Kitty Kitty [Library Binding]

Michele Jaffe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2008

Jasmine had everything a girl could want.¹

So it wasn't her idea of SuperFun to move halfway around the world to Venice, Italy, leaving her fab pals and hot new boyfriend back in Los Angeles.² But Venice isn't so bad . . .

Until Jasmine's Evil Hench cousin, Alyson, and her Best Fiend Veronique arrive,³ Jasmine's secret plan to jet to California is foiled,⁴ her boyfriend starts hanging with someone named Candy,⁵ and her only friend in Venice turns out to be in deadly peril.⁶

Faster than you can say "gelato," Jasmine is caught up in a catastrophic caper featuring a runaway heiress, a smoldering gondolier, 142 kinds of pizza, and a bothersome kitty. But before she can face off against a dangerous adversary, she has to face herself.

While wearing white leather pants.⁷

¹ Rock star boyfriend, homicidal hair, fabulous pals, iNsAnO father . . .
² No, this was the work of Dadzilla, smiter of life's happiness.
³ They ask to be called by their faerie names, Sapphyre and Tiger's*Eye. No, I am not joking. What? I'm supposed to keep the scary stuff inside the book?
⁴ Hello Dadzilla!
⁵ Who may or may not have perfect hair and boobs and be able to communicate with dolphins.
⁶ Not that anyone believes it. Until— What? That is for inside the book too? Okay, fine.
⁷ Only part of the time. The rest of the time I have to wear . . . oh, right. ScArY stuff inside.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—This sequel to Bad Kitty (HarperCollins, 2006) finds 17-year-old Jasmine in Venice, Italy, where her father has relocated the family in an attempt to distract Jas from the amateur sleuthing she has pursued in the States. When the body of her Italian-class friend is found in a canal and the police rule the death a suicide, Jas tries to convince them that Arabella would never take her own life and that, in fact, she had suspected that someone was stalking her. The police refuse to listen, and Jas decides to solve the mystery on her own. The arrival of her cousin Alyson and Alyson's friend Veronique (whom Jas dubs the "Evil Hench Twins") complicates her investigation; however, the surprise appearance of Jas's best friends from home is an unexpected boon. Narrated in the teen's breezy, slangy voice, the story is interrupted by interpretive footnotes that become more lengthy and numerous as the caper continues. The mystery at the heart of this novel proves satisfying and features a number of red herrings and unexpected twists that will intrigue fans of the genre. Unfortunately, Jaffe's sometimes convoluted and note-laden narrative threatens to overwhelm the plot and limits the book's appeal. Nonetheless, fans of the previous novel and lovers of Meg Cabot, whose literary influence is clearly felt here, will find Kitty Kitty a welcome addition.—Amy S. Pattee, Simmons College, Boston
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The author of Bad Kitty (2006) delivers another frenzied combination of chick lit, mystery, and sparkling fun. Poor Jas. “Dadzilla” has whisked her to Venice (Italy), where she’ll spend her senior year without her California pals. Her solution: be Model Daughter, so Dad will let her go home. Unfortunately, Jas can’t stay away from a mystery. This time it’s the death of a girl in her Italian class. Police rule suicide; Jas disagrees. When her friends pay a visit (surprise!), the mystery gains momentum, and Jas finds herself running around in a squirrel costume trying to catch a killer. Readers unacquainted with the first book will need time to get used to the high-octane characters and frenetic patter, which occasionally spins out of control; and except for a few appearances, forget cats. What works best is the over-the-top, laugh-out-loud silliness between Jas and her protective entourage, and Jas’ own wildly colorful personality, which, along with her insatiable curiosity, suffers from the usual teen insecurities about clothes, parents, and boys. Another book is on the way. Grades 9-12. --Stephanie Zvirin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding: 320 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060781149
• ISBN-13: 978-0060781149
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,827,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How Do You Say Meow in Italian?, July 1, 2008

By 

Little Willow (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kitty Kitty (Hardcover)

The Bad Kitty books by Michele Jaffe blend elements of comedy, romance, mystery, and fashion into highly funny stories that teens will lap right up.

In the first book, Bad Kitty, teenaged Jasmine took what was supposed to be a laid-back trip to Las Vegas with her dad and stepmother only to get entangled - literally - in a murder mystery involving a little boy, a three-legged cat, and a rock star.

In the sequel, Kitty Kitty, intrigue follows our heroine (and her cool hair) all the way to Venice, Italy, where Jasmine's father has moved his family for professional reasons. Thousands of miles (and ocean!) away from her friends and her rock star boyfriend, Jas is miserable.

Just when she finally makes a new friend, something tres tragic happens, and Jas starts searching for a murderer. While on the prowl, she eats delicious pizza, fights her inner bad girl, looks for goldfish, and translates (bad) Italian cop shows (badly). Along the way, she encounters plenty of strange people and familiar faces. She almost gets killed herself - while wearing an awesome pair of boots, natch. Those boots are made for walking, and that's just what they do until she finally figures out the mystery.

If you liked Bad Kitty, then you'll love Kitty Kitty. Both books are good fun. Footnotes scattered throughout the books act as conversations between the characters, correcting and embellishing the narrative. The light tone and quick banter will appeal to Meg Cabot and Lauren Myracle fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as good as the first!, August 13, 2008

By 

Liviania - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Kitty Kitty (Hardcover)

In BAD KITTY, Jasmine Callahan discovered a murderous plot afoot in Las Vegas. In KITTY KITTY, she leaves the canals of the Venetian to the canals of Venice, only to stumble across the path of another murderer. Only this time, she isn't soon enough to prevent tragedy. She can track down the killer and prevent more murders, by following the guidance of Mr. T and using her Italian gleaned from Commissario Rex and translated episodes of CHiPs.

Little Life Lesson 1: Mr. T might not be the best role model. ESPECIALLY if white leather pants are involved.

Of course, the rest of the cast is still along for the ensuing mayhem. The Thwarter has morphed into Dadzilla, a more dangerous version of the breed. Jack just might be off with another girl who can stop a rhinoceros in its tracks with a single look. And while Polly, Roxy, and Tom are in the United States, they've just had a very worrying IM conversation with Jas. (Princess P: "Ah. I see that we are using the alternate universe definition of "plan" meaning "a massively horrible idea.") Oh yeah, and there's the Evil Hench Twins - call them Sapphyre and Tiger's*Eye (the star is silent).

BAD KITTY knocked my socks off when I first read it. Hip, funny, and clever. Jaffe follows it with a sequel that's every bit as fun. I want Polly as my fashion designer, with Roxy providing the armament. Jas's horrible Italian adds to the book's strong sense of language. Jaffe has a knack for teenage lingo. Instead of copying current slang, she - like any self-respecting teen - invents her own. The language Jas and her buds share, as well as that of the Evil Hench Twins, rings true with any teenager because it evokes the private words they share with their friends.

Many books aimed at young adult girls in the market today feature bad role models. Jas's ideas of bad are incredibly funny because she's such a good girl at heart. Reading a mainstream YA book where the teens use their brains and don't smoke, drink, or do drugs is a pleasant change. So parents, don't worry if you see your daughter or son reading KITTY KITTY.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Compulsive Reader's Reviews, July 3, 2008

By 

The Compulsive Reader (Big Rapids, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Kitty Kitty (Hardcover)

Venice, Italy better watch out...Jasmine Callihan is on the loose. But this time she's determined not to get involved in anything Dadzilla would disapprove of...especially after what happened in Vegas, resulting in him whisking her away from her wonderful new boyfriend. She will be perfecting her skills as the Model Daughter. But all of her intentions go poof in the wind when her new friend Arabella is found dead. With her keen knack for solving crimes, super power for attracting cats, and le crazy friends, how can Jas not get involved?

Jump in quick, Kitty Kitty is yet another wild and hilarious ride. Never boring, Jas is an upbeat, witty, and dramatic narrator whose flair for trouble and intelligence will enrapture the reader. Each character is vividly expressed, unique, and entirely unforgettable. Throw in a completely absorbing mystery with some unexpected plot twists and you have yourself an extravaganza that is le fabulous!