ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
YOUNGER FICTION
Barnett, Mac

The First Cat in Space and the Soup of Doom

272 pp. | HarperCollins/Tegen | October, 2023 | Trade ISBN 9780063084117 $16.99 | Ebook ISBN 9780063084131 $11.99
(2) 1-3 The First Cat in Space series. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. Following The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza (rev. 7/22) is an elaborate and emotionally sincere graphic novel that fortunately retains much of the oddball absurdity of its predecessor. This space-Western whodunit sees the return of the series' heroic trio: stoic First Cat, courageous Moon Queen, and reputable robot Loz 4000; however, the friend group finds itself fractured due to the pint-sized droid's self-assigned exile for an honest mistake. After the queen's soup is mysteriously poisoned, she has only twenty-four hours to obtain lifesaving "golden glumpfoozles" (a.k.a. yellow apples). Joined by First Cat, Her Majesty's episodic lunar adventure is rife with near-constant twists, danger, and subterfuge. Loz 4000 faces peril as well, including unjust imprisonment with a baby pirate, but it's through this relationship that Loz learns to overcome feelings of self-doubt to be the hero that the story needs. Thoughtful plotting, revealing flashbacks, and strong continuity result in a remarkably cogent caper that improves upon re-reading. Harris's lively pencil and charcoal cartooning perfectly pairs with the humorous storytelling and at times experiments with unconventional panel layouts, green monochrome monitor imagery, and expressive shifts in digital color to effectually convey mood, meaning, and setting. Extras include First Cat Fan Club info and a one-page comic announcement: "There's going to be a book 3!"
Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

RELATED 

YOUNGER FICTION

Fox & Rabbit Celebrate
by Ferry, Beth
YOUNGER FICTION

Popcorn Bob
by Rinck, Maranke
YOUNGER FICTION

Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite!
by Spires, Ashley
YOUNGER FICTION

The Middle Kid
by Weinberg, Steven
YOUNGER FICTION

Ivy + Bean Get to Work!
by Barrows, Annie
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?