Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Engrossing fantasy has high-seas adventure, talking cats.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
All Duncan wants is to be good at school and demonstrate his intelligence, but his mother insists he make bad grades every now and then and not draw attention to himself. As Duncan sets out to uncover why his mother wants to hide him and the identity of his real father, he relies on a secret special skill to gain knowledge and forge ahead: He can talk to and understand cats, who prove valuable in gathering intel along the way. As he pushes closer to uncovering the truth, he learns that secrets can be good or bad, that things are not always what they seem, and that it's important to get the whole story.
Is It Any Good?
In this fun fantasy, the writing moves along briskly, chapters have twists and cliffhangers, characters are complicated but relatable, and there are thorny questions to ponder as the plot unfolds. What does it mean to be honest? Is it OK to lie to protect our loved ones? Are we more than our reputations? Why do heroes and villains often seem interchangeable?
With a clever setup most kids won't be familiar with (a parent who wants her child to do poorly in school); the secret of Duncan's father's true identity -- and possibly his own; and the otherworld and language of cats, who make for more reliable companions and confidantes than one might have imagined, it all adds up to an engrossing read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about talking animals. Why do you think they're so popular in films and books?
Can secrets be good? What's an example of a good secret vs. a bad one?
Have you ever had to play down your smarts? Why? What happened? When might this technique come in handy?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date : June 16, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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