Review of Mister Pushkin Turns Over A New Leaf

[Josephe-Anne]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Mister Pushkin Turns Over A New Leaf" by AC Michael.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Join in the fun as you read Mister Pushkin Turns Over A New Leaf: 12 Autumnal Tales by AC Michael. This rare and mischievous cat always seems to find himself in trouble as fascinating misadventures unfold throughout the book. Told as a collection of short stories, the plots connect in chronological order as the autumn days steadily become colder and winter approaches. From a dangerous encounter with a cat-hating neighbor to an unfortunate accident at the office, there’s never a dull moment when Mister Pushkin is around. His doting owner, Klem, often finds it difficult to keep up with the feline’s outrageous antics. I won’t let the cat out of the bag, so you’ll have to read the stories to see where Mister Pushkin’s limitless curiosity leads him.

The adorable cover image features a chubby gray cat about to climb a tree with yellow and orange leaves on the ground behind him. I especially like that the creative title font uses a pawprint to dot the letter “i” in the name “Pushkin.” This second installment of the Tales of Mister Pushkin series follows the further exploits of the pampered cat. The series is a spin-off of The Dancing Barber, the acclaimed historical novel in which Mister Pushkin is first introduced. Setting the scene with detailed imagery is certainly one of the author’s greatest strengths. Mr. Michael also makes use of his impressive vocabulary by including unusual words, such as ailurophobe (meaning someone who is afraid of cats) and obsequious (meaning overly eager to help or appease someone) in the text. The book does not contain any violence or profanity, so readers of all ages can enjoy it.

Mister Pushkin is obviously the main character. As a “Ukrainian Blue,” he is a member of a special new cat breed, and his moodiness is legendary. Klem, Mister Pushkin’s owner, has a penchant for Darjeeling tea, borscht, and rye bread. He loves his pet, but sometimes Mister Pushkin’s attitude gets on his nerves. Emma, Klem’s girlfriend, is a fun-loving yet sensible woman. Bruce is Emma’s geriatric mixed-breed cat. When he’s not snoozing in a comfortable spot, he’s known for his ability to use and flush toilets. These characters form Mister Pushkin’s inner circle, and they have to deal with his shenanigans on a daily basis.

There was so much to like about this book! First, I liked the fact that Mister Pushkin was named after a famous Russian poet. Next, from Mister Pushkin’s “sulphurous eyes” to the “paint-splattered floorboards” in Emma’s art studio, I loved the creative descriptions of the characters and the settings. I also liked learning about the physical appearances of different cat breeds in the story entitled “Mister Pushkin Shows Off.” The book also contained several funny quotes at the end, and Mister Pushkin had cheeky responses of his own. Another positive was the fact that I did not find a single error in the text, so the book was flawlessly edited. The only thing I did not like was Mister Pushkin’s revenge on a grouchy cat show judge. That scene was a bit too vulgar for my liking.

Nevertheless, I am pleased to award Mister Pushkin Turns Over A New Leaf: 12 Autumnal Tales by AC Michael a rating of four out of four stars. I thoroughly enjoyed these hilarious tales. Even though this volume is listed as a children’s book, animal lovers of all ages will love it. This is a lighthearted collection of stories featuring the sassy cat, so I highly recommend it to fans of cute felines and comedy. This is my first encounter with Mister Pushkin, and I’m already hooked! I look forward to reading more of Mister Pushkin’s adventures.

******
Mister Pushkin Turns Over A New Leaf
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Adelle v]

I love Mister Pushkin already and cant wait to see what mischief he gets into. Thanks for a great and entertaining review.