Summary
Ophelia Von Hairball V of Burglaria is the premiere cat burglar in the world. And she could prove it once again by winning the Furry Feline Burglary Institute’s (FFBI) 5th Annual Purr-fect Heist Competition – if she had any idea it was happening.
But Ophelia’s nemesis has gone all out to keep Ophelia out of the competition. Thanks to her new inventor/sidekick, Oscar F. Gold, though, Ophelia still has a chance. She just has to get all the way to Paris, sneak into the Belle Mew-seum, and steal the rare Himalayan Diamond without being seen by her nemesis. Then she has to get to Belgium with the diamond by the deadline which is in less than two days.
How hard could it be?
Review
This was fun! Lots of cat puns, but the overall story was solid. Ophelia is a bit of a diva when it comes to her cat burglaring (but she is still like-able). Her partner, Oscar, is earnest and clever. They make a great team when Ophelia deigns to let Oscar help.
The illustrations in the book – pictures, letters, comic panels – are integral to the story telling. You can’t skip past them. With the exception of a couple times when the integration or transition was clunky, this worked really nicely.
No worries that this book will turn readers into criminals. The cat burglars return the things they steal – at least, eventually. The heist is really more about the challenge than about the spoils.
The age range on this one is 7-10 which makes this either a transitional chapter book or a young middle grade. It’s over 200 pages, and while illustrated, there are fewer illustrations than say a Bad Kitty book. So I would lean towards a younger middle grade audience. (2nd-4th grade, and maybe higher) This fun book is the kick off of a new series. Book two – The Fast and the Furriest – will release in 2019.