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Cat on the Run #1
Cat on the Run in Cat of Death!
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE BAD GUYS comes another hilarious illustrated series starring a pampered cat who is way tougher than anyone realizes. How do you avoid capture and prove your innocence when you are the most famous feline on the planet? Well, it ain't easy. Follow Princess Beautiful � for that is her name � as she goes from meme megastar #1 to public enemy #1 and cheer her on as she fights to clear her name. Is she a super villain? An internet-famous buffoon? Or a butt-kicking gal who's just been seriously underestimated? YOU be the judge...
Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2023
94 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Blabey
159books818followersAaron is an Australian author of children's books and artist who until the mid-2000s was also an actor. His award winning picture books include Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley, The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon and the best-selling Pig the Pug.
In the field of acting, he is probably best known for his lead roles in two television dramedies, 1994's The Damnation of Harvey McHugh, for which he won an Australian Film Institute Award, and 2003's CrashBurn, before retiring from performance in 2005.
In the field of acting, he is probably best known for his lead roles in two television dramedies, 1994's The Damnation of Harvey McHugh, for which he won an Australian Film Institute Award, and 2003's CrashBurn, before retiring from performance in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
August 28, 2023
SO disappointed in this book. We love bad guys and were anxiously awaiting this new series and cannot believe how far it missed the mark. So many references to adult social media phenomenon that it was impossible for my kids to follow or enjoy, and the characters were not likable at all (we miss Mr.s Snake, Wolf and Co!). Tiffany Fluffit narrates part of the book but even she doesn’t have her normal hilarious charm. Donating our copy to the library tomorrow and hoping for better in the next Bad Guys book!
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November 18, 2023This book is except Harrison Ford is a feline social media starlet and it takes place in universe. My digital review copy's formatting made the story somewhat hard to follow at times -- I think panels were in the wrong order -- but also it's the Fugitive except Harrison Ford is a feline social media starlet and it takes place in the Bad Guys universe!!! Amazing.
Disclaimer: kids who are unaware of the Fugitive, which is, I'm guessing, pretty close to all of them, may not be as amused as I was.
Disclaimer: kids who are unaware of the Fugitive, which is, I'm guessing, pretty close to all of them, may not be as amused as I was.
September 20, 2023
It's shades of The Fugitive when an internet sensation is set up so that it appears she attempted to start a nuclear war. She then spends the rest of the book on the run from the authorities. I'm a Blabey fan, but this one suffers from a lack of humor, and a bloated action scene that ends in a massive cliffhanger. To be continued, but I don't care enough to continue with this series.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Scholastic Paperbacks.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Scholastic Paperbacks.
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July 17, 2023Perfect for young reads who love The Bad Guys!
October 29, 2024
Pretty good. It said at the end, "wait for this author to write book 2" and that's kinda bleh.
October 19, 2023
It's not nearly as good as The Bad Guys, but it will definitely scratch that itch for fans of that kind of story (which in my experience is 75% of readers aged 6-8).
I do like that the main character is narcissistic, dimwitted and entitled social media influencer who is framed for inciting Nuclear Warfare. I think kids will mostly get the YouTube/tiktok jokes, but some of the references and sight gags are a bit too adult/subtle for kids in my opinion.
Aaron Blabey sure loves to write about unlikable animals. The success of his work is proof that kids do not crave wholesome, moral fables. They want chaos.
I do like that the main character is narcissistic, dimwitted and entitled social media influencer who is framed for inciting Nuclear Warfare. I think kids will mostly get the YouTube/tiktok jokes, but some of the references and sight gags are a bit too adult/subtle for kids in my opinion.
Aaron Blabey sure loves to write about unlikable animals. The success of his work is proof that kids do not crave wholesome, moral fables. They want chaos.
July 3, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cat on the Run in Cat of Death! is the first book in a new series from Aaron Blabey. The book follows a spectacularly spoiled cat named Princess Beautiful, who is famous for posting cat videos that garner billions of likes. Princess is quickly framed for a crime by a shadowy group, and the story spirals into chaotic fun. My 9 year old loved the book and can’t wait for more adventures. Students who love Bad Guys will love this new series.
Cat on the Run in Cat of Death! is the first book in a new series from Aaron Blabey. The book follows a spectacularly spoiled cat named Princess Beautiful, who is famous for posting cat videos that garner billions of likes. Princess is quickly framed for a crime by a shadowy group, and the story spirals into chaotic fun. My 9 year old loved the book and can’t wait for more adventures. Students who love Bad Guys will love this new series.
July 30, 2023
Du même créateur que les Méchants, cette petite bande dessinée est complètement absurde mais vraiment drôle. Un chat drama queen, une chasse poursuite, un gros malentendu, un mystérieux symbole en forme de scorpion et une petite histoire d'amour avec Sacha, le célèbre milliardaire. À paraître en septembre prochain 😁
October 26, 2024
This short graphic novel is aimed at kids 6-9 and tells the story of Princess Beautiful, an internet influencer who's famous for creating ridiculous cat videos. When an unknown entity alters one of her videos to make it look like she's stealing nuclear launch codes to end the world, the internet convicts her before she's even had a chance to breathe. After 13 seconds of a trial, she's convicted and sentenced to prison where everything really gets crazy.
This book is obviously trying to make a point about the ridiculousness of internet influencers, fame, and believing everything you see online. Although I've enjoyed other books by Aaron Blabey, I found this one to be pretty flat and humorless. The set up is hard to follow and Princess Beautiful is a jerk so the reader doesn't really care when bad things happen to her. There's no resolution at the end, just a "Book 2 coming soon."
I realize I'm not the target audience, but this book just didn't work for me. If you're looking for some good humor, try Blabey's The Bad Guys series instead.
This book is obviously trying to make a point about the ridiculousness of internet influencers, fame, and believing everything you see online. Although I've enjoyed other books by Aaron Blabey, I found this one to be pretty flat and humorless. The set up is hard to follow and Princess Beautiful is a jerk so the reader doesn't really care when bad things happen to her. There's no resolution at the end, just a "Book 2 coming soon."
I realize I'm not the target audience, but this book just didn't work for me. If you're looking for some good humor, try Blabey's The Bad Guys series instead.
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September 10, 2023This is set in the same world as The Bad Guys.
It’s the story of an influencer who does cat videos who is a complete diva and has a horrid personality having a video taken out of context and turning her into a wanted criminal. And she’s just annoying to follow. It felt like a third of this was just comments and hashtags from her videos. It read as if an adult thought of social media things they found weird then wrote a story targeted at kids around it, but the result is� not funny. None of my kids enjoyed it.
It does have the completely overblown moments in here as well, which helps balance some of the MC’s shortcomings, but it’s just not enjoyable at all.
It’s the story of an influencer who does cat videos who is a complete diva and has a horrid personality having a video taken out of context and turning her into a wanted criminal. And she’s just annoying to follow. It felt like a third of this was just comments and hashtags from her videos. It read as if an adult thought of social media things they found weird then wrote a story targeted at kids around it, but the result is� not funny. None of my kids enjoyed it.
It does have the completely overblown moments in here as well, which helps balance some of the MC’s shortcomings, but it’s just not enjoyable at all.
January 5, 2024
Kids will love the chaos and animal shenanigans. As an adult, I laughed out loud at the wordplay and commentary about social media. Could provide opportunities for caregivers to talk about social media and its pitfalls with kids ages 7 and up. Or you could just cackle at the antics. If your kids have devoured Blabey’s The Bad Guys series, give them this one.
May 17, 2024
This is such a fast paced graphic novel and all the illustrations in this book are so beautifully done and are so comical as well. I really enjoyed the story about the cat being on the run I was laughing whilst reading this book. I can’t wait for the second one to come out now. Am a huge fan of this graphic novel series xxx
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May 9, 2024Eehhh. I was way excited to unexpectedly see a Bad Guys spin off at the book fair. My students and I love the series!
This wasn’t it. I don’t think kids need a book about the pressures of social media and image. 😔
This wasn’t it. I don’t think kids need a book about the pressures of social media and image. 😔
January 22, 2025
This is so weird but still likeable.
This line is why I stayed:
“If you see her,
DON'T BE A HERO.
Don't try to take her down yourself.
SHE'S A
MONSTER.
The internet says so, so it must be true.�
This line is why I stayed:
“If you see her,
DON'T BE A HERO.
Don't try to take her down yourself.
SHE'S A
MONSTER.
The internet says so, so it must be true.�
June 5, 2023
Aaron Blabey does it again with the new Cat on the Run series starring a new famous influencer protagonist, Princess Beautiful! Attempting to prove her innocence after being framed for a crime, Princess Beautiful, the world's famous feline, becomes at cat on the run as she fights to clear her name.
With the comical storyline and engaging illustrations similar to The Bad Guys series, this hilarious spin off will not disappoint! Can't wait to share this book with my students and get my hands on a copy when it debuts in September.
Thank you to Aaron Blabey, Scholastic and NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to preview and leave a review for this book!
With the comical storyline and engaging illustrations similar to The Bad Guys series, this hilarious spin off will not disappoint! Can't wait to share this book with my students and get my hands on a copy when it debuts in September.
Thank you to Aaron Blabey, Scholastic and NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to preview and leave a review for this book!
September 1, 2023
The cover is what grabbed my attention with its bright colors and cute design. I love cats, and with how cute this is, I knew I really wanted to read it. I have not read anything from Aaron Blabey before but will def. continue this series!
We follow Princess Beautiful, a famous internet cat that is framed for a crime it appears she committed but had no idea what was happening. There are silly twists and turns and finishes on a cliffhanger, litterally.
I really enjoyed reading this and looking at the graphics throughout.
I received a copy from the publisher for my honest review. Thank you so much, and I'm looking forward to book #2!
We follow Princess Beautiful, a famous internet cat that is framed for a crime it appears she committed but had no idea what was happening. There are silly twists and turns and finishes on a cliffhanger, litterally.
I really enjoyed reading this and looking at the graphics throughout.
I received a copy from the publisher for my honest review. Thank you so much, and I'm looking forward to book #2!
June 18, 2023
As a HUGE fan of Bad Guys, I was stoked to get approved for the advanced copy of this. It has a few bad guys references, love that we’re still in a world with Tiffany Fluffit! This book is about a famous cat who is very full of herself and get accused of trying to launch nuclear weapons. It was very action packed and fun, but not as good as Bad Guys. My son is four and he struggled following a lot of it, as he doesn’t understand internet culture and references yet. Older kids will probably enjoy it more!
July 24, 2023
Alllll the fans of The Bad Guys will go crazy for this one!
September 19, 2023
This is more of a scene 1 than a book 1. It lays the foundation for the series and has room for growth, but I was underwhelmed by the lack of a complete story.
May 13, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Princess Beautiful is the most popular social media influencer who's a cat. Millions of followers, viral videos, constant comments-- she has it all. She has even caught the attention of the handsome, rich, and dashing Catrick Cash, and has a date with him. First, she has to film a video of her typing for her social media feed. She doesn't really look at the screen, and a handler is manipulating her paws. In doing so, she manages to set off weapons that almost cause the end of the world! There is a mysterious outline of a red scorpion that seems to be behind all of this. Social media dubs her "the cat of death" and quickly "convict" her of evildoing, followed by an amazingly brief trial that sentences her to jail time in a remote, heavily guarded facility. When she is being transported there in a bus with two guards, the bus hits spikes, the tires blow, and the bus falls off the side of a cliff onto an improbably car dealership on the side of the mountain. Of course, the vehicles there are filled with thousands of gallons of fuel, so everything blows sky high. When she finally hits the ground, miraculously unhurt, Princess Beautiful tries to go into town to create a disguise, but everyone recognizes her. She's been in contact with Catrick, who assures her that he will support her and help her prove her innocence. She hijacks a vehicle and follows a truck with the same scorpion outline that has been haunting her, and takes off on a high speed chase. At the end of the line, she agrees to give herself up to the mouse policeman who is chasing her, but standing on the edge of a ruined road she is hit by a tranquilizer dart and falls over the edge. Is this the end for Princess Beautiful, or will we find out more of her exploits in a second book in the series?
Strengths: My students spend an inordinate amount of time on TikTok videos, even at school, where I thought phones were not supposed to be out. They look at their phones instead of talking to friends at lunch, and during study hall instead of doing homework. I don't understand the appeal, but they also apparently think they can be social media influencers when they grow up and somehow earn money doing it. Princess Beautiful has an entire empire funded by her influencing; an enormous building, staff, and a posh lifestyle where she can ask for a vanilla latte and have it handed to her wherever she is. She even demands that one of her staff leave his wedding to help her out, and he does. Of course, there is a down side to fame, and there is quite a heavy message of how everyone thinks that things that appear on the internet are true. Of course Princess Beautiful is evil because of her typing mishap. Of course she should be put in jail, and chased down when she escapes. Cat of Death is amusing, and skewers the subject of social media fame in a way that even younger readers will enjoy.
Weaknesses: I know this is a cartoon, and so Princess Beautiful survives a fiery crash in the same way that Wile E. Coyote or the Road Runner would, but somehow the top of the mountain with the prison on it crashing into the sea and everyone surviving the crash seemed far fetched!
What I really think: I thought that The Bad Guys was great, and had one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen, with the Bad Guys trying to rescue a kitten from a tree. I don't expect Blabey to hit that level of hilarity every time, but it's always at the back of my mind. This seemed a bit young (Bad Guys certainly is), so I might not purchase it, but if I did, I know a lot of students would check it out.
Princess Beautiful is the most popular social media influencer who's a cat. Millions of followers, viral videos, constant comments-- she has it all. She has even caught the attention of the handsome, rich, and dashing Catrick Cash, and has a date with him. First, she has to film a video of her typing for her social media feed. She doesn't really look at the screen, and a handler is manipulating her paws. In doing so, she manages to set off weapons that almost cause the end of the world! There is a mysterious outline of a red scorpion that seems to be behind all of this. Social media dubs her "the cat of death" and quickly "convict" her of evildoing, followed by an amazingly brief trial that sentences her to jail time in a remote, heavily guarded facility. When she is being transported there in a bus with two guards, the bus hits spikes, the tires blow, and the bus falls off the side of a cliff onto an improbably car dealership on the side of the mountain. Of course, the vehicles there are filled with thousands of gallons of fuel, so everything blows sky high. When she finally hits the ground, miraculously unhurt, Princess Beautiful tries to go into town to create a disguise, but everyone recognizes her. She's been in contact with Catrick, who assures her that he will support her and help her prove her innocence. She hijacks a vehicle and follows a truck with the same scorpion outline that has been haunting her, and takes off on a high speed chase. At the end of the line, she agrees to give herself up to the mouse policeman who is chasing her, but standing on the edge of a ruined road she is hit by a tranquilizer dart and falls over the edge. Is this the end for Princess Beautiful, or will we find out more of her exploits in a second book in the series?
Strengths: My students spend an inordinate amount of time on TikTok videos, even at school, where I thought phones were not supposed to be out. They look at their phones instead of talking to friends at lunch, and during study hall instead of doing homework. I don't understand the appeal, but they also apparently think they can be social media influencers when they grow up and somehow earn money doing it. Princess Beautiful has an entire empire funded by her influencing; an enormous building, staff, and a posh lifestyle where she can ask for a vanilla latte and have it handed to her wherever she is. She even demands that one of her staff leave his wedding to help her out, and he does. Of course, there is a down side to fame, and there is quite a heavy message of how everyone thinks that things that appear on the internet are true. Of course Princess Beautiful is evil because of her typing mishap. Of course she should be put in jail, and chased down when she escapes. Cat of Death is amusing, and skewers the subject of social media fame in a way that even younger readers will enjoy.
Weaknesses: I know this is a cartoon, and so Princess Beautiful survives a fiery crash in the same way that Wile E. Coyote or the Road Runner would, but somehow the top of the mountain with the prison on it crashing into the sea and everyone surviving the crash seemed far fetched!
What I really think: I thought that The Bad Guys was great, and had one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen, with the Bad Guys trying to rescue a kitten from a tree. I don't expect Blabey to hit that level of hilarity every time, but it's always at the back of my mind. This seemed a bit young (Bad Guys certainly is), so I might not purchase it, but if I did, I know a lot of students would check it out.
July 2, 2023
This was disappointing. I like most of the Pig the Pug picture books, and I loved The Bad Guys until the series went off the rails in the more recent volumes. I hoped that this book would be a fresh start with new ideas that would get the author back to his previous level of quality, but I lost interest in this early on and was ready for it to end.
The concept is super appealing. A viral cat video star gets falsely accused of a crime she didn’t commit, goes out on the lam, and has to escape the law and prove her innocence while also having one of the most famous, recognizable faces on the planet. This could have been really fun, but the majority of the book just showed the cat acting entitled and bratty in ways that were quickly more annoying than funny, and once she’s out on the run, it’s just a lot of chaos. There’s also insta-love with a fellow celebrity who is absolutely assured of her innocence and insists he’ll help her, even though they’ve only just met.
This is set in the same universe as The Bad Guys, and there are some cute, mostly subtle tie-ins, but this is nowhere near the level of cleverness or unique character development that the previous series boasted at first. This relies too much on Internet-related humor, with a lot of repetitive stuff about how famous, cute, and viral the cat is, and then about how she MUST be guilty, because the Internet said so! Also, the action regularly gets interrupted to show new comments on the cat’s videos, and this started getting old after a while.
I’m sure that plenty of people will find this much funnier than I did, but I felt like this was just frenetic chaos and low-hanging fruit, without the cleverness that drew me into this author’s work in the first place. Also, this book’s heavy emphasis on Internet culture is a drawback for the intended audience, since most early elementary-aged readers won’t be familiar enough with the cultural references to appreciate the satire. Fans of the Bad Guys will probably enjoy this series, but the humor is more for adults who can relate to the over-the-top representation of a viral video star and the way the Internet viciously turns on people moments after fawning over them.
I do wonder where the series will go, and of course I want to know who the mysterious hooded figures are, why they framed the cat, and what their plan is. Still, I don't know if I'll read future installments or not, and I don't particularly recommend this, even though it's a quick read that plenty of the author's fans will enjoy without having all the same critiques.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The concept is super appealing. A viral cat video star gets falsely accused of a crime she didn’t commit, goes out on the lam, and has to escape the law and prove her innocence while also having one of the most famous, recognizable faces on the planet. This could have been really fun, but the majority of the book just showed the cat acting entitled and bratty in ways that were quickly more annoying than funny, and once she’s out on the run, it’s just a lot of chaos. There’s also insta-love with a fellow celebrity who is absolutely assured of her innocence and insists he’ll help her, even though they’ve only just met.
This is set in the same universe as The Bad Guys, and there are some cute, mostly subtle tie-ins, but this is nowhere near the level of cleverness or unique character development that the previous series boasted at first. This relies too much on Internet-related humor, with a lot of repetitive stuff about how famous, cute, and viral the cat is, and then about how she MUST be guilty, because the Internet said so! Also, the action regularly gets interrupted to show new comments on the cat’s videos, and this started getting old after a while.
I’m sure that plenty of people will find this much funnier than I did, but I felt like this was just frenetic chaos and low-hanging fruit, without the cleverness that drew me into this author’s work in the first place. Also, this book’s heavy emphasis on Internet culture is a drawback for the intended audience, since most early elementary-aged readers won’t be familiar enough with the cultural references to appreciate the satire. Fans of the Bad Guys will probably enjoy this series, but the humor is more for adults who can relate to the over-the-top representation of a viral video star and the way the Internet viciously turns on people moments after fawning over them.
I do wonder where the series will go, and of course I want to know who the mysterious hooded figures are, why they framed the cat, and what their plan is. Still, I don't know if I'll read future installments or not, and I don't particularly recommend this, even though it's a quick read that plenty of the author's fans will enjoy without having all the same critiques.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2023
All it takes is one little video to turn the world's most adored cat influencer into the notorious face seated at the top of the most-wanted list. Desperate to clear her name of a crime she didn't commit, Princess Beautiful has no choice but to leave her life of luxury behind and run from both the mobs and mouse who hope to put her behind bars. Certain a mysterious scorpion insignia has something to do with the false accusations against her, she's not only determined to make it back to the celebrity she hopes to date, but to learn more about the institution who's always just out of reach.
Continuing in the same form and universe as Bad Guys, Aaron Blabey's latest execution isn't groundbreaking. Still, my children loved the familiarity they encountered throughout Cat on the Run. Citing the stylized illustrations, tie-ins to the original source, and the loud, obnoxious actions of numerous characters throughout, they chose to rate this first installment in this series with five stars. Admittedly, I wasn't as easily enamored. With a female protagonist at its center, I had hoped we'd still be seeing just as much fun and ridiculous escapades as encountered in Blabey's earlier works. However, most of the novel did little more than introduce a trite caricature of a spoiled celebrity. Had I read it on my own, the exaggerated vanity of the main character would have caused me to abandon the book before the action truly began. Having stayed for the end, I'd personally deem it mediocre.
Overall, Cat on the Run has potential. Since my children are already enamored by the universe and story-line, I know we're setting in for the long haul as the series is released. Seeing as their personalities are the intended audience, I figured we'd keep the stars closer to their impression than my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Continuing in the same form and universe as Bad Guys, Aaron Blabey's latest execution isn't groundbreaking. Still, my children loved the familiarity they encountered throughout Cat on the Run. Citing the stylized illustrations, tie-ins to the original source, and the loud, obnoxious actions of numerous characters throughout, they chose to rate this first installment in this series with five stars. Admittedly, I wasn't as easily enamored. With a female protagonist at its center, I had hoped we'd still be seeing just as much fun and ridiculous escapades as encountered in Blabey's earlier works. However, most of the novel did little more than introduce a trite caricature of a spoiled celebrity. Had I read it on my own, the exaggerated vanity of the main character would have caused me to abandon the book before the action truly began. Having stayed for the end, I'd personally deem it mediocre.
Overall, Cat on the Run has potential. Since my children are already enamored by the universe and story-line, I know we're setting in for the long haul as the series is released. Seeing as their personalities are the intended audience, I figured we'd keep the stars closer to their impression than my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2023
Prepare to laugh out loud, and maybe even need tissues to wipe away the laughter tears for Cat On the Run. Episode 1 Cat of Death really is that funny! I honestly don’t know how Aaron Blakey manages to write with such humour but it’s brilliant, so well-paced and of course, as this is a graphic novel it sits perfectly alongside the illustrations which, sometimes, tell us more than the words alone can. In this instance we have a mix of comic strip style pages, blocks of action and plenty of single word phrases - think FREEZE! BOOM! AAAAARRRRRGGGGGH! I hope that this might already be giving you an idea of what an amazing adventure this book is, how busy it will keep you - you won’t be able to take your eyes off the story for a moment, and how much fun you are going to have reading it. Plus, it is book 1 which means there are more to come�
Princess Beautiful is the world’s number 1 (read that as #1) cat video star. Her following is huge and growing. But she can be a little demanding, especially when she is nervous and today, as we first meet her, is a day for nerves for tonight is date night. Princess feels, in her words, gross, compared to the date she is due to have. Surely, she needs to cleanse with green teas and not vanilla lattes? Nope that is not going to work and nor is this pullover that her team seem to insist she wears. As if the day was not going to plan well enough her date turns up on set, early, keen to meet her. Of course, Princess does what any self-respecting star would do, she rushes the shoot and then shoots off for her date. There may be one teeny tiny issue though. She may have caused an enormous security breach and put the world in danger� Can she prove her innocence?
Princess Beautiful is the world’s number 1 (read that as #1) cat video star. Her following is huge and growing. But she can be a little demanding, especially when she is nervous and today, as we first meet her, is a day for nerves for tonight is date night. Princess feels, in her words, gross, compared to the date she is due to have. Surely, she needs to cleanse with green teas and not vanilla lattes? Nope that is not going to work and nor is this pullover that her team seem to insist she wears. As if the day was not going to plan well enough her date turns up on set, early, keen to meet her. Of course, Princess does what any self-respecting star would do, she rushes the shoot and then shoots off for her date. There may be one teeny tiny issue though. She may have caused an enormous security breach and put the world in danger� Can she prove her innocence?
August 22, 2023
Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Cat on the Run in Cat of Death!" by Aaron Blabey in exchange for an honest review.
Princess Beautiful is the star of all those Internet cat memes you've ever enjoyed. She wears funny outfits! She does silly cat things! But behind the scenes, she's a spoiled diva, as much as an entitled brat as her name would imply. She mistreats her staff and makes impossible demands, all while trying garner as many clicks and views as her videos can attract.
Until.... she is framed for accessing the codes for the world's nuclear weapons! A secret organization hacks her computer at the exact moment when she's filming her latest silly cat video, and once the video premieres online, sharp eyes notice what's on her screen (note: she herself never saw it.) She's immediately labeled The Cat of Death, a threat to the entire world, and every law enforcement officer is out to find her.
This was a fun, zany, far-out book. The artwork is classically Blabey with expressive linework, gray tones, and pops of color for emphasis. This story is clearly the setup for a longer series, so it ends on a cliffhanger.
The humor is whacky and exaggerated for kids, but I think adults will enjoy it too. (Apart from the blatant skewering of influencer culture, a lawman mouse does a version of Tommy Lee Jones's speech from the 1993 film The Fugitive. That's clearly not intended for people born in the last decade.) I would expect fans of The Bad Guys to enjoy this one, also.
Princess Beautiful is the star of all those Internet cat memes you've ever enjoyed. She wears funny outfits! She does silly cat things! But behind the scenes, she's a spoiled diva, as much as an entitled brat as her name would imply. She mistreats her staff and makes impossible demands, all while trying garner as many clicks and views as her videos can attract.
Until.... she is framed for accessing the codes for the world's nuclear weapons! A secret organization hacks her computer at the exact moment when she's filming her latest silly cat video, and once the video premieres online, sharp eyes notice what's on her screen (note: she herself never saw it.) She's immediately labeled The Cat of Death, a threat to the entire world, and every law enforcement officer is out to find her.
This was a fun, zany, far-out book. The artwork is classically Blabey with expressive linework, gray tones, and pops of color for emphasis. This story is clearly the setup for a longer series, so it ends on a cliffhanger.
The humor is whacky and exaggerated for kids, but I think adults will enjoy it too. (Apart from the blatant skewering of influencer culture, a lawman mouse does a version of Tommy Lee Jones's speech from the 1993 film The Fugitive. That's clearly not intended for people born in the last decade.) I would expect fans of The Bad Guys to enjoy this one, also.
August 30, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Aaron Blabey, and I have all of his books in my library. They are all clever and humorously illustrated, and my students love them. However, I did not feel as if this book was up to the standard of his previous books. The premise - an Internet star gets accused of doing something she didn't based on something that was misinterpreted in one of her videos - is certainly indicative of the way the world works now. Indeed, throughout the book Blabey pokes fun at this idea by repeatedly stating some version of, "The Internet said it, so it must be true". I did like Blabey's subtle nods to his other books, but it just got repetitive and silly for me about halfway through. I felt like it was all just different people chasing Princess Beautiful, only for her to escape and then start to be chased by someone else. The cliffhanger ending also didn't sit well with me because it seems like a ploy to get readers to purchase book 2 when it comes out, without there being any actual payoff for having finished book 1. It would be one thing if this book had a complete closed arc with then a larger arc spanning the entire series, but that is not what we got here.
I will still likely get it for my library because I think my students will enjoy it, but it was definitely not my favorite.
I am a huge fan of Aaron Blabey, and I have all of his books in my library. They are all clever and humorously illustrated, and my students love them. However, I did not feel as if this book was up to the standard of his previous books. The premise - an Internet star gets accused of doing something she didn't based on something that was misinterpreted in one of her videos - is certainly indicative of the way the world works now. Indeed, throughout the book Blabey pokes fun at this idea by repeatedly stating some version of, "The Internet said it, so it must be true". I did like Blabey's subtle nods to his other books, but it just got repetitive and silly for me about halfway through. I felt like it was all just different people chasing Princess Beautiful, only for her to escape and then start to be chased by someone else. The cliffhanger ending also didn't sit well with me because it seems like a ploy to get readers to purchase book 2 when it comes out, without there being any actual payoff for having finished book 1. It would be one thing if this book had a complete closed arc with then a larger arc spanning the entire series, but that is not what we got here.
I will still likely get it for my library because I think my students will enjoy it, but it was definitely not my favorite.
September 14, 2023
Internet superstar Princess Beautiful is a spoiled, demanding cat who has become famous for her viral videos. When a video is shared that shows her appearing to download the super-secret codes for nuclear weapons that could destroy the world, she instantly goes from the most adored public figure to the most wanted public figure. based on the media's presentation of her actions. Princess Beautiful is forced to go on the run to prove her innocence, with law enforcement in hot pursuit.
Fans of Aaron Blabey’s popular Bad Guys series will be drawn to the similar style found in the Cat on the Run series. Others will be interested based on the internet influencer angle. I think some of the book’s themes, especially those related to the spread of misinformation and internet culture, may go above the heads of the audience who is most likely to reach for this book, but I don’t think that will hamper their enjoyment of the action-filled text. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers excited for the arrival of the next installment of the series. I know this one will be snatched up immediately by my school's Bad Guys fans!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.
Fans of Aaron Blabey’s popular Bad Guys series will be drawn to the similar style found in the Cat on the Run series. Others will be interested based on the internet influencer angle. I think some of the book’s themes, especially those related to the spread of misinformation and internet culture, may go above the heads of the audience who is most likely to reach for this book, but I don’t think that will hamper their enjoyment of the action-filled text. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers excited for the arrival of the next installment of the series. I know this one will be snatched up immediately by my school's Bad Guys fans!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.
June 10, 2023
Princess Beautiful is a video start sensation and the public cannot get enough of her silly antics. Until the day one of her videos is taken entirely out of context. The media seizes it, exploits it, and Beautiful has not choice but to go on the run.
The students in my school love the "Bad Guys" series to the extent there are rarely copies on the library shelves and the hold list is extremely long. I expect this follow-up series to attract kids to this level as well. The graphic novel format, bold illustrations and subject matter (so many students want to be You-Tube stars) is appealing to elementary students.
This series has the same irreverent humor, but I felt there were more adult-level innuendos in this book as compared to the Bad Guys books, especially in regard to the ability of the media to spread a story, whether it be true or slightly (a lot) twisted, and how the misinformation can change opinions quickly.
Elementary librarians, add this one to your purchasing lists, and hopefully Mr. Blabey has Book #2 waiting in the wings, because the kids will be begging for it quickly after the release of this one.
The students in my school love the "Bad Guys" series to the extent there are rarely copies on the library shelves and the hold list is extremely long. I expect this follow-up series to attract kids to this level as well. The graphic novel format, bold illustrations and subject matter (so many students want to be You-Tube stars) is appealing to elementary students.
This series has the same irreverent humor, but I felt there were more adult-level innuendos in this book as compared to the Bad Guys books, especially in regard to the ability of the media to spread a story, whether it be true or slightly (a lot) twisted, and how the misinformation can change opinions quickly.
Elementary librarians, add this one to your purchasing lists, and hopefully Mr. Blabey has Book #2 waiting in the wings, because the kids will be begging for it quickly after the release of this one.
October 2, 2023
An Aaron Blabey book that's not Bad Guys! Ok, it's basically Bad Guys... but it's not Bad Guys!
That series has worn thin for me; it feels episodic in that never-ending comic series way. My son - the target audience of the series, mind you - feels the same, like it's been treading water at best.
So from that point of view, Cat on the Run is a pleasant surprise. I liked it more than the last several Bad Guys books. Although many of Blabey's dialogue pages have some really redundant paneling, the action sequences are dynamic and creatively thought out and drawn.
The problem for me was that I really didn't like Princess Beautiful. Like, really really. I get that the point is she's unlikable - I've read a book before, OK, guys? Back off - but even knowing that somewhere down the road some dramatic character change will happen didn't help. I was put off and annoyed by her, which is a pretty big problem in a series that's, you know, about her.
Still, go Blabey. You have created a very specific kind of graphic novel, aimed at a very specific age of kid - and you're damn good at what you do. These books will go out as quickly as syrup at a pancake breakfast.
That series has worn thin for me; it feels episodic in that never-ending comic series way. My son - the target audience of the series, mind you - feels the same, like it's been treading water at best.
So from that point of view, Cat on the Run is a pleasant surprise. I liked it more than the last several Bad Guys books. Although many of Blabey's dialogue pages have some really redundant paneling, the action sequences are dynamic and creatively thought out and drawn.
The problem for me was that I really didn't like Princess Beautiful. Like, really really. I get that the point is she's unlikable - I've read a book before, OK, guys? Back off - but even knowing that somewhere down the road some dramatic character change will happen didn't help. I was put off and annoyed by her, which is a pretty big problem in a series that's, you know, about her.
Still, go Blabey. You have created a very specific kind of graphic novel, aimed at a very specific age of kid - and you're damn good at what you do. These books will go out as quickly as syrup at a pancake breakfast.
April 4, 2024
Princess Beautiful is the world's most popular and most famous internet cat, with over three billion views for some of her videos! She is your typical "social media influencer" with a prima donna attitude. Her latest video of absent minded kitty cat typing doesn't go to plan when she somehow drums up some nuclear codes and arms a few missiles. At first, her followers do not notice this small detail but a shadowy group throws the spotlight on the truth. And the world FREAKS OUT! She is shuffled off to prison but she escapes; she is cornered by the feds but she escapes - what else might this cat of death do? Stay tuned for part 2.
What I like about this book is that it showcases the dangers of social media in a way young readers can understand - this is kind of Monica Lewinsky (an outdated reference, sure) if she had lived in the age of social media, once the internet makes up its mind about you, it’s game over, man. Where the book doesn’t really work for me is that it is not one contained narrative. With something as potent as online justice, I don’t like leaving the ending unresolved. Plus, who on Earth are those hooded figures?
What I like about this book is that it showcases the dangers of social media in a way young readers can understand - this is kind of Monica Lewinsky (an outdated reference, sure) if she had lived in the age of social media, once the internet makes up its mind about you, it’s game over, man. Where the book doesn’t really work for me is that it is not one contained narrative. With something as potent as online justice, I don’t like leaving the ending unresolved. Plus, who on Earth are those hooded figures?
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