Upchuck and the Rotten Willy

Upchuck and the Rotten Willy #1

by Bill Wallace

Chuck’s a cat with a great life—until Katie goes away to college and his best friend moves. Left all alone, Chuck starts to venture farther and farther into the neighborhood and one fateful night finds himself face-to-face with a beast as big and black as death. His name is Rotten Willy—and he’s a dog with a heart of gold.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Cats, Middle Grade, Dogs, Juvenile

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1998

About the author

Bill Wallace was an American teacher and later an author of children's books. He started writing to quiet down his fourth grade students, who loved his stories and encouraged him to make “real” books.

Bill Wallace grew up in Oklahoma. Along with riding their horses, he and his friends enjoyed campouts and fishing trips. Toasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories to scare one another, and catching fish was always fun.

Bill Wallace has won numerous children's state awards and been awarded the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Children's Literature from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

Bill Wallace died from Lung cancer on January 30, 2012.

Former elementary school teacher; West Elementary School, Chickasha, OK, principal, since 1977, and physical education teacher. Speaker at schools and universities in various states, including State University of New York and University of South Florida.

AWARDS:

Bluebonnet Award from Texas Association of School Librarians and Children's Round Table and Sequoyah Children's Book Award from Oklahoma State Department of Education, both 1983, Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Nebraska Golden Sowers Award from Nebraska Library Association, 1985, all for A Dog Called Kitty; Central Missouri State University Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1984, and Pine Tree Book Award, 1985, both for Trapped in Death Cave.

Reviews

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just wasn't for me. Maybe it would be better liked by cat fans. I didn't think the story or writing was interesting enough. The cover art and several illustrations in the book were enjoyable.

I think what really turned me off is that in the beginning of the book the narrator cat and his friend another cat are bad-mouthing a bunch of dogs they see including an apricot poodle:

"Man, look at the haircut on that pink dude. You ever see anything so ridiculous in your life?" He chuckled.

I get it that cats will sit on a fence and taunt dogs, and if they could express themselves (talk) they would probably indicate the aspects of dogs they don't like, but to me it felt like it set a bad example for kids to read and possibly think they should ridicule others in a similar way. It could also be as a bigger fan of dogs than cats I am prejudiced in that regard and don't like to see dogs demeaned. So for me, I would vote to find another book to read.

[Angela Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've started reading middle grade books to my toddler, a few chapters a night. This was the first one I picked up and I'm so glad I did. First of all, I have fond memories of this book. My third grade teacher made a habit of reading to our class, a little bit every day, throughout the year. This was one of the books she chose and I can still hear her awesome infection and different voices for the characters. She helped cement my love of readings so collecting and reading these same books to my child I hope will do the same.

Second, it has obviously been a while since I've heard the story of Chuck, or Upchuck, and Rotten Willy. It's a story that talks about friendships of all sorts, of loss and how we deal with loss, and of trust and faith.

Cats and dogs are obviously mortal enemies. We all know this to be fact, right? In fact, Chuck and his best friend, Tom love to go to the local football field and make fun of all the dogs there with their owners. Dogs are pretty stupid, as everyone knows.

Chuck goes through a lot of changes though, first, his friend Louis gets run over. Then his owner, Katie, leaves for college. And a big old beast, a rotten willy, moves into the neighborhood. So many changes that poor Chuck has to be constantly adapting and relearning what he thought was true. So, can dogs and cats be friends?

I think for a middle grade reader this is a great way to open conversations up about friends moving away, pets dying, and stereotypes.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cat almost dies like 5 times but the chapters have a lot of cliff hangers at the end which I love! When you read the end of the story you will think it will end badly but then it takes a quick turn so don't think it ends sadly when you get towards the end. That is all I can before I spoil something!

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chuck has lost both of his best friends. He will never see them again. He explores farther into the neighberhood, hoping to find other cats. Instead he finds a beast as black as death named Rotten Willy and this dog has a heart of gold.

Reasons I like this book-

Reason 1- It made me laugh.

Reason 2- I could not stop reading.

Reason 3- I could imagine what was happening perfectly.

[Lovely Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Chazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upchuck and Tom are best friends of the feline type. They hang out together every day. It’s what cats do in a dog-eat-cat world. And there are a few dogs that would love to get their teeth into Upchuck and Tom.

Life is good until Upchuck’s owner, Katie, goes away to college. Then it gets even worse when Tom’s family moves away taking Tom with them!

Upchuck starts searching for a new friend, but is seems there are only the dogs that would like to get their teeth into Upchuck. Or a skunk. Or a cow…what kind of a conversation can you have with critters who stink or only know one word?

When Upchuck falls off a fence, into the yard of a huge beast with the name Rotten Willie, Upchuck finds things aren’t always what you think. As terrifying as the beast I, Upchuck learns there is another side to Rotten Willie and that they have something in common.

A short, fun, chapter book with some illustrations. Great to read aloud or quietly. Kid or adult.

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you get when a cat makes a mistake and gets renamed something even worse than Chuck? A book that'll charm you. I've recently been told there are more of the Upchuck and Willy books and I have definitely gotta give those a read now! I never knew and just assumed this a one off my whole childhood.

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chuck is a cat who wanders the neighborhood with his friend. Their favorite game is dog-teasing. Willy is a gentle Rottweiler in the neighborhood, who ends up teaching Chuck a valuable lesson about friendship. I like that this book shows that cats and dogs can get along, and sends the message that stereotyping is stupid and can cause you to miss out on some pretty great things.

[Lela Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats and dogs can't be friends, can they? When Chuck (UP Chuck) loses his best friend and dear Katie who will be his friend? Join Chuck on his journey, join him while he teases dogs and eats Luigs famous
spaghetti, but most of all join him through the heartache of losing his best friends and the trouble he goes through to find a new one.

[Chelsea DeBarge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few of this authors books. They are all animal based and they either have a sad story or a funny story. I️ really like this book, because it catches a young reader with comedy. I️ mean if you just look at the title of the book, you could tell how a young reader would be hooked.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Wallace breaks me.

[Fawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute and funny

[Candis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute piece of literature for the young at heart to enjoy as a quick read.

[Truman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was fun when Rotten Willy talked to Upchuck. In the end, they were friends.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son recommended this to me. I'm glad he did. Very cute read.

[Jessi Chaffin Walker]

OWN

[Sharlene Hakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, sweet story.

[Dana ~ The Dirty Smut'atter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute story of unlikely friendship......was even better reading it with my daughter!!

[Chance Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upchuck and Rotten Willy, Not as gross as the title suggests but rather as cute as the cover suggests. If you haven't read a Bill Wallace book you haven't read a book based on animals. (Or you were reading Animal Ark.) As an Animal book you know you are going to be sad sooner or later and the depressing part is really touching. I found the end really cute and funny. The change in our lead character through out the book is good. The black and white artwork in this book is really cute, comical, well done, comical, and appealing. The one thing about reading a Bill Wallace book is that you get the Bill Wallace fingerprint. He had a strong strong style and technique in this books.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wistful, sometimes amusing, story of friendship, sadness, newfound tolerance and tenderness in unexpected places. There are some funny passages in it and a couple of wrenching losses, including the departure of Upchuck’s best friend Tom.

The dialogue of cats and dogs in this story isn’t entirely how you would expect an animal to think. But that’s perfectly acceptable; clearly, the story of Upchuck and Willy’s burgeoning friendship is a tender tale that’s meant as one of acceptance as well as solace for any child mourning the loss of a best friend.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because it started out about to cats that made fun dogs. But then they meet a Rotweiler named Willy. At first they make fun of Willy. But Willy ignored them. Then Tom moved.So when Chuck got stuck in a tree surrounded by dogs Willy let Chuck stay in his doghouse and eat his dogfood for one night.Then Chuck and Willy Became bestfriends.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I'm amazed at how Bill Wallace knows his cat and dog behavior. This was such a cute story! I hope he writes a sequel to this one-- I'd love to hear more about the adventures of Chuck and his friend "the Rotten Willy". Cat and dog lovers have GOT to read this!

[Nicholas Gunter]

This story is so lovely. The kids certainly enjoyed it, as well. I had a hard time reading this aloud, at first. I did not prepare it as thoroughly as I could have. Excellent progression of details throughout the story. Very well written!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my all-time favorite book. it makes you laugh the WHOLE way through it.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't remember much about this other then it was pretty cute.

[Carley · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was very well written. i think the aurther should wright more of his books like this.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upchuck is a little cat, Willy is a very big dog. This funny story tells of how they met. Great little book, sequels.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantabulous book!!! Absolutely adorable!!! I believe it was the first chapter book I laughed aloud with. I would recommend it to any animal lover.

[07joshw · Rating 3 out of 5]

good