I don't know what to make of this. The main character, Jessica, is basically an evil psychopath who finds breathtakingly convoluted ways to blame anyone and everyone else. The story suggests that the issues started when she took home a demon-cat, but long before the cat she got in a fight with her best friend because they were acting out a story that involved howling wolves and she found a dog that was tied up and she started beating it with a big stick to make it howl and when her friend stopped her she got mad that he was jealous because she had improved the game. The end suggests that maybe things will be different in the future, but Jessica has serious unaddressed mental health issues. I can't believe this was a Newberry Medal Nominee. ( )

An awesomely creepy book from Snyder, who I love for her unique treatment of the supernatural; always leaving it realistic, ambigious, and not always totally evil.

Jessica feels abandoned; her glamourous mother is gone most of the time, her (former) best friend seems to have forgotten her, and she spends most of her days alone, bothered only by the nosy landlady.

Then Jessica finds Worm, a tiny black kitten, in a cave on a stormy night. He doesn't behave anything like a normal kitten; he wails, he has piercing yellow eyes, and he frightens Jessica in a way she doesn't understand.

And then she starts hearing him in her head. Is Worm really evil; a witch's cat sent to turn her into someone terrible? Why is Jessica suddenly playing cruel pranks and lying to her mother? And why is she so unable to resist Worm? Is he really the demon...or is Jessica the witch?

Creepy in an utterly psychological way, the interplay between Worm's supposed evil nature and Jessica's own mental state is fascinating. In the end, it will take a unorthodox exorcism, a reconciliation with her best friend, and a chilling climax chase to reveal the true natures of both Jessica and Worm. A great read for supernatural fans that's appropriately scary but still has a warm ending. ( )

Jessica is an only child who lives with her single mom. She doesn't have many, if any, friends since her friend Brandon chose to become friends with two other boys. Reading and spending time home alone is what she does.

Her world take a radical turn when she comes upon a skinny, ugly looking kitten whose eyes have yet to open. She doesn't want a cat but winds up taking on the responsibility. She names him the uncomplimentary name of Worm. He is strange and not a typical cat that cuddles, purrs and plays. There is something unsettling about him.

Being a big reader, Jessica has been reading about witches, and comes to the conclusion that Worm is a witch's cat. She feels he has put a spell on her and imagines a voice that comes from Worm; a voice that tells her terrible things to do. The problem is that there is no one she can talk to about it and the voice seems to be getting worse.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder is a writer I've read before and enjoyed. Her books are for kids, but adults can enjoy them too. It seems she mixes a little magic into her stories, yet does keep it real. ( )

Jessica lives in an apartment building with her neglectful mother, and their neighbors include a crazy cat lady/potential witch, a nosy landlady who likes to think of herself as the mothering type, and a boy who used to Jessica's best friend before leaving her for some boys who share his new music interests. Jess is lonely and discontent and interested in witches. So, when she finds an orphaned and ugly kitten in her secret cave hideout behind the building, she decides that it must be possessed because it tells her to do things like lie to people and push her ex-friend's trumpet out of the window. It's a cleverly-told story about a girl who clearly has some emotional issues stemming from the unhealthy relationship she has with her mother, and I really wanted to like it - I've read others of Snyder's books and liked them tons. But I couldn't bring myself to like Jess or any of the other characters, or even the cat, for that matter. So this one fell a little flat for me. ( )

Although in the abstract this is not really my kind of book (it's mostly bleak and unfunny, and I gravitate to gentle/charming (not silly)), it's so well-written that one can't help but enjoy it on its own terms. The protagonist, whose viewpoint we follow throughout, is troubled (and trouble) and one wants to shake her, but one can't, and that's frustrating. The plot is resolved in a way that's too pat, I think, to work in the real world--but it is a novel, after all, so I'll let that go a bit.

I listened to it via Audible and the narrator did a lovely job, you forgot you were listening to it and felt like you were reading it (my highest compliment!)

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s) ( )