The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook

Oona lives in the urban environment of Oakland, CA, and the characters and settings reflect the city's diversity: She participates in Indian traditional celebrations with her neighbors, learns a smattering of Yiddish from her grandmother, listens to the blues, and works in a pizzeria that serves both Italian and Mexican-style pizza. Oona helps her little brother learn to read by inventing rebuses for him, and she talks about what makes a story successful. Readers will also learn about pets and that it's sometimes necessary to acknowledge their mortality.

Ten-year-old Oona has a rating system for her "whoppers" -- some are harmless white lies, some are inventive stories, and others can actually hurt people. She sometimes struggles to follow her conscience, although she does realize that doing the right thing makes her feel better. Oona is observant and has several theories about life that help her define the world around her, but she also learns that there can be danger in pigeonholing people and situations. Her mother understands that much of her rebellious behavior is a reaction to her father's death and helps her find the way to do the right thing.