Meow or Never

Ophelia von Hairball is the world’s #1 cat burglar. As the novel begins, Ophelia and her dastardly cousin Pierre von Rascal, the second best cat burglar of the Furry Feline Burglary Institute (FFBI), are competing to see who can give the FFBI’s Director Mew the best birthday gift. Ophelia plans to steal a recipe from the Swiss Hiss Confection Castle for “the best and most celebrated cake in the world.” She works with her “fishy” partner, Oscar F. Gold, to successfully execute the heist! Oscar has engineered PUG, a robotic dog modeled after their annoying neighbour, Thug the dog. Thug is a member of the Central Canine Intelligence Agency (CCIA). As the plot progresses, PUG becomes a useful member of Ophelia’s team.

However, Ophelia’s real challenge is the MEOW competition which is the ultimate challenge for FFBI members. Members have 72 hours to steal the object they believe is the most valuable in the world and bring it back to FFBI headquarters in Brussels. Because the rules mandate that teamwork must be a priority, Ophelia must overcome her need to work alone. Oscar and PUG work with her to steal a rare CCIA treasure while Pierre is trying to steal the most valuable painting in the world, Cats Playing Cards. The competition has begun!

Meow or Never is the third book in the “Snazzy Cat Capers” series by Deanna Kent. Once again, Ophelia and her partner Oscar are traveling to exotic locations to have exciting action-packed adventures. Cartoon-like panels explain aspects of the plot and help readers to understand the motivations of the animal characters. This mixture of traditional text and illustrations moves the storyline along quickly and effectively.

The competition between Ophelia and her evil cousin Pierre is an ongoing theme in the “Snazzy Cat Capers” series. In this offering, Ophelia works hard to defeat Pierre but has limited success. However, her real goal is to reclaim the Captain Claw-some action figure which Pierre took from her years ago. It was a gift from her grandmother which means a lot to her. She has never been able to get it back, but this time she may have the opportunity.

“The Snazzy Cat Capers” series is meant for middle grade readers who enjoy action, adventure, animal characters, and exotic locations. It will appeal to both male and female readers. The short chapters, graphic elements, and accessible language make this a good choice for readers of all abilities. The themes explored in Meow or Never include: teamwork, determination, phobias, creativity, confidence, relationships, and values. Deanna Kent leaves readers with a powerful message her Epilogue, “Life is short. Work hard for what you believe. Sparkle bright at every opportunity. And remember, there is always someone in the world who wants to be on your team.”