Hate That Cat

Written by Sharon Creech

Part of the Jack series

A boy's struggle with poetry and a troublesome cat leads to unexpected self-discovery.

3.9 Goodreads · 11,241 ratings

176 pages· 5,790 words· Est. 49 min read· ~780L

$9.99Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In Miss Stretchberry's class, Jack, a reluctant poet, faces a year of poetic challenges and a pesky black cat. As he grapples with metaphors and alliterations, Jack's attempts to rescue the cat result in scratches and frustration. Yet, through the guidance of new poems and his teacher, Jack begins to find his voice and a surprising affection for the cat. Will Jack's journey with words and whiskers reveal a deeper understanding of himself and his world?

From the publisher

Return to Miss Stretchberry’s class with Jack, the reluctant poet, who over the course of a year encounters new and challenging things like metaphors, alliterations, onomatopoeia, and one mean fat black cat!The Newbery Medal-winning author of Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech, introduced Jack in Love That Dog, a New York Times bestseller. Both Love That Dog and Hate That Cat are approachable, funny, warm-hearted introductions to poetry told from the point of view of a very real kid wrestling with school assignments.These books are fast reads that will be welcomed by middle graders as they too wonder how poetry and schoolwork connect with their interests and how to uncover their true voices.In Hate That Cat, Jack is only trying to save that fat black cat stuck in the tree by his bus stop–but the cat scratches him instead! At school Miss Stretchberry begins teaching new poems, everything from William Carlos Williams to Valerie Worth to T.S. Eliot.As the year progresses, Jack gradually learns to love that cat and finds new ways to express himself.

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