Customer Reviews

The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a quest story like no other. Two sponges have robbed a town of all its moisture, leaving it dull and grey. Even the people have had their creativity and initiative absorbed from them.

A travelling black cat determines to find the sponges and restore the moisture. Along the way he encounters a seed that cannot grow, a troll with anger management problems, a jester who can only make negative riddles, and my favourite, the Bicker People, who argue all day long.

It is also a journey of self discovery as the cat begins to realise certain basic truths about himself.

As such, this is a moral adventure of the classic type, but brimming with originality. Maxon makes you laugh, but he also provokes reflection on one's own sensibilities.

The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again is ideal for primary/elementary school children and makes excellent bedtime reading.

Will Hadcroft,
author of the Anne Droyd series. Anne Droyd And Century Lodge
and the autobiographical account The Feeling's Unmutual. The Feeling's Unmutual: Growing Up With Asperger Syndrome (Undiagnosed)

I picked this book up because one of my sons turns six this month and it was about time he moved up to novels. This was his first one and he loved it. The story was cute with talking animals and it was easy to follow. We discussed the lessons taught in the book and to my surprise he understood most of them. The writing is nice and simple and the storyline is unpredictable. It's nice that was no darkness in the book even though there was evil. It seems that most kids books have too much darkness and death so I was pleased this did not. I've noticed that James has just come out with another book. I'll have to look into that.

1 Star = Pathetic
2 Stars = Fair
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

For those who give me a negative vote on my review please comment and let me know why. I'd like to improve my reviews so they can be helpful to those who read them. (I choose not to give a synopsis of the book because it's already given at the top of the books page.) Thank you.

The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again is a children's chapter book by new author James D. Maxon. Cute, unique, humorous, and engaging are words I'd use to describe this story about a nameless cat who goes on a quest to recover the moisture that was stolen from his town. Giant sponges have drained the town and the people who live there of all their moisture, leaving them lifeless, talentless, and uncaring. The clever cat had fooled the sponges and was the only thing in the town to not get drained. The people and other animals go through the motions of daily life, but there is no joy and before long the cat becomes bored. Out of a selfish desire to improve his own situation he leaves the town and begins his search for the stolen moisture.

On his journey he learns some important lessons about friendship, caring, and selflessness. I love that this book is lesson-focused but not lesson-y. In other words, it's all a very natural part of the story. The biblical references are subtle as well, such as referring to the "creator of life" and a story about "Samuel" from a very important book. There are also a fair amount of good vocabulary-building words throughout, placed in such a way that their meanings are easy to deduce, and they are usually coupled with something fun.

I read the book to my children, a few chapters at a time over the course of three nights. My son is ten and in fifth grade, but while the book is probably about a third grade reading level the story completely held his attention. He would beg for "just one more chapter....pleeeeease..." He LOVED the silly and wildly unrealistic parts like the talking seed and laughed out loud in places. My eight year old daughter loved the more realistic parts.

I did find a couple of typos, and normally would not point that out in a review. But since this is for children it could make them "stumble" on those spots, or make the adult reading out loud have to reread those sentences. But there are only a couple, maybe three at the most.

I highly recommend this for elementary age children. It makes both a great read-aloud or a chapter book for young readers to read on their own.

Very good book! Such a nice story, and wonderful ending. I would read this again with my daughter.

I read this book on a beautiful summer morning (it is a quick read), and it made me appreciate the day. It also made my cry. The "cat" takes you on a winding road to a message that is a simple lesson that we all too often forget and need to be reminded of. I'm passing the book around to friends and family and highly recommend anyone spend some time with "the cat".

On the surface this is an engaging story about a cat on a quest, who surmounts various obstacles and receives help from unexpected sources to accomplish a goal that seemed impossible. It is full of charm and humor. But then it also carries deeper symbolism that can be interpreted in different ways to teach important lessons about how to live. It is not moralistic. It is the type of story that I believe I could read again in a year or two and get a new meaning out of. It is about love, community, and how the more energy you use and share, the more there is available. It makes you look at the world we live in and see the vast difference between what our culture calls "wealth", and true wealth -- which is something we create, not attain or accumulate. A great book for all ages, truly.

I must confess that this is the first children's book I've read...well, since I was a child. Being that I don't have any children yet, and I'm hardly ever around kids (at least, long enough to read a book to them), children's books are just not something I normally read.

James Maxon's book The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again is a great book for either kids or adults. Throughout the entire book, I could visualize each scene as though I was watching a cartoon movie. I know that sounds corny, but that's just how I envisioned it. :o) In the first part of the book when the cat is on his way to see the king, I could visualize the ground being dried up from no moisture. Also, when he meets all the different characters along the way, I could hear the bird and the seed talking in a great "cartoon" voice, in spite of the world around them looking so dreary and dull. In the second part of the book when the moisture is returned, everything comes alive, and it's so easy to imagine all the colors of this new and changed world.

For a Christian children's book, I was actually impressed that it was not too preachy. Instead, it was heavy on the symbolism, but not something that would go over a child's head. Because of that, it provides the perfect opportunity for parents to help their kids with questions that they may have at a young age about becoming a Christian. For example, the "moisture" in the book, in my opinion, represents the love of God, and that if we let that love be sucked out of our lives, we're left with a very unhappy life. Also, without that love, we don't treat others as we should, and our hearts can become hard toward one another.

This is definitely a book I would recommend for anyone, regardless of your age group. The truths found in this book apply to everyone, and are easily understood. I look forward to reading James Maxon's future books, even if they are written for kids. *grin*

I just finished this book and I have to say I enjoyed every minute of it. The creativity of the story holds the reader's attention throughout. The cat's journey reinforces positive messages without being overbearing. Overall a good book for people of all cultural and religious backgrounds.

It would be a great book for a parent to read with a child. My stepson is too young, but I have put it on his bookshelf and we'll have to read it together in a year or so when he's a little bigger. Highly recommended.

Kids have so many activities vying for their attention these days that it's hard to get them excited about reading, but this book is a winner! The quick, easy-to-read chapters are obviously designed with younger readers in mind. Not only do they get a great story, but a few faith-based lessons as well. It's a perfect first quest novel for kids.

I am really glad I had an opportunity to read this story. For some reason it took my imagination back to the old Kings Quest games and put a big smile on my face. I have always been very particular about fantasy because I put it up on such a high pedestal and I want to to tell all readers and lovers of fantasy GET THIS! It's a beautiful short story that Christians and nonchristians will love. It has a message that is subtle and not preachy . There are some very good messages in here that all of us need to know about and take it to heart. Children are going to love this book how can they not fall in love with the nameless Cat. I hope the author writes another book someday. He has so much promise it's a wonderful gift and priceless treasure to be able to weave a story like this and cause a person to suspend there disbelief so easily. So to finish up I love this book and I highly recommend it to anyone that comes here looking for a good read.