Published: 2020
Series: N/A
Genres: Middle Grade J-Fiction/J-NonFic
Grade Levels: 6, 7, 8
Content Warnings: No
Goodreads Link: Leonard (My Life as a Cat)
Publisher’s Summary:
He’s not a stray house cat, he’s an immortal being. And now he must choose whether to return to his planet or remain with his new human friend in a humorous, heart-tugging story from the author of I, Cosmo. The cat that Olive rescues from a flood has a secret: he’s not really a cat at all, but an alien who crashed to Earth on a beam of light. The cat, whom Olive names Leonard, was prepared to visit the planet as a human—but something went wrong. Now Leonard may never know what it’s like to hold an umbrella, go bowling, or host a dinner party. (And his human jokes still need some work: Knock, knock. Who’s there? Just Leonard. It is me.) While Olive worries about whether she will have to move after her mom and her new boyfriend get back from their summer vacation, Leonard tries to figure out how to get from South Carolina to Yellowstone National Park, because if he’s not there at the end of the month, he’ll miss his ride home. But as Olive teaches Leonard about the beautiful and confusing world of humans, he starts to realize how much he cares about this particular one. A sweet and dryly funny story about what it means to be human—and what it means to be home.
Review:
In this story, a space alien plans to live among humans and prepares to come to Earth in human form. However, the plan goes awry, and he accidentally arrives as a cat…..landing in South Carolina, far from his intended destination. He’s soon discovered and rescued by 12-year-old Olive, who names him “Leonard.” Leonard has only a few months on Earth before he must meet up with his fellow aliens at a specific time in Yellowstone National Park. If he misses this window of opportunity, he will lose his immortality and be trapped on Earth as a cat forever.
I cataloged this book in the “humor” genre, and I think middle school readers will enjoy Leonard’s humorous observations about life on Earth. The suspense of whether he will reach Yellowstone in time will keep readers engaged and rooting for both Leonard and Olive—who is navigating her own struggles with belonging and insecurity.
The book reminds me of a mix between “E.T.” and “The One and Only Ivan.” It’s a heartwarming story about friendship, family, and staying true to oneself. I believe it would spark meaningful discussions about the concepts of “home,” “family” and “belonging.”
As a cat lover, I chose this book because of the main character, but I think any middle school animal lover would appreciate this tale. It would also make an excellent upper elementary read-aloud. One of my favorite elementary school memories is listening to my third-grade teacher read Beverly Cleary’s “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” to us after lunch each day.
