Leonard (My Life as a Cat), by Carlie Sorosiak

Know this: Animal-narrated books are a weakness of mine. Especially when about cats. And while the star of Carlie Sorosiak's adorable new middle-grade novel, Leonard (My Life as a Cat), isn't really of the feline persuasion, the book was still exceptional!

When we first meet Leonard, he isn't really Leonard at all, but a member of an extremely advanced and immortal alien race sent to Planet Earth to study life...all in the name of science. But Leonard, it seems, is already kind of unique to his species' hive mind. He has been looking forward to this visit for 300 years and hopes to take on the guise of a Yellowstone Park Ranger. A human park ranger. Preferably one with an impressive moustache. But at the last minute Leonard gets distracted and miscalculates his trajectory. So not only does he wind up 2,000 miles from his intended destination, but he isn't even human. He's a cat! But the catch is this: Leonard has exactly one month to study Earth life before he is picked up. But the rendezvous point is in Yellowstone! And if Leonard isn't there when his hive arrives, he will be trapped on Earth forever. Or at least as long as his mortal cat body lives.  

But not all is lost. Shortly after his landing (up a tree during a hurricane), he is rescued and then adopted by Olive, a quirky and lonely tween, and her grandmother. Olive discovers Leonard's secret and agrees to help him get home. But first there is an aquarium to explore, poetry to write, cheese sandwiches to make... and, surprisingly, a family to find. And as Leonard learns more about life on Earth, he learns more about humanity than he ever expected.

Leonard (My Life as a Cat) was adorable! I read the whole thing in an afternoon. The story was fun, full of heart and humor and feels, but it was the characters that really made it stand out. It was exactly the right book I wanted right then, and I'm glad I discovered it. 

Definitely recommended!!

--AJB