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Munchkin
Meow Means Mischief
With her parents getting ready for a week's vacation and their grandparents coming in from India to watch over them, Rana knows it is going to be a real struggle to convince her parents to allow her to let her new feline friend stay.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 17, 2013
With her parents leaving for the weekend, her grandparents come from India to take care of Rana and her younger sister. Rana finds a cat in her yard and wants to keep her, but needs to convince her parents. This is a story of how she makes friends at her new school, her struggles of sharing in front of class, and the connection she builds with her friends.
Her parents from different cultures is a modern example of many children's parents today. Rana struggles and is shy to share her cultural differences with her classmates. She finds her common interests of taking care of a cat with her classmates and sees that she isn't as different as them.
I really enjoyed this book because the author uses simple, but descriptive word choice to get her point across. The main character Rana writes in her journal and the audience gets to see and understand how the character is feeling throughout the book. I think this book would be a great guide into leading a discussion with the class and may engage students who are from a different country that might be feeling the same way as Rana. I think many students can relate to what Rana felt in her class. I really liked the part when she turned in her journal and her teacher wrote her a personal comment that proved she really cared about her student. The beginning of the book started off by "the wrong grandma is coming to visit tonight," "i'm happy they live far away." These two sentences really got me wondering why the character did not like her grandmother. Then, the story slowly unfolds with the reasons why Rana disliked her grandmother. It was interesting to see the conflicts she was going through and how she states/ writes those emotions in her journal that is a part of the book throughout the story. I think this writing allows the story to be more human and emphasizes the feelings she is having in a better way. Also, the ending was very touching to me because it left an image of how comfortable she acted in class with her classmates now in comparison to the beginning of the book. It can be a poignant ending because it leaves the reader looking back at the whole book and really having a warm and happy feeling.
Her parents from different cultures is a modern example of many children's parents today. Rana struggles and is shy to share her cultural differences with her classmates. She finds her common interests of taking care of a cat with her classmates and sees that she isn't as different as them.
I really enjoyed this book because the author uses simple, but descriptive word choice to get her point across. The main character Rana writes in her journal and the audience gets to see and understand how the character is feeling throughout the book. I think this book would be a great guide into leading a discussion with the class and may engage students who are from a different country that might be feeling the same way as Rana. I think many students can relate to what Rana felt in her class. I really liked the part when she turned in her journal and her teacher wrote her a personal comment that proved she really cared about her student. The beginning of the book started off by "the wrong grandma is coming to visit tonight," "i'm happy they live far away." These two sentences really got me wondering why the character did not like her grandmother. Then, the story slowly unfolds with the reasons why Rana disliked her grandmother. It was interesting to see the conflicts she was going through and how she states/ writes those emotions in her journal that is a part of the book throughout the story. I think this writing allows the story to be more human and emphasizes the feelings she is having in a better way. Also, the ending was very touching to me because it left an image of how comfortable she acted in class with her classmates now in comparison to the beginning of the book. It can be a poignant ending because it leaves the reader looking back at the whole book and really having a warm and happy feeling.
November 29, 2012
This is an entertaining story that captures a little girl's feelings about moving, being at a new school, adopting a stray kitty, and her relationship with her grandparents who are staying with her and her sister while their parents are away.
The fact that her parents are of two distinctly different ethnicities lends a touch of modern realism to the story and the conflicting cultures is likely to be understood by many children today.
Our youngest brought this book home from her second-grade class to practice her reading. She read it once or twice on her own and then we read it together. It's a nice tale and I like that Rana expresses her feelings in her journal. This would be a good story to read aloud with children to open up a discussion about crossing cultures as well as to encourage children to keep a journal.
Overall, we liked her character and enjoyed reading this story together. We would certainly like to read more books by this author and I have put what appears to be the sequel to this book, The Perfect Cat-Sitter, on hold at our local library.
The fact that her parents are of two distinctly different ethnicities lends a touch of modern realism to the story and the conflicting cultures is likely to be understood by many children today.
Our youngest brought this book home from her second-grade class to practice her reading. She read it once or twice on her own and then we read it together. It's a nice tale and I like that Rana expresses her feelings in her journal. This would be a good story to read aloud with children to open up a discussion about crossing cultures as well as to encourage children to keep a journal.
Overall, we liked her character and enjoyed reading this story together. We would certainly like to read more books by this author and I have put what appears to be the sequel to this book, The Perfect Cat-Sitter, on hold at our local library.
June 2, 2015
This was the very very first chapter book I ever read. I was in second grade then and I remember loving this book so much! I don't remember it pristine, but I remember thinking it was a cute story. It was engaging and enjoyable, and I would probably still enjoy it today. I'm entering my first year of college this August, and have always had a high reading level. I have a cousin who is entering second grade. I plan of giving it to her as a "back-to-school" gift thing. I kind of have this book to thank for my love of reading. I remember being so embarrassed because I was the only kid in my class with a chapter book. Now, being the book nerd I am, I can't leave the house without a book! I love reading and am not embarrassed about it now! I hope that many other young readers can find that one book that opens the wonderful world of literature up for them. Because once it's open, you can't come back out into the real world the same as when you came in. :)
December 7, 2012
Very good story! This book would be great to use as a transitional book for younger students. It has some parallels to Because of Winn-Dixie because the cat helps Rana to make new friends and build relationships. This is a great story line to introduce to younger students. I would also keep this book in my classroom library.
January 24, 2013
For some reason I absolutley LOOOOOVED this book when I was younger!!!!! I am hoping to go back and read it again as my "vacation book"!!! SI just remember loving this book and I kinda remember something about a cat, a grandma, and about moving to a new school.It's been a while since I last read this book!!!!! He he!!
November 18, 2007
A young girl and her grandparents from India learn from each other.
May 28, 2014
The book was about a cat getting in to alot of trouble, like when he got into his owners sisters fishbowl. Auryn 10 years old, 2013
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2015
Little Miss has fallen in love with this book. It's gotten difficult to find something she wants to read, so excited to find these.
June 12, 2017
Rana wants to keep a stray cat, but it's not easy
January 4, 2019
I enjoyed this book about a cat in family. The book touches on ethnicities, responsibility, and love in a family.
May 25, 2021
Nice short read of a book that I missed. Now just to find Dear Whiskers to read next. lol
March 2, 2021
This was a pretty easy book if I am being honest. It was really weird, but it was good. I used it to take a refresher from Harry Potter.
April 16, 2017
I really enjoyed this book.It is simple and easy to read for young readers, but there are complex themes in it. I loved how Nagda addressed Rana's journey to fit in at a new school and the evolution of her attitudes toward the "wrong grandma". A great book about accepting who you are and embracing people's differences.Obviously the cat adventures were humorous and cute. Well written and realistic. I loved the way the book came full circle at the end.This is a heart warming story of a girl, a stray cat, a grandmother, and the love they develop for each other.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews