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Alice the Cat
Winner: Feathered Quill Book Award for Animal - Children's and YA (3rd) (2024)
Finalist: American Book Fest Best 'Book Award' for YA Fiction (2023)
Finalist: National Indie Excellence Awards for Teen Fiction (2024)
“Tim Cummings manages to couple the writing of an angel with the imagination of the devil. Alice the Cat slinked inside me, furtively, magnificently. My heart ached for Tess—so much loss. My heart thundered for her too—so much sass and courage. I could not stop reading. This book is nothing short of bliss.”
– Caroline Thompson, writer of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Edward Scissorhands.
On the verge of her thirteenth birthday, Tess’s life is falling apart. Her mother is dead. Her father is like a zombie. And now her beloved cat, Alice, has started rushing into the street when cars go by, trying to get run over. The only thing Tess can think of that might help? Running away. As she ventures from home, Tess stumbles upon a crew of manga-loving goth kids hiding out in the local haunted house performing séances. There, she discovers that the house’s ghostly entity desperately wants a cat to care for in the afterlife, and it has its sights set on Alice. With the help of an unexpected friend and the brilliant, adorkable kid who has a huge crush on her, Tess will do whatever it takes to save Alice the cat, help the ghost, heal her dad, and survive the summer in one piece.
Age range: 11+
TW: Death, body talk, mental health, illness of a pet, cancer
Finalist: American Book Fest Best 'Book Award' for YA Fiction (2023)
Finalist: National Indie Excellence Awards for Teen Fiction (2024)
“Tim Cummings manages to couple the writing of an angel with the imagination of the devil. Alice the Cat slinked inside me, furtively, magnificently. My heart ached for Tess—so much loss. My heart thundered for her too—so much sass and courage. I could not stop reading. This book is nothing short of bliss.”
– Caroline Thompson, writer of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Edward Scissorhands.
On the verge of her thirteenth birthday, Tess’s life is falling apart. Her mother is dead. Her father is like a zombie. And now her beloved cat, Alice, has started rushing into the street when cars go by, trying to get run over. The only thing Tess can think of that might help? Running away. As she ventures from home, Tess stumbles upon a crew of manga-loving goth kids hiding out in the local haunted house performing séances. There, she discovers that the house’s ghostly entity desperately wants a cat to care for in the afterlife, and it has its sights set on Alice. With the help of an unexpected friend and the brilliant, adorkable kid who has a huge crush on her, Tess will do whatever it takes to save Alice the cat, help the ghost, heal her dad, and survive the summer in one piece.
Age range: 11+
TW: Death, body talk, mental health, illness of a pet, cancer
- GenresYoung Adult
186 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2023
About the author
Tim Cummings
5 books56 followersTim Cummings is the author of the best-selling coming-of-age novel, Alice the Cat published in 2023 by Fitzroy Books/Regal House. It was chosen as an American Books Awards 'Best Book' Finalist, received a Bronze Medal in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards, and is a Finalist in the 2024 National Indies Excellence Awards for Teen Fiction.
He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and a BFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. He has appeared in over 200 projects across theatre, film, television, voice-over, and new media. Recent publications of short fiction, essays, and poetry include F(r)iction, Scare Street, Lunch Ticket, MeowMeow PowPow, From Whispers to Roars, Drunk Monkeys, Hare's Paw, Lit Angels, and Critical Read/RAFT, for which he won the ‘Origins’ contest for his essay, "You Have Changed Me Forever."
He teaches writing for UCLA Extension Writers' Program, The Townies Inc in Ojai, runs private workshops, and coaches authors. He is repped by Inkwell Management in NYC and Connor Ankrum in LA.
He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and a BFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. He has appeared in over 200 projects across theatre, film, television, voice-over, and new media. Recent publications of short fiction, essays, and poetry include F(r)iction, Scare Street, Lunch Ticket, MeowMeow PowPow, From Whispers to Roars, Drunk Monkeys, Hare's Paw, Lit Angels, and Critical Read/RAFT, for which he won the ‘Origins’ contest for his essay, "You Have Changed Me Forever."
He teaches writing for UCLA Extension Writers' Program, The Townies Inc in Ojai, runs private workshops, and coaches authors. He is repped by Inkwell Management in NYC and Connor Ankrum in LA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 9, 2023
Alice the Cat is an extraordinary and unique story about a very common affliction - grief. On its surface it reads as a spin on a ghost story that happens to be centered on a cat. However, like grief, there is both nuance and layers to what becomes a far more complex tale of a child grieving the loss of a mother and, in a sense, a father as well. This is a sorrow that I, and many of us, are familiar with.
My introduction to this book came at a time when I have lost my father and am care taking for a mother suffering from dementia. I feel the weight of loss even though my father passed in 2020. Now, this isn't to say this book is a marathon of sadness. There is mystery, humor, and a tremendous amount of love.
I highly, highly recommend this book!
My introduction to this book came at a time when I have lost my father and am care taking for a mother suffering from dementia. I feel the weight of loss even though my father passed in 2020. Now, this isn't to say this book is a marathon of sadness. There is mystery, humor, and a tremendous amount of love.
I highly, highly recommend this book!
Currently reading
December 1, 2022Hello Goodreaders. Happy Thanksgiving. Today, Alice the Cat is six months out from its release date: May 23, 2023. I'm so thrilled. I just wanted to say hello and introduce this book to you. Pre-order links are available via my website, www.timcummings.ink
The hardcover Special Edition is gorgeous--definitely Pre-order that one!
And watch this space for an upcoming giveaway. :-)
Very happy to share some advance praise:
“Tim Cummings manages to couple the writing of an angel with the imagination of the devil. Alice the Cat slinked inside me, furtively, magnificently. My heart ached for Tess—so much loss. My heart thundered for her too—so much sass and courage. My skin crawled with hers. Sometimes I wanted to run screaming. I could not stop reading. This book is nothing short of bliss. Meow!”
– Caroline Thompson, writer of The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands
“Alice the Cat is a vibrant, emotional tale filled with love, friendship, and mysteries. A triumphant story of survival in the face of grief and loss.”
– Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of The Serpent King and In The Wild Light.
"Tim Cummings is a magician. He’s spun the most delicious spell with Alice the Cat —this book thrums with anger and grief, yet is ultimately one of the most charming, hilarious, heart-filled, life-giving novels I’ve ever read. Tess is a narrator for the ages—I adore her playful use of language and her fierce, loving spirit. I love everything about this book—all its sentences, all its characters—with every last inch of my heart."
– Gayle Brandeis, author of My Life with the Lincolns and The Art of Misdiagnosis
“Tim Cummings’ book is transcendent. Filled with ghosts, haunted places, and tormented souls, this book follows the adventures of Tess as she becomes obsessed with saving her cat. Beautiful, tender, and powerful, Alice the Cat will grip you with its unexpected splendor.”
– Mireya S. Vela, author of Vestiges of Courage
“Alice the Cat masterfully unites elements of ghost stories, haunted houses, lost cats, Wonderland, psychic mediums, the spirit of Halloween, Ouija boards, the occult, and a girl’s journey into the twilight of adulthood while grieving the death of her mother. Cummings has created a wonder of a book with breakout doses of heart and humor, destined to be a contemporary classic.”
– Nathan Elias, author of The Reincarnations and Coil Quake Rift
More soon.
Hug,
Tim
The hardcover Special Edition is gorgeous--definitely Pre-order that one!
And watch this space for an upcoming giveaway. :-)
Very happy to share some advance praise:
“Tim Cummings manages to couple the writing of an angel with the imagination of the devil. Alice the Cat slinked inside me, furtively, magnificently. My heart ached for Tess—so much loss. My heart thundered for her too—so much sass and courage. My skin crawled with hers. Sometimes I wanted to run screaming. I could not stop reading. This book is nothing short of bliss. Meow!”
– Caroline Thompson, writer of The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands
“Alice the Cat is a vibrant, emotional tale filled with love, friendship, and mysteries. A triumphant story of survival in the face of grief and loss.”
– Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of The Serpent King and In The Wild Light.
"Tim Cummings is a magician. He’s spun the most delicious spell with Alice the Cat —this book thrums with anger and grief, yet is ultimately one of the most charming, hilarious, heart-filled, life-giving novels I’ve ever read. Tess is a narrator for the ages—I adore her playful use of language and her fierce, loving spirit. I love everything about this book—all its sentences, all its characters—with every last inch of my heart."
– Gayle Brandeis, author of My Life with the Lincolns and The Art of Misdiagnosis
“Tim Cummings’ book is transcendent. Filled with ghosts, haunted places, and tormented souls, this book follows the adventures of Tess as she becomes obsessed with saving her cat. Beautiful, tender, and powerful, Alice the Cat will grip you with its unexpected splendor.”
– Mireya S. Vela, author of Vestiges of Courage
“Alice the Cat masterfully unites elements of ghost stories, haunted houses, lost cats, Wonderland, psychic mediums, the spirit of Halloween, Ouija boards, the occult, and a girl’s journey into the twilight of adulthood while grieving the death of her mother. Cummings has created a wonder of a book with breakout doses of heart and humor, destined to be a contemporary classic.”
– Nathan Elias, author of The Reincarnations and Coil Quake Rift
More soon.
Hug,
Tim
April 13, 2023
thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
i was really excited to read a middle grade novel that explores grief and how it can affect different people (and animals), but especially children. but there were some moments that left a bad impression, more specifically two where i almost put the book down.
the story opens with the main character talking about her breast size and how they were C-cups are twelve years old and not double Ds. this served no purpose later on in the story and was also just wildly inappropriate. young girls around that age are highly prone to body image issues, and already having the main character have C-cups was not a good idea. having the story start with talking about a child's breasts is so disgusting.
the second instance was when Tess says that depression is contagious. yes, i understand she's twelve and probably doesn't understand mental health. but the fact that an adult wrote this and was okay with showing this to children??? this entire dialogue exchange was so unnecessary and was so harmful to those that suffer from depression.
ultimately, i couldn't get over these two instances (as well as others but these two were the ones that stuck out most to me), and with them being towards the beginning of the story, it left such a terrible impression on me. i couldn't enjoy the rest of the story.
i was really excited to read a middle grade novel that explores grief and how it can affect different people (and animals), but especially children. but there were some moments that left a bad impression, more specifically two where i almost put the book down.
the story opens with the main character talking about her breast size and how they were C-cups are twelve years old and not double Ds. this served no purpose later on in the story and was also just wildly inappropriate. young girls around that age are highly prone to body image issues, and already having the main character have C-cups was not a good idea. having the story start with talking about a child's breasts is so disgusting.
the second instance was when Tess says that depression is contagious. yes, i understand she's twelve and probably doesn't understand mental health. but the fact that an adult wrote this and was okay with showing this to children??? this entire dialogue exchange was so unnecessary and was so harmful to those that suffer from depression.
ultimately, i couldn't get over these two instances (as well as others but these two were the ones that stuck out most to me), and with them being towards the beginning of the story, it left such a terrible impression on me. i couldn't enjoy the rest of the story.
May 24, 2023
“Alice the Cat" by Tim Cummings is an intriguing novel that weaves together a tapestry of supernatural elements, emotional turmoil, and young love.
The protagonist, Tess, possesses a unique ability to communicate with spirits, opening up a fascinating realm of paranormal encounters. The author skillfully delves into Tess's journey of self-discovery as she navigates this extraordinary gift, which adds a touch of mystery and intrigue to the narrative. Readers will be drawn into the ethereal realm as Tess uncovers secrets and learns to harness her abilities.
The presence of Francine, an angry ghost, adds an extra layer of tension to the story. While the author does a passible job of portraying Francine’s emotions, capturing her torment and the unresolved issues that bind her to the earthly realm, the ultimate resolution felt somewhat rushed.
The heartbreaking loss of Tess’s mother and her father’s grief, which causes Tess to nickname him “the Zombie”, forms a poignant backdrop for the story. The author sensitively explores the impact of grief on individuals, and Tess’s journey toward healing deeply resonates.
Intertwined with the supernatural elements are the bonds of friendship and young love. Cotter, a quirky boy who harbors affection for Tess, adds a touch of innocence and levity to the story. His presence provides a sense of warmth and familiarity amid the book’s darker themes.
Eddie’s character, a 17-year-old with a traumatic brain injury, brings further depth to the narrative. The author handles Eddie’s storyline with care, highlighting the challenges, societal prejudices, and resilience associated with such an experience.
“Alice the Cat” is an engrossing read that seamlessly blends supernatural elements, emotional depth, and the complexities of human connections. Cummings’ skilled storytelling and well-developed characters make for a journey that will keep readers engaged until the very end. This book is a must-read for fans of paranormal fiction and those seeking a thought-provoking exploration of grief, love, and the supernatural.
The protagonist, Tess, possesses a unique ability to communicate with spirits, opening up a fascinating realm of paranormal encounters. The author skillfully delves into Tess's journey of self-discovery as she navigates this extraordinary gift, which adds a touch of mystery and intrigue to the narrative. Readers will be drawn into the ethereal realm as Tess uncovers secrets and learns to harness her abilities.
The presence of Francine, an angry ghost, adds an extra layer of tension to the story. While the author does a passible job of portraying Francine’s emotions, capturing her torment and the unresolved issues that bind her to the earthly realm, the ultimate resolution felt somewhat rushed.
The heartbreaking loss of Tess’s mother and her father’s grief, which causes Tess to nickname him “the Zombie”, forms a poignant backdrop for the story. The author sensitively explores the impact of grief on individuals, and Tess’s journey toward healing deeply resonates.
Intertwined with the supernatural elements are the bonds of friendship and young love. Cotter, a quirky boy who harbors affection for Tess, adds a touch of innocence and levity to the story. His presence provides a sense of warmth and familiarity amid the book’s darker themes.
Eddie’s character, a 17-year-old with a traumatic brain injury, brings further depth to the narrative. The author handles Eddie’s storyline with care, highlighting the challenges, societal prejudices, and resilience associated with such an experience.
“Alice the Cat” is an engrossing read that seamlessly blends supernatural elements, emotional depth, and the complexities of human connections. Cummings’ skilled storytelling and well-developed characters make for a journey that will keep readers engaged until the very end. This book is a must-read for fans of paranormal fiction and those seeking a thought-provoking exploration of grief, love, and the supernatural.
August 3, 2024
This young adult novel deals with very difficult themes, such as loss of a parent at a young age and the loss of a beloved pet.
It does so with grace, authenticity and great sensitivity.
Tess' emotions are raw and the author does not sugarcoat nor "disneyfie" death and grief.
Tim manages to weave in adventures, friendships, fantasy, ghosts and even quite a bit of humor, which softens the blow of the underlying story of heartbreaking loss.
Tim's book is a refreshing, realistic and honest take on a topic that we all have to confront, sooner or later, and which too many experience at a young age.
In a culture where death of real people in real life (as opposed to the impersonal ketchup massacres of video games and horror movies) is still a taboo subject and is kept hidden from the public eye, and especially from the younger demographic; in a culture where we don't even say the word "died" but use the euphemism "passed on", books such as "Alice the Cat" are a much needed addition.
Those who have experienced young loss will identify with Tess and those who were lucky enough to have been spared that pain, will gain some awareness and hopefully some compassion as well.
It does so with grace, authenticity and great sensitivity.
Tess' emotions are raw and the author does not sugarcoat nor "disneyfie" death and grief.
Tim manages to weave in adventures, friendships, fantasy, ghosts and even quite a bit of humor, which softens the blow of the underlying story of heartbreaking loss.
Tim's book is a refreshing, realistic and honest take on a topic that we all have to confront, sooner or later, and which too many experience at a young age.
In a culture where death of real people in real life (as opposed to the impersonal ketchup massacres of video games and horror movies) is still a taboo subject and is kept hidden from the public eye, and especially from the younger demographic; in a culture where we don't even say the word "died" but use the euphemism "passed on", books such as "Alice the Cat" are a much needed addition.
Those who have experienced young loss will identify with Tess and those who were lucky enough to have been spared that pain, will gain some awareness and hopefully some compassion as well.
June 13, 2023
Alice the Cat is the type of YA we simply don't find anymore. Its deeply-felt prose hits the emotional jugular while the contemporary reference points are hip enough to engage the most plugged-in adult readers. (FKA Twigs, anyone?) Magic, trauma, life, and the hereafter—this book traverses temporal space and returns the reader to Earth changed and more whole.
November 26, 2023
I was sorry to see this one end. Hoping for a sequel.
August 26, 2024
As Tess grapples with the loss of her mother 10 weeks prior to “boob cancer”, she also has to deal with her zombie dad, and Alice her cat that appears to want to kill herself. Tess is known to have anger issues, but all these tragedies are just too much for one 12 year old girl. In the midst of her sorrow, her Zombie Dad, is a shell of who he was and Tess wants to run away. Alice has also ran away and searching for her, she ends up at an abandoned house said to be haunted. The family has left everything in its place. She finds Alice in a small corner which she cannot reach. Along the way, she also finds new friends, Eddie, Lunar and Dami and a classmate Cotter that takes them on a ghostly journey.
The characters were wonderful and they all are running from family trauma. Eddie, an ace baseball player, now with a disability due to head trauma is misunderstood, but he is the sweetest of all her new friends. Cotter loves dressing up into characters and is a detriment to the trouble the kids will find themselves in. Lunar and Dami are the goth kids who believe in ghosts and talking to the dead. With everyone’s help, Tess finds her way to a better understanding of her dad.
I will definitely use this book with my kids for speech therapy. There are many phrases and colorful idioms (buyt nuggets, spiders in her heart) that are perfect for language therapy.
A wonderful book dealing with the death of a loved one, divorce, disabilities and anger.
The characters were wonderful and they all are running from family trauma. Eddie, an ace baseball player, now with a disability due to head trauma is misunderstood, but he is the sweetest of all her new friends. Cotter loves dressing up into characters and is a detriment to the trouble the kids will find themselves in. Lunar and Dami are the goth kids who believe in ghosts and talking to the dead. With everyone’s help, Tess finds her way to a better understanding of her dad.
I will definitely use this book with my kids for speech therapy. There are many phrases and colorful idioms (buyt nuggets, spiders in her heart) that are perfect for language therapy.
A wonderful book dealing with the death of a loved one, divorce, disabilities and anger.
November 13, 2023
Be warned – this book is absolutely heartbreaking! I cried and cried!
Everything that can go wrong seems to have gone wrong for the poor main character, Tess, and her beloved cat being lured by a ghost feels like the last straw, tipping her into going on the run in a desperate attempt to keep hold of the one loved one she has left. And while attempting to run and hide from unpleasant realities, Tess meets some unusual new friends: brain-injured Eddie; sweet stalker Cotter; Goth couple Dami and Lunar; and the aforementioned ghostly cat-poacher.
So, this is a coming of age story about dealing with loss and the ensuing trauma, anger and bewilderment it leaves behind. All of the characters are wonderfully drawn and instantly compelling and the writing plunges you deep into Tess’s grief and keeps you immersed there with her, holding your breath that you will both surface by the end of the story.
The supernatural elements are neatly woven in with the realism of the emotion and characters and are, in turns, scary, clever and comforting. And while nothing is ‘all fixed’ by the end of the book (again, realism) there is hope that Tess is on a brighter, healing path.
I couldn’t stop turning the pages and was rooting for Tess, Alice and co. all the way, and although I did cry a lot, they were cathartic tears that left me with a warm, comforted glow when I finally put the book down.
Everything that can go wrong seems to have gone wrong for the poor main character, Tess, and her beloved cat being lured by a ghost feels like the last straw, tipping her into going on the run in a desperate attempt to keep hold of the one loved one she has left. And while attempting to run and hide from unpleasant realities, Tess meets some unusual new friends: brain-injured Eddie; sweet stalker Cotter; Goth couple Dami and Lunar; and the aforementioned ghostly cat-poacher.
So, this is a coming of age story about dealing with loss and the ensuing trauma, anger and bewilderment it leaves behind. All of the characters are wonderfully drawn and instantly compelling and the writing plunges you deep into Tess’s grief and keeps you immersed there with her, holding your breath that you will both surface by the end of the story.
The supernatural elements are neatly woven in with the realism of the emotion and characters and are, in turns, scary, clever and comforting. And while nothing is ‘all fixed’ by the end of the book (again, realism) there is hope that Tess is on a brighter, healing path.
I couldn’t stop turning the pages and was rooting for Tess, Alice and co. all the way, and although I did cry a lot, they were cathartic tears that left me with a warm, comforted glow when I finally put the book down.
July 21, 2023
Princess Fuzzypants here: Tess is having a very bad day. She is vexed by things a thirteen year old girl must go through, her mother has died recently and her father’s way of coping is to turn into a sad zombie and now Alice, the cat she shared with her mother, is doing some very strange and alarming things. Tess constantly feels like she is going explode with rage and decides the only way to survive is run away with Alice. But Alice is very ill and things do not go as Tess had planned.
In fact, there are many surprises in store for her including an encounter with a ghost who has almost as many anger issues as Tess. It is a sometimes heartbreaking and always interesting journey that Tess takes that will bring her peace and acceptance. The story is quite moving and ends on an optimistic note. With new self awareness, Tess is more empowered to move forward with her life.
Four purrs and two paws up.
In fact, there are many surprises in store for her including an encounter with a ghost who has almost as many anger issues as Tess. It is a sometimes heartbreaking and always interesting journey that Tess takes that will bring her peace and acceptance. The story is quite moving and ends on an optimistic note. With new self awareness, Tess is more empowered to move forward with her life.
Four purrs and two paws up.
March 7, 2023
This is an incredible story that touched me so deeply. Alice was a true gift for everyone she touched, bringing people together across social and spiritual universes. I was humbled by the joy it encapsulated while delving deeply into something everyone has experienced…. Loss and grief. It was healing and hopeful and genuine…. Simply it was beautiful.
March 15, 2023
This review delves into slight spoiler territory. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
This book follows Tess, a twelve year old girl who recently lost her mother to breast cancer. Her father is “a zombie.” Her cat, Tessa believes, is depressed. After Alice the cat runs in front of a car, Tess decides to run away in an attempt to save her cat. She is joined and aided by Eddie, the neighborhood outcast; and Cotter, a boy who has a crush on her.
Alice the Cat had potential to be a beautiful examination of grief and loss written for a middle grade audience. The foundation is there in the plot, with our young protagonist often filled with rage and unable to find outlets for it. She frequently explodes on others and then immediately apologizes. This anger associated with the loss of a loved one can be hard to understand, especially for younger people, and it was depicted well in this book. Tess often describes herself like a volcano, with a sudden onset of anger bursting out of her. The phrases used will be easy for middle grade readers to understand, and possibly to relate to.
There was also an opportunity to discuss how we project our own feelings of grief onto others–this could have been an explanation for why Tess thought that Alice was suicidal. This is where I had the highest hopes, and this is where the book fell flat. The story of what was wrong with the cat took a steep deviation from the path I thought we were on, and from the plot summary itself: “Tess will do whatever it takes to save Alice the cat, help the ghost, heal her dad…” Saving Alice is certainly part of the story, but not in the direction the synopsis would lead you to believe. And Tess spends the majority of the book angry with her father for the way he grieves. Rather than explore the different ways people grieve–her father just moves through the motions, while Tess is always angry–most of the time is spent with her saying she hates him. So much could have been done here.
***mild spoiler***
There is an issue that in another book would likely be nitpicky, but because a large part of the plot hinges on it, I feel the need to bring it up. The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is not leukemia in the sense that we know it for humans; it is a retrovirus. Calling it cancer is inaccurate. This could have been done by having Tess misunderstand because leukemia is associated with cancer in humans, and her mother died of cancer, so she connects the dots herself. However, this is not the case; a veterinarian is the one who tells Tess that FeLV is cancer. Again, if a major plot point did not rely on this, I would have written it off as a small error.
***end spoiler***
Some of the language used around mental health was troublesome. Early on, Tess is thinking about the rumors about what happened to Eddie, a 17-year-old who suffered from what sounds like a traumatic brain injury, and said he “became a druggie freakazoid.” While this is how some younger people may think in relation to behavior after a TBI, the language is still harmful. Additionally, Cotter, the boy who has a crush on Tess, says that when Tess’s mom died, “I cried so hard that my dad said he was going to admit me to a mental hospital if I didn’t stop.” There are so many people who have had terrible experiences in mental institutions, and also people who truly need to be hospitalized for their mental illness, so using it as a throwaway line feels reductive.
Lastly, there was one line on the very first page that didn’t sit right with me. Tess is lamenting the fact that she told a girl in her class that she has DD cups, when she actually has C cup breasts, and that it led to the boys on her school bus making comments about it. This had no relevance later in the book. It just felt gross for a male author to write the inner thoughts of a preteen thinking about her breasts.
This book had both potential and room for improvement. As far as the language issues, that could easily be fixed by using less harmful phrasing and handling mental illness/trauma with a little more care. While the representation of confusing anger was well-done, the handling of the subject of grief itself could have been done better. I think if the book had been maybe 10 pages longer, more time could have been spent on Tess understanding her anger as well as her father’s sadness. I do think that younger readers will still get something out of this book, just maybe not as much as they could have.
2.5 stars, rounded down
This book follows Tess, a twelve year old girl who recently lost her mother to breast cancer. Her father is “a zombie.” Her cat, Tessa believes, is depressed. After Alice the cat runs in front of a car, Tess decides to run away in an attempt to save her cat. She is joined and aided by Eddie, the neighborhood outcast; and Cotter, a boy who has a crush on her.
Alice the Cat had potential to be a beautiful examination of grief and loss written for a middle grade audience. The foundation is there in the plot, with our young protagonist often filled with rage and unable to find outlets for it. She frequently explodes on others and then immediately apologizes. This anger associated with the loss of a loved one can be hard to understand, especially for younger people, and it was depicted well in this book. Tess often describes herself like a volcano, with a sudden onset of anger bursting out of her. The phrases used will be easy for middle grade readers to understand, and possibly to relate to.
There was also an opportunity to discuss how we project our own feelings of grief onto others–this could have been an explanation for why Tess thought that Alice was suicidal. This is where I had the highest hopes, and this is where the book fell flat. The story of what was wrong with the cat took a steep deviation from the path I thought we were on, and from the plot summary itself: “Tess will do whatever it takes to save Alice the cat, help the ghost, heal her dad…” Saving Alice is certainly part of the story, but not in the direction the synopsis would lead you to believe. And Tess spends the majority of the book angry with her father for the way he grieves. Rather than explore the different ways people grieve–her father just moves through the motions, while Tess is always angry–most of the time is spent with her saying she hates him. So much could have been done here.
***mild spoiler***
There is an issue that in another book would likely be nitpicky, but because a large part of the plot hinges on it, I feel the need to bring it up. The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is not leukemia in the sense that we know it for humans; it is a retrovirus. Calling it cancer is inaccurate. This could have been done by having Tess misunderstand because leukemia is associated with cancer in humans, and her mother died of cancer, so she connects the dots herself. However, this is not the case; a veterinarian is the one who tells Tess that FeLV is cancer. Again, if a major plot point did not rely on this, I would have written it off as a small error.
***end spoiler***
Some of the language used around mental health was troublesome. Early on, Tess is thinking about the rumors about what happened to Eddie, a 17-year-old who suffered from what sounds like a traumatic brain injury, and said he “became a druggie freakazoid.” While this is how some younger people may think in relation to behavior after a TBI, the language is still harmful. Additionally, Cotter, the boy who has a crush on Tess, says that when Tess’s mom died, “I cried so hard that my dad said he was going to admit me to a mental hospital if I didn’t stop.” There are so many people who have had terrible experiences in mental institutions, and also people who truly need to be hospitalized for their mental illness, so using it as a throwaway line feels reductive.
Lastly, there was one line on the very first page that didn’t sit right with me. Tess is lamenting the fact that she told a girl in her class that she has DD cups, when she actually has C cup breasts, and that it led to the boys on her school bus making comments about it. This had no relevance later in the book. It just felt gross for a male author to write the inner thoughts of a preteen thinking about her breasts.
This book had both potential and room for improvement. As far as the language issues, that could easily be fixed by using less harmful phrasing and handling mental illness/trauma with a little more care. While the representation of confusing anger was well-done, the handling of the subject of grief itself could have been done better. I think if the book had been maybe 10 pages longer, more time could have been spent on Tess understanding her anger as well as her father’s sadness. I do think that younger readers will still get something out of this book, just maybe not as much as they could have.
2.5 stars, rounded down
January 8, 2023
Tessa is almost thirteen. Her mother passed away recently, her father is in shambles, and Alice, her cat, keeps running away. After chasing Alice into the grounds of her neighborhood’s haunted house, Tessa starts to think that there is a presence there that wants Alice for themselves. Together, with the help of old and new friends, Tessa sets out on an adventure to protect Alice while dealing with the grief of her mother’s passing and the uncertainty of her new family life, where everything seems to have been broken apart.
This is an emotional, hopeful middle grade story that presents themes of grief and some of the ways it is outwardly manifested. I enjoyed the diverse characters, Tessa’s adventures, and gradual growth, as well as the ways her friends show up for her when she needs them the most. Even though I thoroughly loved Alice (I love cats) and Tessa, my favorite character is Eddie: self-aware and endlessly kind, even as his own family considers him a burden. I also appreciated the themes of hope, closure, and the importance given to mental health wellness throughout the story. Overall, a four-star book for me.
I highly recommend it to those who enjoy themes of ghosts, haunted houses, grief, acceptance, friendship, and hope.
Thanks to NetGalley and Regal House, Fitzroy Books for providing me with a free digital copy to review this book.
#AlicetheCat#NetGalley#bookstagram#booktrovert#booklover#netgalleyreviewer#bookstagrammer#bookreviews#goodreads#netgalleyreviews#bookstagram#booktrovert#booklover
This is an emotional, hopeful middle grade story that presents themes of grief and some of the ways it is outwardly manifested. I enjoyed the diverse characters, Tessa’s adventures, and gradual growth, as well as the ways her friends show up for her when she needs them the most. Even though I thoroughly loved Alice (I love cats) and Tessa, my favorite character is Eddie: self-aware and endlessly kind, even as his own family considers him a burden. I also appreciated the themes of hope, closure, and the importance given to mental health wellness throughout the story. Overall, a four-star book for me.
I highly recommend it to those who enjoy themes of ghosts, haunted houses, grief, acceptance, friendship, and hope.
Thanks to NetGalley and Regal House, Fitzroy Books for providing me with a free digital copy to review this book.
#AlicetheCat#NetGalley#bookstagram#booktrovert#booklover#netgalleyreviewer#bookstagrammer#bookreviews#goodreads#netgalleyreviews#bookstagram#booktrovert#booklover
May 12, 2024
Beautiful and heartwarming, this tale of a teen dealing with loss, love, friendship, and the supernatural left me pining for more, like Tess pines for her sick cat, her dead mom, and her dad who is like a zombie in his grief. Tim Cummings has a unique way of describing emotional experience that strikes a chord.
July 15, 2023
The spider across Tess's heart, the wart toad in her belly, the steam, and the lava erupting. I love the unique images Tim Cummings conjures to describe the process and emotions of grieving. This is a beautiful book about grief and growing up full of vivid characters; I loved Lunar and Dami and Cotter and Eddie and Alice and Francine - the secondary characters keep you as hooked as Tess, the main character, does. The paranormal aspects of the book are great, and I loved that the entire story is essentially a metaphor for Tess losing her mom, an impossible thing to grasp and move on from, especially at the age of thirteen. I love that Tess doesn't come to a neat conclusion - she has moved forward and grown, but she understands this is life; eventually, more people she loves will die. The final sentences of the book were stunning.
July 5, 2023
This story pulled me in and enveloped me. The writing was smooth and easy, and the characters were perfect, and perfectly flawed.
The depiction of Tess -- her anger, her grief, her need to escape -- felt so real. I can't imagine losing a parent as a not-quite-teenager, but the emotions and actions of Tess just seem exactly right for her situation.
I loved the supernatural aspect, as well as the 'just because you're not friends doesn't mean you have to be enemies' themes of this book. As a Young Adult piece of fiction, it works on every level.
You'll have to read it to find out why it's called Alice the Cat.
The depiction of Tess -- her anger, her grief, her need to escape -- felt so real. I can't imagine losing a parent as a not-quite-teenager, but the emotions and actions of Tess just seem exactly right for her situation.
I loved the supernatural aspect, as well as the 'just because you're not friends doesn't mean you have to be enemies' themes of this book. As a Young Adult piece of fiction, it works on every level.
You'll have to read it to find out why it's called Alice the Cat.
March 19, 2023
"Crapballs" this book is magical! It's filled with humor and heartbreak and imagination. The language is playful and poetic with just their right amount of creepiness. You will love Tess and her oddball group of misfit friends as they try and save Alice, Tess' cat. I read it like I was possessed. I laughed, cried and felt many a spider walk across my heart. I hope everybody reads it.
April 22, 2023
This was a fun read! I am very excited to bring it into the library for young readers, especially those who enjoy Erin Hunter.
August 20, 2023
ALICE THE CAT is, like most effective YA, a story of friendship, danger, courage, and love. Tess is a preteen who has lost her mother (and emotionally, her father as well). When her beloved cat (the titular Alice) starts to exhibit self-destructive behaviors, Tess has had enough and sets out on a journey to save her feline friend. In doing so, she takes us on a journey of personal discovery and a literal confrontation with death. What a wonderful story, and a touching characterization of Tess. A satisfying read for both young adults and grownup readers alike.
March 4, 2023
I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.
Alice the Cat is a unique story told in the first person voice of almost 13 year old Tess. She has a fresh and observant voice with the favorite insult of “buttnugget” and sees the people and world around her in rich detail:
There is a tree named Stanley and Tess refers to her depressed and grieving father as the Zombie.
Alice the cat is suicidal and is family to Tess: “Cats can see inside humans. I think they see souls. I think souls look like milk to them. Alice and I were sisters.” It is Alice that leads Tess to the haunted house and the beginning of her adventure trying to save Alice, while she also navigates her anger management issues and the profound feelings from the death of her mother 10 weeks ago.
The story manages to be funny, sad, touching and hopeful. This would be a great book for preteens–those dealing with grief and loss and those who are not.
2023 PopSugar Reading Challenge #46: A book with a pet character.
Alice the Cat is a unique story told in the first person voice of almost 13 year old Tess. She has a fresh and observant voice with the favorite insult of “buttnugget” and sees the people and world around her in rich detail:
“I love all the colors–blue water, purple sky, my mom’s red hair, green eyes, pink face, and peppery freckles.”
“They dressed in black t-shirts with scary faces on them, wore combat boots, lined their eyes in black, teased their hair into bird nests, and worshipped graphic novels, manga, vampires, horror movies, emo music, and death.”
There is a tree named Stanley and Tess refers to her depressed and grieving father as the Zombie.
Alice the cat is suicidal and is family to Tess: “Cats can see inside humans. I think they see souls. I think souls look like milk to them. Alice and I were sisters.” It is Alice that leads Tess to the haunted house and the beginning of her adventure trying to save Alice, while she also navigates her anger management issues and the profound feelings from the death of her mother 10 weeks ago.
The story manages to be funny, sad, touching and hopeful. This would be a great book for preteens–those dealing with grief and loss and those who are not.
2023 PopSugar Reading Challenge #46: A book with a pet character.
December 12, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an eARC of Alice the Cat in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Tess is a young teenager who is sadly learning how to navigate grief after losing her mother. Her father is in his own state of grief and unable to tend to Tess, and her beloved cat Alice is causing trouble. Tess attempts to seek solace by running away with her cat, leading her to find friendship in someone she'd never expect.
This was heartbreakingly lovely. The author manages to include the feelings you experience through the stages of grief (depression, anger), all while including moments of humor and hopefulness. I would highly recommend this book for preteen kids, and really, all ages - I thoroughly enjoyed this.
TW: Death of a parent, sick pet/pet loss, depression, mention of suicide, cancer
Tess is a young teenager who is sadly learning how to navigate grief after losing her mother. Her father is in his own state of grief and unable to tend to Tess, and her beloved cat Alice is causing trouble. Tess attempts to seek solace by running away with her cat, leading her to find friendship in someone she'd never expect.
This was heartbreakingly lovely. The author manages to include the feelings you experience through the stages of grief (depression, anger), all while including moments of humor and hopefulness. I would highly recommend this book for preteen kids, and really, all ages - I thoroughly enjoyed this.
TW: Death of a parent, sick pet/pet loss, depression, mention of suicide, cancer
May 26, 2023
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own
Alice the Cat brings out a lot of emotions. By the 4th or 5th chapter, I teared up more than once. It deals a lot with grief and the multiple ways one deals with it: checking out(zombie), anger, and depression
They aside the imagery is phenomenal! Tom Cummings has found the sweet spot between non descriptive and over descriptive.
Alice the Cat is a beautiful book that is fun to read, even if you may cry.
Alice the Cat brings out a lot of emotions. By the 4th or 5th chapter, I teared up more than once. It deals a lot with grief and the multiple ways one deals with it: checking out(zombie), anger, and depression
They aside the imagery is phenomenal! Tom Cummings has found the sweet spot between non descriptive and over descriptive.
Alice the Cat is a beautiful book that is fun to read, even if you may cry.
July 27, 2023
This book was magical. The author clearly understands the thinking of kids this age. The struggle to deal with such serious things could have made for such a sad story but it felt like an adventure. I think there are many young people out there who will love reading this book. I am especially in love with the “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” moments and loved how people Tess thought she knew could surprise her.
My heart broke for Tess over and over but the quirky band of people she met on her journey made it funny and beautiful
My heart broke for Tess over and over but the quirky band of people she met on her journey made it funny and beautiful
April 17, 2023
Tess is an almost-thirteen-year-old girl just trying to save her suicidal cat while "zombie" dads, angry ghosts and even herself keep getting in the way.
What tropes, vibes and themes does this book include?
Themes of grief and understanding it in not only oneself, but in others around you. Generally, I could not pinpoint an exact vibe, but I guess you could give it a mystical or kind of spooky vibe.
Who should read this?
I suppose it's the right fit for anyone struggling with their own grief or someone else's.
What ages are appropriate?
This is classified as middle grade, but I do not recommend it for children under 10 or even 11 (even 12 if you're child is sensitive or you are strict about what they read).
Trigger warnings: ghosts, insensitivity to certain emotional and mental traumas, reference to drugs and sex, mild graphic description of gore (I use the term lightly), cancer and disease, , and a near constant mention of death and dying.
Review: ★★☆☆☆
For more than half of the book I just didn't like it at all. But I have to admit, Tess grew on me. Eventually. Let's get right to it.
The Ups:
Grief is a very serious topic that all children need to learn about at some point (if not through the death of a loved one, at least that of a pet). Understanding how it affects yourself and others is important so that they don't spiral out of control or shut down all together, and I think this book represented that very well. Unfortunately, that is all the good I can say for this one.
The Downs:
Of course, this is a matter of personal opinion. I am not the authority on you (or your children's) taste in books. Take what I say with a grain of salt.
From the first page, something felt off for me. And after reading some other reviews, it seems I am not alone in feeling uncomfortable with the very first page describing an underage girl's breast size, especially coming from a male author. But let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that Tess's self consciousness are due to what happened to her mother . The issue is we don't know that yet, so it just comes off as downright creepy.
I cannot begin to describe the "slang" and way of speaking used in this book. It drove me up a wall! I may not be a child anymore and haven't been for some time, but with social media these days one can understand how children talk, despite any generational gap. And it's not like this. Some offending words: buttnuggets, freakiacs, crapballs, gothies. Gothies. Borderline cringe. If it were just Tess, I could forgive it because she's a bit of weird kid. But the others children talked just as strange, like some artificial imitation of how kids are supposed to sound. If this book had been aimed at a younger audience, let's say 8 or 9, I could understand such silly words, but this book is upper middle grade. And I want upper middle grade to have a professional, well-written narrative. Not something so conversational and made-up it comes off as amateurish.
While the narrative felt childish, some of the subject matter felt a little too adult. Middle grade should present realities about life masked in a way children feel comfortable with. Those realities were slapped into this book raw. Death and dying drench this book, talk about sex and drugs, and even one instance where a 12 year old is accused of losing her virginity to an 18 year old. I don't believe that last one was meant seriously, but even just the implication did not feel appropriate. I like middle grade to be a bit more innocent. Save the harsh realities for later on in life.
As for the plot -- it wouldn't stay in one place. There were too many elements, and because of that none of them felt explored enough. Picking one could've solved this issue. Did this story need ghosts? Probably not, since they felt thrown in at the midpoint with no real build up. Which is odd since the ghost element felt like it had been so important by the end.
Conclusion:
With a little extra time and work, some plot reworking and polishing up, this book could've been a banger. If you're checking out reviews for your children, and you're not too worried about sensitive material, this might be a decent book for them to read. If you are simply an adult who is still a child at hear (like me!) than I suggest you move on.
What tropes, vibes and themes does this book include?
Themes of grief and understanding it in not only oneself, but in others around you. Generally, I could not pinpoint an exact vibe, but I guess you could give it a mystical or kind of spooky vibe.
Who should read this?
I suppose it's the right fit for anyone struggling with their own grief or someone else's.
What ages are appropriate?
This is classified as middle grade, but I do not recommend it for children under 10 or even 11 (even 12 if you're child is sensitive or you are strict about what they read).
Trigger warnings: ghosts, insensitivity to certain emotional and mental traumas, reference to drugs and sex, mild graphic description of gore (I use the term lightly), cancer and disease, , and a near constant mention of death and dying.
Review: ★★☆☆☆
For more than half of the book I just didn't like it at all. But I have to admit, Tess grew on me. Eventually. Let's get right to it.
The Ups:
Grief is a very serious topic that all children need to learn about at some point (if not through the death of a loved one, at least that of a pet). Understanding how it affects yourself and others is important so that they don't spiral out of control or shut down all together, and I think this book represented that very well. Unfortunately, that is all the good I can say for this one.
The Downs:
Of course, this is a matter of personal opinion. I am not the authority on you (or your children's) taste in books. Take what I say with a grain of salt.
From the first page, something felt off for me. And after reading some other reviews, it seems I am not alone in feeling uncomfortable with the very first page describing an underage girl's breast size, especially coming from a male author. But let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that Tess's self consciousness are due to what happened to her mother . The issue is we don't know that yet, so it just comes off as downright creepy.
I cannot begin to describe the "slang" and way of speaking used in this book. It drove me up a wall! I may not be a child anymore and haven't been for some time, but with social media these days one can understand how children talk, despite any generational gap. And it's not like this. Some offending words: buttnuggets, freakiacs, crapballs, gothies. Gothies. Borderline cringe. If it were just Tess, I could forgive it because she's a bit of weird kid. But the others children talked just as strange, like some artificial imitation of how kids are supposed to sound. If this book had been aimed at a younger audience, let's say 8 or 9, I could understand such silly words, but this book is upper middle grade. And I want upper middle grade to have a professional, well-written narrative. Not something so conversational and made-up it comes off as amateurish.
While the narrative felt childish, some of the subject matter felt a little too adult. Middle grade should present realities about life masked in a way children feel comfortable with. Those realities were slapped into this book raw. Death and dying drench this book, talk about sex and drugs, and even one instance where a 12 year old is accused of losing her virginity to an 18 year old. I don't believe that last one was meant seriously, but even just the implication did not feel appropriate. I like middle grade to be a bit more innocent. Save the harsh realities for later on in life.
As for the plot -- it wouldn't stay in one place. There were too many elements, and because of that none of them felt explored enough. Picking one could've solved this issue. Did this story need ghosts? Probably not, since they felt thrown in at the midpoint with no real build up. Which is odd since the ghost element felt like it had been so important by the end.
Conclusion:
With a little extra time and work, some plot reworking and polishing up, this book could've been a banger. If you're checking out reviews for your children, and you're not too worried about sensitive material, this might be a decent book for them to read. If you are simply an adult who is still a child at hear (like me!) than I suggest you move on.
June 25, 2023
Such a neat storyline and a different way of writing about grief. I had to suspend my belief a bit, but otherwise I enjoyed the story about a young girl who lost too much.
August 17, 2023
A tender and honest glimpse into the many manifestations of grief, and the magical possibilities that are unlocked in the wake of loss
August 12, 2023
This was an interesting take on dealing with loss, grief, the aftermath of a loss and changes from puberty. Tess' mom recently passed away from breast cancer, her father is still mired in grief, and Alice, her cat, is suicidal. Tess decides to run away to save Alice and see if her dad will escape his zombie-like state. It's a moving story and details how much Tess is truly working through to get past her grief and to be able to work through her grief with her dad.
June 20, 2023
An extraordinary book that doesn't shy away from its themes. Grief and anguish are handled with such refreshing honesty, you can't help but shift your own perspective on the matter. Life's most unbearable moments find no relief, only a measure of grace -- it's a message all will benefit from.
January 4, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Fitzroy Books for providing me this advance reader copy of this book
The review I left below is purely based on my reading experience for Alice the Cat by Tim Cummings
Alice the Cat is a challenging read for me even though it's labelled as middle grade. The main character experienced grief and anger which were showed through her words and actions. The magical realism element is okay, but I found it insufficient to provide me the convincing backstory and motives especially for the ghost. Some characters need more exploration like Eddie, I'm curious about what really happened to him, and Alice the Cat herself, even though she is the title of this book, I didn't get her part enough so it feels like she's so faraway from me as a reader.
I love how it ended, the closure for Tess and her dad, the therapy, the support she needed, and also the new friends she made there (and of course the issue she mentioned earlier in this book).
The review I left below is purely based on my reading experience for Alice the Cat by Tim Cummings
Alice the Cat is a challenging read for me even though it's labelled as middle grade. The main character experienced grief and anger which were showed through her words and actions. The magical realism element is okay, but I found it insufficient to provide me the convincing backstory and motives especially for the ghost. Some characters need more exploration like Eddie, I'm curious about what really happened to him, and Alice the Cat herself, even though she is the title of this book, I didn't get her part enough so it feels like she's so faraway from me as a reader.
I love how it ended, the closure for Tess and her dad, the therapy, the support she needed, and also the new friends she made there (and of course the issue she mentioned earlier in this book).
February 27, 2023
It was a really beautiful book. Perfect for younger audiences. Serious topics, really serious ones, but mixed with adventure, with humour, with friendships, with growing. And that was amazing. I am glad I read it. I only didn't like the writing style, that just wasn't my thing. But the story itself made up for it. Great.
Thank you netgalley for the earc!
Thank you netgalley for the earc!
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