Totally Disgusting [Paperback]

Bill Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1992

Whoever heard of a name like Mewkiss! Ugh!

How can a "Mewkiss" be brave? Why couldn't my Jessica call me "fearless" or "Ratkiller"? And why do I have to share a tub with a barky puppy named Barkus?

Actually... its nice to have somebody to cuddle up to. My real problem is rats. Two scary rats in the storm cellar are plotting to attack Jessica! What's a kitten to do? How do I find the courage to protect the person I love?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An intrepid feline, ratter extraordinaire, is thoroughly upset by his name--Mewkiss--until he discovers its origins. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-- The title refers to the narrator kitten's attitude toward his name, "Mewkiss," given to him by Jessica, for whom he was a birthday present. Mewkiss feels the silly name dooms him to a life of weakness and helplessness against the vicious rats who have already killed one of his sisters, and who are planning to bite Jessica. When an old cat tells Mewkiss that his name really is "Mukiz," the name of a famous warrior cat in ancient Egypt, the kitten courageously fights off and kills a rat. The plot is as slight as the characterizations in this story in which all animals speak and understand English and imitate human behavior--they laugh, go "to the bathroom," and need reassurance about their specialness. This fantasy lacks the subtlety, the playful satirical humor, and the rich characterization of A. N. Wilson's Stray (Orchard, 1989), which attempts to depict the world from the animal's point of view. It's an easy, readable chapter book on a subject that will appeal to some, but the moralizing is too obvious to be effective, the humans too lightly sketched, and the central four-legged creatures reminiscent of cartoon characters. --Yvonne Frey, Peoria Public Schools, IL
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (June 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671754165
• ISBN-13: 978-0671754167
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,064,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, March 19, 2000

By 

jo clements (Tifton, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Totally Disgusting (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Totally Disgusting. Being an animal lover with many cats and dogs I got a big kick out of the feelings expressed by each animal. I read this book to my students and each day they did not want me to stop. They kept asking for one more chapter. With Bill Wallace, you can't go wrong.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars getting along- like cats and dogs!!!, August 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Totally Disgusting (Paperback)

A courageous kitten named Mew-kiss and a slow but sweet dog named Barkus struggle to overcome their fear and defend their home against rats! The story has its ups and downs, from Mew-kiss's friendship with the elderly neighbor cat, to Barkus's fear of the dark, and this creative pair will have you laughing for hours. The book is adorable, and I reccomend it to all kids.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving and humourous, July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Totally Disgusting! (Hardcover)

My much-worn copy of this poignant yet funny book has sat on my bookshelf for many years now. This is without doubt one of my favourites during my childhood, and I still fondly remember it. The antics of the animals and the point of view are really well-written; Wallace has delved into the book deeply and extracted many little treasures. I was compelled to laugh at every dog vs. cat scene, yet at the end, when the old Allergies died, it was so very sad. I cried.