Review by PetraWelch -- Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a ...
Posted: 28 Mar 2020, 14:36
[Following is a volunteer review of "Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat" by R.F. Kristi.]
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi is a fictional story for children. Unlike typical detective novels, this book features cats as the main characters, closely accompanied by other animal friends. We follow Inca, the leader of her group and founder of her own detective agency, as she works to unravel a mystery theft that has taken place on the island of Sri Lanka where her and her family are vacationing. Readers see the world through Inca’s feline point of view as she makes new acquaintances, including a young sea turtle, some gentle elephants and even some wild leopards; all the while learning interesting geographical and animal-related facts along the way. The adventure leaves its audience yearning for their own puzzles to resolve and reflecting on the importance of friendship.
The strength of this book lies in its pure intentions. Instead of teaching kids that every action is followed by a reward of some kind, they learn that the reward is simply appreciating the actions they perform. For example, the cats enjoyed recounting their experiences to the sea turtle and elephant, who in turn were genuinely interested in what they had to say, out of pure curiosity for the world outside of their usual routine. Inca and her friends also wanted to solve the mystery because they wanted to help and do the right thing, they did not need or expect compensation or recognition, they just enjoyed being detectives and solving mysteries. This is the kind of story that leads children toward the pursuit of their passions.
I admire R.F. Kristi’s use of descriptive language, creating a visual landscape even without the cute illustrations inserted throughout the book. She also uses simple, yet intelligent vocabulary that will encourage children to uncover the different meanings of words and broaden their own knowledge. I believe that her readers may also be inspired by the fact that Inca keeps a diary, where she writes about her life. If they choose to do the same, this could serve as a powerful outlet for many, as it could bud young authors or simply allow children to get their thoughts out of their own heads and try to make sense of them.
I honestly enjoyed every part of this book. The only criticism I can think of would be the part when the cats’ Mom left them in the car in such a hot climate. But even then, I appreciate how the author made a point to mention that she left enough of the window open for air to circulate.
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat was well edited with extremely few grammar errors. At 124 pages, it is a nice length to hold young readers’ attention. With a variety of personalities making up the characters in this novel, I feel that most audiences will find a creature to identify with. Furthermore, thanks to the insight into animal minds, the stolen treasure and secret hideouts, this story can spark many children’s imaginations. I have only positive things to say about this book, which leads me to rate it 4 out of 4 stars. This story is accurately aimed at young readers aged 7-12. However, I would also recommend it to parents, as it takes us out of our ordinary lives and encourages us to look at things differently, whether that is pondering what our pets think about or if our neighbours have secret identities. A fresh perspective is never a bad thing. The Queen of Kitties is a courageous symbol for us all, reminding us to love fiercely and never say no to ice cream!
******
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi is a fictional story for children. Unlike typical detective novels, this book features cats as the main characters, closely accompanied by other animal friends. We follow Inca, the leader of her group and founder of her own detective agency, as she works to unravel a mystery theft that has taken place on the island of Sri Lanka where her and her family are vacationing. Readers see the world through Inca’s feline point of view as she makes new acquaintances, including a young sea turtle, some gentle elephants and even some wild leopards; all the while learning interesting geographical and animal-related facts along the way. The adventure leaves its audience yearning for their own puzzles to resolve and reflecting on the importance of friendship.
The strength of this book lies in its pure intentions. Instead of teaching kids that every action is followed by a reward of some kind, they learn that the reward is simply appreciating the actions they perform. For example, the cats enjoyed recounting their experiences to the sea turtle and elephant, who in turn were genuinely interested in what they had to say, out of pure curiosity for the world outside of their usual routine. Inca and her friends also wanted to solve the mystery because they wanted to help and do the right thing, they did not need or expect compensation or recognition, they just enjoyed being detectives and solving mysteries. This is the kind of story that leads children toward the pursuit of their passions.
I admire R.F. Kristi’s use of descriptive language, creating a visual landscape even without the cute illustrations inserted throughout the book. She also uses simple, yet intelligent vocabulary that will encourage children to uncover the different meanings of words and broaden their own knowledge. I believe that her readers may also be inspired by the fact that Inca keeps a diary, where she writes about her life. If they choose to do the same, this could serve as a powerful outlet for many, as it could bud young authors or simply allow children to get their thoughts out of their own heads and try to make sense of them.
I honestly enjoyed every part of this book. The only criticism I can think of would be the part when the cats’ Mom left them in the car in such a hot climate. But even then, I appreciate how the author made a point to mention that she left enough of the window open for air to circulate.
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat was well edited with extremely few grammar errors. At 124 pages, it is a nice length to hold young readers’ attention. With a variety of personalities making up the characters in this novel, I feel that most audiences will find a creature to identify with. Furthermore, thanks to the insight into animal minds, the stolen treasure and secret hideouts, this story can spark many children’s imaginations. I have only positive things to say about this book, which leads me to rate it 4 out of 4 stars. This story is accurately aimed at young readers aged 7-12. However, I would also recommend it to parents, as it takes us out of our ordinary lives and encourages us to look at things differently, whether that is pondering what our pets think about or if our neighbours have secret identities. A fresh perspective is never a bad thing. The Queen of Kitties is a courageous symbol for us all, reminding us to love fiercely and never say no to ice cream!
******
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon