From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook
by
Start date
January 1, 2012
Finish date
December 31, 2012

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What Members Thought

Debbie Tanner
This is a really great book about storytelling. The main character Oona has been telling a lot of stories. She tells stories because her dad died and she needs to help her little brother feel better, she tells stories to protect some of the stories she already told, she tells stories to get what she wants, there's a lot of storytelling in this story! And there are a lot of big messages. I think girls will like this book more than boys... a lot of emotion and not too much action. ...more
Karen Arendt
This is a beautiful story lover's story. Oona and her brother younger brother, Fred, have a cat named Zook who has been sick. Oona tells Fred how cats have nine lives and Zook is only on his fifth life. Their father died several years ago from a long illness, and now it is just them, Mom and the cat. What Oona has never told anyone is how she found Zook- through less than totally honest means. Oona needs to come to terms with Zook's health, while taking care of Fred (which she claims is one of h ...more
Carol Royce Owen
Nov 26, 2012 rated it really liked it
To help her younger brother, Fred, while their cat, Zook, is at the animal hospital, sick, Oona makes up stories about Zook's past lives, explaining to Fred how cats have 9 lives. Fred is skeptical at first, but begins begging to hear the stories. Oona is a masterful storyteller, a trait she gets from her deceased father, and spins tales of five lives of Zook. ...more
Sandy
Read this one for my Mock Newbery group. I don't think that this one will win any awards, but it's pretty darn charming. Rocklin fills Oona's narration with astute observations and plenty of feeling. ...more
Brenda Kahn
Aug 06, 2013 rated it really liked it
What a sweet, satisfying, slightly sad but frequently humorous middle grade novel! I just loved the legacy of storytelling that Oona nurtured and passed on to Freddy. Tissue alert!
Christina
A sincere book with lots of gentle humor about a girl, Oona, and her brother, Fred, who while still adjusting to the death of their father two years earlier, must deal with both a sick cat and their mother's new boyfriend. I loved the inventive stories that Oona told Fred about Zook's prior lives and her color-coded whoppers. Best for grades 4-6. ...more
Danielle
Mar 12, 2012 marked it as to-read
The Styling Librarian
Jun 03, 2012 marked it as to-read
Kate Farrell
Aug 07, 2012 marked it as to-read
Mary Z
Sep 21, 2012 rated it really liked it
Marianne
Jul 07, 2013 rated it really liked it
Cynthia Shutts
Aug 19, 2014 rated it really liked it
Lori
Oct 19, 2014 marked it as to-read
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