Customer Reviews

Hate That Cat

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are few things nicer than catching a glimpse of an upcoming children's book title and bursting into laughter at the cover. A nice laugh, of course. I don't suppose that many people thought that Sharon Creech's Love That Dog was in particular need of a sequel. It was a perfectly nice book but a succinct and, in many ways, self-contained verse novel. A slim little book, ideal for those reluctant readers who need to read a b...more There are few things nicer than catching a glimpse of an upcoming children's book title and bursting into laughter at the cover. A nice laugh, of course. I don't suppose that many people thought that Sharon Creech's Love That Dog was in particular need of a sequel. It was a perfectly nice book but a succinct and, in many ways, self-contained verse novel. A slim little book, ideal for those reluctant readers who need to read a book for class but don't want anything "too long" (oh, insidious phrase). It also happens to be one of the few verse novels out there that justifies the format, rather than just appearing as a series of randomly broken up sentences. Now Creech has followed up that acclaimed bit of verse with Hate That Cat, a logical extension to the previous title. In the first book Jack dealt with the death of his dog with the help of poetry. In the second, we learn more about his family and about some felines that challenge his resolve.

When last we saw Jack he had learned to love the poet Walter Dean Myers and to accept that his dead dog was gone. Now it's an entirely new school year and Surprise! Miss Stretchberry is unexpectedly his teacher again. Of course, she's not too pleased with the series of anti-cat poems he's been writing lately. Lately a fat black cat has been terrorizing Jack at his bus stop and he is in a full-on anti-feline mode as a result. But there may be some surprises for Jack coming up. Miss Stretchberry is introducing him to concepts like onomatopoeia and synonyms. Though his Uncle Bill (a college prof) is pooh-poohing what constitutes a "real" poem, Jack is able to use his poetry to discuss everything from his mother's deafness to an unexpected Christmas present and an even more unexpected friend.

The novel works, in large part, because it resolves unresolved issues from the first title. By the end of Love That Dog, Jack sort of came to terms with his deceased friend. What's more, he became a fan of poetry. But he never really got to the point where he'd want another pet. His fear is palpable, particularly when he writes "even if you had a nice cat / that you loved / it might run outside / and into the street / and get / squished / by a car / going fast / with many miles to go / before it sleeps." Now his teacher and his parents conspire to get him another pet and, what's more, one that's as unlike his old one as possible. That would normally be a recipe for ootsy cutesy-ness, but Creech is cleverer than that. For one thing, the evil black cat that enjoys scratching and hissing at Jack whenever it has a chance to do so, is mildly redeemed by the story's end, but in a grudging kind of way. I liked that. It was easier than ending the book with everything sunshine and roses.

The poetry selection in this book is just as lovely as it was in its predecessor. There's a nice bit of Poe, some William Carlos Williams, T.S. Eliot, Valerie Worth, Christopher Myers, and others. And this time I remembered to keep flipping back and forth between the story and the poems in the back of the book as I read. Not everyone's going to know to do that, you know. Footnotes that mention that you can find the poems Jack's discussing at the title's end would have been distracting, certainly, but I still think they could have been interwoven into the text. When a class reads this book together, the teacher is able to tell them to read the back of the book. But when a kid is reading it on his or her own, they won't know until it's almost too late. Fortunately Jack's just a great kid to read about. You can't help but love his ever hopeful "Is he alive?" or "Is she alive?" queries to the long long dead poets he regularly encounters (little wonder he's such a Walter Dean Myers fan).

My co-worker started to read this book and then eventually had to stop. "I think I need to reread the first book," she admitted, which sounds pretty ridiculous when you consider how slim these stories are. But after a while I could see why she'd say that. When I read the part of the book that said that Jack's mother was deaf, I couldn't remember if that had been mentioned in Love That Dog and if it was important or not. The initial introduction is almost a throwaway line ("My mother likes my short lines. She runs her fingers down them and then taps her lips once, twice."). After a while, though, Creech works this new story into the whole kerschmozzle and it pans out very well.

It is admittedly a bit convenient that Miss Stretchberry would just happen to be teaching a new grade and that that grade would just happen to have Jack in it again. But then it's not as if that sort of thing doesn't happen from time to time. And though I do not think that there is any way Ms. Creech can continue Jack's story any further (sequel ideas: Mind That Turtle? Tolerate That Budgie?) she has done a very good job at justifying his further adventures. For fans of the original book, Hate That Cat is going to simply provide more of what they want. And for those who've never read Love That Dog it will still resonate as a great book of sounds, inflections, images, and just plain n' simple fun words. A great little book.

A college professor once told one of my classes that just holding a book could somehow impress on the holder the book's content. (Out of context this seems silly, but was very wise within context.) This time I must disagree with that dear professor. Holding "Hate That Cat" with its ugly red cover, then opening it and looking at the poetic forms inside made me snap it closed, put it back on the shelf, and huff: Why would I want to read a novel written in poetic form? Mercy me, sometimes I can be so silly.

"Hate That Cat" is one of the most touching, endearing, delightful, clever, entertaining, instructive books I've ever read. Written in poetic form based on the poems his teacher presents, the book outlines the thinking and writing processes of Jack, one young boy, not any boy, but a very bright, creative boy, one you would want as your student (if a teacher) or your child (if a parent). I was totally captivated by the character, the style of the book, the themes conveyed--not just one, but several, and left tear stains on the last 20 pages or so. This in a 148-page book.

Here's one example of what I mean. Miss Stretchberry introduced the poem by William Carlos Williams (one of my favorites, BTW) entitled "The Red Wheelbarrow."

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

So here's what he writes to Miss Stretchberry:

"The wheelbarrow poem again?
Did you forget we read it last year?

Okay, here's one:

so much depends upon
a creeping cat
crouched in the tree
beside the yellow bus stop."

Then he tells Miss Stretchberry that she will probably ask why (this is his journal) so much depends on that cat. He anticipates this question by writing:

"Remember:
the wheelbarrow guy
didn't say why
so much depended upon
the red wheelbarrow and
those white chicky chickens."

Dear Reader, I began laughing at this boy's cheekiness and his creativity, almost forgetting who the actual creator was--Sharon Creech. As clever manipulator of language, especially language based on poetry lessons and life lessons, Ms Creech is simply divine in reaching way down deep inside a person to pull out one's sensitivity, humanity, compassion, care, and concern.

You see, this boy's mother is deaf and must sign to communicate. This boy does also and imagines not only his own responses to the poetry his teacher presents, but how to relay these responses to his mother so she will "know" how words sound, especially when using assonance and consonance and alliteration and onomatopoeia and the like.

In the back are the words to all the poems used in the book: "Love That Boy" by Walter Dean Myers, "Bells" by Poe, "kitten" by Valerie Worth, "The Eagle" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Black Cat" by Christopher Myers, "The Naming of Cats" by T.S. Eliot, and three more WCW poems. With each one Jack writes his own version--sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always creative and entertaining!

This novel is the sequel to Love That Dog (don't tell me it's out of print!), but it is not necessary for appreciating this book. Basically, Jack had a yellow dog he loved, but it died (I don't know how). Now there is this stray black cat that Jack tried to save out of a tree by the bus stop. It claws and bites him, thus his hate for "that black cat." Later he gets a kitten for Christmas:

The Gift
(Inspired by Mr. William Carlos Williams)
by Jack

So much depends upon
a black kitten
in a straw basket
under the Christmas tree.

I'll let that image stay before you as I close this review. I laughed out loud, I cried, I sighed, and now I wish for everyone to read this book for the same amazing round of emotions so wrought in one book. Thank you, Sharon Creech, for this brilliant little book! I know you don't hate cats, nor does Jack!

I love that book
like my grandpa loves pie
I said I love that book
like my grandpa loves pie

Love to eat it in one sitting
Love to eat it
lean back, sigh.

Love that Dog, the prequel to Hate that Cat, is one of my favorite books. I was a little apprehensive about reading Hate that Cat because I didn't want it to disappoint me and ruin the characters I love so much. This book exceeded my expectations! Creech picks up right where she left off, delving into the ins and outs of poetry (and teaching the reader a little bit about the styles of poetry) by having Jack express his hate for a cat that hangs around his house.

Instead of using the predictable storyline of Jack discovering cats aren't so bad (although that is in the story), the main storyline of Jack's discovery of the "sound" of words, especially the cadence of poetry, and that relationship to his hearing-impaired mother.

What could have been an overkill of a good thing (like so many series are these days) turns out to be further character growth and a beautiful story of the power of words and the sounds they make on paper and aloud.

HATE THAT CAT by Sharon Creech,
Published by HarperCollins in 2001,
is a great book that is amusing and one that children can relate to.
This book is the sequel to another book called,
Love that Dog!

It is a poetic book about jack and how he is dealing with the fact that his dog died.
His dog's name was sky and he loved his dog.
His dog was being replaced by a mean icky cat,
and he HATES THAT CAT!!

Also mentioned in the book is Jack's Uncle Bill.
Uncle Bill is argumentative and wanted Jack to write poems that had,
elements of literature, yes its true but sad.
Like ONOMATOPOEIA to make his poem POP!
He also wants him to include rhythm and meter until he couldn't stop.
In addition a few Awesome Alliterations would make his Poem Pretty,
but Jack will not have this and it's such a pity.

This book is a great way to get students to understand and start to use these words,
because the character is using them in a entertaining, yet informative way.
It is also an excellent choice because students can relate to it.
They may have had to deal with their pet dying,
or may hate cats and love dogs, or just the opposite!

This book also incorporates Jack's feelings and lets him think out loud,
About how he loved his dog Sky and sky would;
Be so hyper and fun,
Wagging his tail,
Making him laugh,
Playing ball with him,
And giving him slobbery kisses.

Not like cats who,
Were boring,
And plain,
And creepy,
And wanted to scratch you,
With their Cazy, Cactus-like Cutting Claws!

The fact that he includes his feelings may also make this book easily relatable to students,
because they can understand his reasoning for things and may agree or disagree.
Overall I would say that this book is a great book for students.
I would gear this book at children ages 9-12,
because they would benefit most from the vocabulary and style.
I think this book would be a great addition to any classroom!

Follow up to her other book "Love that dog" No matter what Sharon Creech writes it is great. The style for these two books is also good for reluctant readers or when you want quality in small doses. Almost makes you want to write something on your own just to work out a problem or two.

A fantastic sequel to "Love that Dog". My nearly-nine-year-old daughter and myself both thought this was a wonderful story, told in poetry from Jack's fifth-grade point of view. Kudos to Ms. Creech, and to all the Stretchberry-like teachers out there who inspire young people to "do poetry".

In the sequel to Love That Dog, Jack is back, and so is Miss Stretchberry. Again, through a year-long poetry assignment, Miss Stretchberry gets Jack to write again, even though his uncle, a professor, has told him his writing is not poetr. This year, Miss Stretchberry's cat has had kittens, and while he could get a new pet, Jack claims to hate cats. And besides that, he could never replace his dog Sky. Through clever verse, we see Jack's confidence build, and he finally opens up about his mother, and how he might even change his mind about cats.

This sequel continues the story begun in Love That Dog, in the same blank verse style, with the same engaging character, Jack. These books are terrific for introducing upper elementary school kids to poetry. Because of the emotional impact that pets have on Jack, and young readers, I'd be wary of introducing these books to kids before the age of 9, no matter how precocious they are in their reading, unless there is an adult there to help them emotionally. Loss and change are profound topics and should be handled sensibly. Hate That Cat and its predecessor are great reads for young tweens. My husband and I also greatly enjoyed them.

So much depends
upon

introducing
poetry

making my son
laugh

cuddled on
the cough

Sharon Creech's sequel may just improve on the original (Hate that Dog) for two reasons: 1) the brilliant use of humor and 2) the reuse of some of the poems, rather than breeding contempt, the familiarity is comfortable.

In this book, like in Hate that Dog, a boy (Jack) is writing poems to his teacher (Mrs. Stretchberry). Along the way, she introduces him to famous poems, which he bases some of his poems on. He also learns about poetic devices, like alliteration ("creepy cat" and "delightful dog") and onomatopoeia ("pop, pop, popping" in his brain).

I homeschool and use this to introduce my son to poetry in an enjoyable way. While he isn't yet inspired to write poems of his own, he loved hearing these books, listening for the sounds of the words, appreciating the words and the meanings behind them. That, for me, was enough to highly recommend this book.