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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Monmouth Public Library | J Fic Jennings, P. 2015 | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Hissy Fitz lives with some two-legged creatures who are destined to serve him in every possible way and understand his every whim. Sadly, these creatures are sorely lacking in their skills. For one thing--they touch him when they want to touch him. Don't they know that the two-legged are there for him to touch when he wants to--meaning when he wants food? Petting wakes him up! They speak to him--don't they know the two-legged should be seen (so Hissy knows where to demand food from) and not heard?! It's becoming intolerable. What is this irascible cat to do?
Author Notes
Patrick Jennings grew up in northwest Indiana with a bunch of siblings and a book in his hand. He moved to Bisbee, in southern Arizona, where he taught preschool, and later left the desert to live on the coast in Washington State. He travels to schools around the country, speaking to students and parents, and runs a creative writing group for middle-graders. Patrick lives with his daughter in Washington State. Visit his website, www.patrickjennings.com, to learn more, or follow him on Twitter @pjenningswrites.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-This smartly written beginning chapter book introduces young readers to a cat named Hissy. Hissy Fitz, to be precise (he takes his human family's last name). The play on words is a sound one, since Hissy is about to lose it, as he is desperate for a nap. Readers will chuckle along as they see a day played out from Hissy's point of view. Case in point? "My eyelids feel heavy, Maybe I could steal a little nap here in the grass before-'There you are!' Georgie says, pushing open the kitchen door. If she comes near me, I will smack her. I know that's not nice, but it's how I feel. 'I filled your food dish,' she says. She sets it down on the porch. Okay, now I feel bad." A menagerie of characters, including eight-year-old Georgie; twin brothers Zeb and Abe, who are in preschool; and other felines from the neighborhood, all make Hissy's quest for sleep an adventure as he gets thwarted over and over again. With its short chapters, snappy dialogue, and fast-moving plot, this book will be popular with newly independent readers who enjoy Megan McDonald's "Stink" books (Candlewick), Suzy Kline's "Horrible Harry" titles (Viking), Hilary McKay's "Lulu" series (Albert Whitman), and other breezy chapter books.-Lisa Kropp, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Young fans of YouTube's Grumpy Cat will be smitten with Hissy, the crabby feline hero of Jenning's (the Guinea Dog series) latest animal tale. Hissy grudgingly admits to loving Georgie Fitz, his eight-year-old primary owner, but he is not a fan of her three-year-old brother, Zeb ("the untamed one"), who likes to chase Hissy. Abe, Zeb's twin, is kindhearted, as are the children's parents, but the household's near-constant noisiness is taking its toll on Hissy's ability to sleep and nap as much as he'd like. Driven outdoors, Hissy spends time terrorizing the neighborhood (an especially amusing moment sees him stealing a girl's shoe) and has a nocturnal adventure with local cats, before coming home to the Fitzes and Georgie. Hissy's drily delivered complaints and observations ("Humans are the noisiest creatures alive. I'm not sure there is any escape") entertain, while Hissy's frustration at his dependence on large humans who annoy him will likely resonate with many a reader. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7-9. Author's agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Jan) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Hissy Fitz the cat really wants to nap, but too many things are keeping him from his sweet slumber: his home is too loud; the kids won't leave him alone; and he can't deny his instincts to eat, prowl, and play nighttime soccer with feline friends. Readers will enjoy accompanying the humorously grumpy cat on his adventures; Austin's black-and-white illustrations capture Hissy's 'tude. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Can't a kitty catch a break for a nap? Not in the Fitz house. Hissy is a simple cat. He wants his food, he wants clean water, and he wants some peace and quiet for a nap. Georgie, his 8-year-old human girl, is too loving; she often elicits a hiss for waking Hissy from his important naps. Her father is a carpenter, so he earns hisses for making too much noise. But the real problem is Zeb, Georgie's untamed 3-year-old brother. Zeb is constantly noisy and constantly chasing Hissy. Zeb's twin, Abe, is perfectly tamed and probably receives the fewest hisses. Sometimes Hissy can catch a quick snooze at his friend Igloo's house, but only if the window or door is left open. Hissy concludes that wherever you find a human, you find noise. He escapes into the night for a nap, but cats are nocturnal, and he always has trouble sleeping at night. Igloo organizes a soccer match to tire him out; maybe if he snuggles with Georgie, Hissy will finally get some shut-eyebut it's only a few hours until dawn.Jennings, author of the popular Guinea Dog series, tackles the feline mind with fair results. Narrator Hissy is a hard cat to like, and his annoyance with his humans can backfire. The soccer match in an otherwise realistic tale feels a bit out of place, but cat lovers will see their feline friends in Hissy (especially if those felines can be a bit hissy at times). Not Jennings' best, but worth it for cat fans. (Fiction. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.