Summer 2009 Reading Spectacular #6

Today I started and finished Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech, which may seem quite impressive until I point out that it’s a short novel for young readers that’s written entirely as a collection of free-verse poems, as was Love That Dog, to which this is a follow-up, and as such is a lightning-fast read. The protagonist, Jack, finds himself with the same poetry-loving teacher, Miss Stretchberry, that he had the previous school year. I went in wondering if it was going to read as an opportunistic retreading of old ground from the other book, but was pleasantly surprised that Creech has woven in the threads of Love That Dog, but managed to make it a successful continuation of Jack’s development. Charming and engaging, with Jack’s voice really being the star of the show. Thanks, Sharon Creech.