Rating: Not for me, but some families may like it

This story demonstrates what can happen when power is given to a bad apple (with an even worse wife). That said, I was a bit disappointed in the ending; it wasn’t as clever as the rest of the book set it up to be. The animals were not a very big part of the solution even though their preparation and planning was built up in the plot.

Positive messages include:

  • Be a conscientious voter
  • Don’t blindly follow authority; stand up for what is right before corrupt leaders get out of hand.
  • Be wary of greed & pride; they can grow to get the best of you
  • Forgiveness of family members can be redemptive.

Potential concerns:

  • The story has a lot of prose with no dialogue, particularly at the beginning. Novice readers may not have stamina to make it past this “eating vegetables” type reading.
  • The cat is once referred to as a “good luck charm.”
  • The stray cat is admired for going where he pleases and not paying attention to authority. This is in the context of an oppressive mayor. There is something to not being tied down, but there are things like family, responsibility, and society that are worth being tied down to serve. 
  • The resolution to corruption was to not have a mayor at all. Instead of conveying potential anarchy, I would have preferred checks and balances or a committee governing the town.
  • The plot build-up was not executed very well in the conclusion.

All in all, I was a bit disappointed in the ending, so this one was not especially great, but somewhat entertaining. I could take it or leave it.