To Be a Cat

Written by Matt Haig · Illustrated by Stacy Curtis

A boy's wish to become a cat turns into a perilous adventure.

4.0 Goodreads · 2,468 ratings

304 pages· 48,161 words· Est. 6.5 hour read· 690L

$8.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Barney Willow's wish to escape middle school life by becoming a cat comes true, but it's not the paradise he imagined. As he navigates a world where not all cats are friendly, Barney faces unexpected dangers and a mother who can't recognize him. With his life at risk and no extra lives to spare, Barney must find a way back to his human form. Could his missing father hold the key to his survival? Dive into this darkly humorous tale where being a cat is far more complicated than it seems.

From the publisher

When Barney’s feline fantasy comes true, the fur starts flying in this darkly hilarious and heartwarming tale. Cats have it made. They laze in sun patches, are showered with affection by loving humans, can cough up hairballs wherever they want, and never have to wonder why their dad disappeared one day and never came back. It’s clearly much easier to be a cat than to be a middle school boy. So when Barney Willow wishes he could be a cat, and gets his wish, he should be thrilled. Except he’s not. He discovers that not all cats are cute and cuddly, and some of them are downright evil. He discovers that his own mother can’t see past the whiskers to recognize her darling son. Worst of all, he discovers that his life is in grave danger…and he doesn’t have eight lives to spare.

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