates clues and suspects, she is drawn into a family drama that includes a magic Eye of Elzob as well as Animorphosis (talking animals who were once humans). The illustrations, with strong black pencils and a vivid color palette, are the strength of this book and help with establishing a mysterious mood and antiquated atmosphere. Readers are introduced to an interesting cast of animal characters while humans are presented as white with one character using a wheelchair. Translated from French, this graphic novel still includes some references such as "krostz" (money), as well as French signs throughout the European city. Although an interesting concept, it has more misses than hits. References to the elderly man as an "old coot" and "stupid old man" seem out of place, in addition to references of criminals drinking "cocktails." Although some older readers might like the edge in the story, it felt like too much is happening in the narrative, and not enough of building a likable or interesting character with Miss Cat. VERDICT A secondary purchase perhaps to see if there is an audience at your library.--Danielle Schwessinger

In this tale translated from French, a young detective in a cat suit takes on a case involving a talking canary and a fabulous jewel. Going for a noir tone and with tongues firmly in cheeks, the creators send their small, hooded sleuth on the urban prowl at the behest of Mr. Maximus, a sad gent who reports that his beloved bird has been stolen. Miss Cat interviews Mr. Maximus' daughter-in-law, Doris, a very skinny and oddly hissy suspect with a bulldog named Wolfgang who barks in a Norse accent ("WØØFF WØØFF"). She returns that night to overhear Doris and Wolfgang conspiring with the fugitive bird to rob Mr. Maximus--who (a bit of archival research reveals) is actually retired magician Mixus the Magnificent, owner of a jewel known as the Eye of Elzob that can transform people into animals and back. It all turns out to be a family affair, as the climactic denouement reveals. Settling that situation amicably not only requires further use of the Eye but also leaves the magic gem in Miss Cat's charge. What will she do with it? Human figures are uniformly light-skinned; the cast includes a helpful archivist in a wheelchair, and in place of the requisite barkeep confidant, there's a soda fountain jerk who happens to be an octopus. A sly caper featuring a particularly clever, observant, and memorably clad sleuth. (Graphic fiction. 7-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.