Early Reviewers

Scaredy Cats Scratch Back is an illustrated chapter book about a sharp, imaginative girl navigating the strange territory between childhood and growing up.

School is finally out, and Sarah is headed on a long road trip from New Orleans to her grandparents’ house in Oklahoma for Memorial Day weekend. It should be one of her favorite times of year—late nights, backyard adventures, and the quiet magic of summer just beginning.

But things don’t quite unfold the way she expects.

Between her older sister’s relentless teasing, confusing family dynamics, and a grandmother who may not be exactly who she seems, Sarah finds herself constantly misreading situations and second-guessing her place in them. She isn’t afraid, exactly—but she often feels like she’s getting everything wrong.

Even a run-in with her grandmother’s temperamental Siamese cat becomes less about fear and more about pride, perception, and the sting of being misunderstood.

As the weekend unfolds, Sarah begins to notice things other people miss—about her family, about herself, and about what courage actually looks like. In the end, her way of “scratching back” isn’t loud or dramatic, but something quieter, sharper, and entirely her own.

This is a character-driven story with humor, tension, and emotional insight, told through the perspective of a bright, sensitive, and sometimes stubborn child. The illustrations inside use animal symbolism to reflect Sarah’s inner world.

Recommended for ages 7–10.

Book 2 in The Knightly Princess series. Can be read as a standalone.