Review by Shrabastee -- Cat Detectives in the Korean Pen...

Post by **Shrabastee Chakraborty** » 16 Apr 2019, 06:51

[Following is a volunteer review of "Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula" by R.F. Kristi.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Inca, the Siberian kitty, and her detective agency make a tour to Korea with their human family. Here, they try to reunite Ye-Jun, their Korean guide, with his estranged sister Ji. They also need to guard their mom’s valuable cheese against her greedy rival. Can they accomplish either of the tasks without getting their human friends into trouble? Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula, the eighth book of The Inca Cat Detective Series by R.F. Kristi, answers all these questions.

Written in the form of diary entries with a fun font and numerous illustrations, this book is a suitable read for children. The short length makes it easier for the intended audience. The plot is simple yet engaging, with a heart-touching innocence. Even the villain here is rather hilarious.

In a book where most of the protagonists are not human, Kristi performs an excellent job incorporating distinct character traits in each. This makes our feline friends all the more endearing. Additionally, to solve the problem, the plot makes use of the very fact that the detectives are cats. To be honest, I was utterly amazed at the perks of being adorable cats.

Wonderful illustrations by Jorge Valle take the book to another level. Starting from the cover, the expressions of the cats were adorable. At times, I felt more drawn to the illustrations than the actual story. In fact, whenever there was a beautiful scene described in the text, I kept wishing for an accompanying illustration.

The book provides snippets of Korean history and includes detailed descriptions of historically significant places. It touches the aspect of the division between South and North Korea and shows how the citizens are affected by this. Kristi’s version is likely to intrigue the young minds to know more and inspire them to research it themselves.

As is typical of Kristi’s books, this one emphasizes the value of family bonds. The author makes clear that a family does not necessarily refer to only the human members, pets are also an indispensable part of it. The importance of maintaining a friendly and hospitable attitude is shown through the Korean family Inca encounters. Additionally, the book carries a fundamental message to spread peace.

I did not find anything negative in the book. However, I was expecting more thrilling moments to be included in the adventure. A few misspelled words did not detract from the reading experience. All things considered, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this to children aged 8 to 12 years. However, I am absolutely confident the adults who like refreshing reads will also enjoy this book.

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Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula
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María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 01 May 2019, 10:32

The book provides snippets of Korean history and includes detailed descriptions of historically significant places. It touches the aspect of the division between South and North Korea and shows how the citizens are affected by this. Kristi’s version is likely to intrigue the young minds to know more and inspire them to research it themselves.

As is typical of Kristi’s books, this one emphasizes the value of family bonds. The author makes clear that a family does not necessarily refer to only the human members, pets are also an indispensable part of it. The importance of maintaining a friendly and hospitable attitude is shown through the Korean family Inca encounters. Additionally, the book carries a fundamental message to spread peace.

It's quite commendable that the author approaches such complex political issues in an appropriate way and I applaud the idea of helping kids learn about other cultures and highlighting family values and peace.
And, I absolutely love cats!

chiefsimplex · Post by **chiefsimplex** » 02 May 2019, 11:06

The author's application of humor was nothing short of superb. Considering that the target population is children, the author did a splendid job in personifying the cats thus aptly simplifying the plot. The book is both educational and abundantly entertaining, I am impressed by the author's prudence in striking the delicate balance. Great review!

Beatus · Post by **Beatus** » 03 May 2019, 12:29

I loved this book very much. The author has such a wonderful imagination. It was so funny to get to think like cats. Nice.

Nerea · Post by **Nerea** » 03 May 2019, 14:15

Yes. The illustrations in the book are incredible. I also loved the valuable lessons portrayed in the book. I appreciate your thoughtful and clear review.

Post by **Smrithi Arun** » 09 Oct 2022, 05:32

It was a thoroughly thrilling read indeed! Even though it is a children's book, it's quite intriguing. I loved their adventures, though I was a bit concerned that children might take away something not entirely good from some parts of the book. Great review Shrabastee!