January 3, 2022
When yellow house cat Buster is left alone for the night (“I know I’ve been a bummer lately,” admits the feline’s brown-skinned, blue-haired owner), the cat is content to snooze on the patio. But his rest is soon interrupted when a passing cat suggests that there’s a colony of spirits in the house—purple blob-like creatures, with multiple eyes and large mouths, that represent “danger... grave danger.” When the spirits reveal themselves over Buster’s kibble bowl, two street cats—orange Chauncey, who sports a red bandana, and grumpy gray Nova—quickly come to the rescue, offering their services to defeat the colony in exchange for food. As the colony overwhelms, the group must locate spirit-weakening shadeberries as well as the key to the spirit world—“an object that hurts your human’s heart”—while engaging with all-knowing crows and angry dogs. Using a soft palette and rendering facial expressions comically emotive, debut creator Dickerson mixes magical elements with gentle messages about perseverance and animal-human bonds. Ages 7–10.
December 1, 2022
This second installment in the Housecat Trouble series gets to the heart of what home means. Awoken at night by the sound of tapping, Buster the cat leaves the comfort of his bed to investigate, fearing it may be a spirit returning to his and his human's home after a previous infestation. Buster happens upon a white cat in the living room and learns the cat is lost and needs help getting home. The next morning, the two cats strike out on a mission to locate the white cat's home; along the way, they run into obstacles, meet new friends, and reunite with old ones. The mellow, pastel coloring helps to offset the often congested and closely placed panels, which give this sequel a chaotic, high-energy feel. Beyond the conceit of animals going on an adventure together to solve a puzzle, the story continues to fold in elements of the supernatural; it also speaks to the power of friendship and the joy of getting second chances with those you love most. Although the human characters are motivating figures to the cats, they are largely kept to the sidelines; those who are present appear to be White, Black, and other people of color. A frenzied, fast-moving tale laced with tenderness. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
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April 1, 2023
Gr 2-5-In this second book in the series, yellow housecat Buster tries to help a lost small white cat nicknamed Onion find his home while avoiding the menacing dogcatcher. Their paths intertwine with orange cat Chauncey and gray cat Nova, two spirit-hunters whom Buster worked with in the series' prior work. Organized by short chapters, this otherworldly tale is a quick read that will entertain readers who enjoy talking animal graphic novels. The cartoony art is reminiscent of 1990s Nickelodeon cartoons and incorporates exaggerated faces, rounded lines, and sound effects in bubbly font. VERDICT Lack of essential worldbuilding details at the beginning of this graphic novel might hamper the enjoyment of readers unfamiliar with the series. Purchase where the first book is popular.
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