Hissy Fitz

November 10, 2014
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.

January 1, 2015

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

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.