About this item
In this warmhearted middle-grade novel, Oona and her brother, Fred, love their cat Zook short for Zucchini, but Zook is sick. As they conspire to break him out of the vets office, convinced he can only get better at home with them, Oona tells Fred the story of Zooks previous lives, ranging in style from fairy tale to grand epic to slice of life. Each of Zooks lives has echoes in Oonas own family life, which is going through a transition shes not yet ready to face. Her father died two years ago, and her mother has started a relationship with a man named Dylan--whom Oona secretly calls the villain. The truth about Dylan, and about Zooks medical condition, drives the drama in this loving family story.Praise for The Five Lives of Our Cat ZookWinner of the 2013 Golden Kite Award for Fiction given by the Society of Childrens Book Writers and IllustratorsA Parents Choice Gold MedalistSTARRED REVIEWRocklins characters are fully developed readers will be invested.
About the Author
JOANNE ROCKLIN's latest middle grade novel is FLEABRAIN LOVES FRANNY. "Not to be missed!" (VOYA)
THE FIVE LIVES OF OUR CAT ZOOK won the 2013 Golden Kite Award for Fiction given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. It is also published as an audiobook. "The only imperfection in this novel is that it ends." BOOKLIST, starred. It is a Parents' Choice Gold Award winner.
She is also the critically acclaimed author of several other books, including ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET, which won the California Library Association's Beatty Award, the FOCAL Award of the Los Angeles Public Library, and the California Book Award Gold Medal from the Commonwealth Club. It was also voted best middle grade by the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association. STRUDEL STORIES was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and an American Library Association Notable Book, and FOR YOUR EYES ONLY!, was a School Library Journal Best Book and a Bank Street Best Book. Her early readers THREE SMART PALS and THIS BOOK IS HAUNTED will soon be e-books, the latter also to be released as an App.
She has a doctorate in psychology and is a former elementary school teacher, presently writing children's books full-time. For several years she taught a popular class in writing children's books at UCLA Extension. She gives presentations in schools, libraries and bookstores and has been a speaker for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the California Reading Association, and other organizations.
Originally from Montreal, Canada, Joanne lived in Los Angeles for many decades. She now lives in Oakland, California.
Her website is www.joannerocklin.com and she welcomes comments.
