Kitty Kitty

Posted to my Livejournal in January 2009:

I loved Bad Kitty and its ridiculously funny plot and characters, so how could I resist a sequel? In this one, Jasmine Callihan has been forced to move to Italy with to her father Dadzilla and step-mother, Sherri! (yes, she spells her name with an exclamation point). While Jas plots out a way to return home to her friends and new boyfriend, she is of course embroiled in another mystery when one of her only friends in Italy is murdered right after confiding to Jas that she is being followed. Like the previous book, the plot is wonderfully ridiculous and the cast of characters (including the return of the Evil Hench Twins) is just as kooky, with Jas and her friends creating more MacGyver-esque spy show more equipment, speaking to each other in silly footnotes, and engaging in madcap hijinks. These books remind me of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series for teens, but Jaffe's series has more fast-paced zaniness and uniqueness. show less

In BAD KITTY, Jasmine Callahan discovered a murderous plot afoot in Las Vegas. In KITTY KITTY, she leaves the canals of the Venetian to the canals of Venice, only to stumble across the path of another murderer. Only this time, she isn't soon enough to prevent tragedy. She can track down the killer and prevent more murders, by following the guidance of Mr. T and using her Italian gleaned from Commissario Rex and translated episodes of CHiPs.

Little Life Lesson 1: Mr. T might not be the best role model. ESPECIALLY if white leather pants are involved.

Of course, the rest of the cast is still along for the ensuing mayhem. The Thwarter has morphed into Dadzilla, a more dangerous version of the breed. Jack just might be off with another girl show more who can stop a rhinoceros in its tracks with a single look. And while Polly, Roxy, and Tom are in the United States, they've just had a very worrying IM conversation with Jas. (Princess P: "Ah. I see that we are using the alternate universe definition of "plan" meaning "a massively horrible idea.") Oh yeah, and there's the Evil Hench Twins - call them Sapphyre and Tiger's*Eye (the star is silent).

BAD KITTY knocked my socks off when I first read it. Hip, funny, and clever. Jaffe follows it with a sequel that's every bit as fun. I want Polly as my fashion designer, with Roxy providing the armament. Jas's horrible Italian adds to the book's strong sense of language. Jaffe has a knack for teenage lingo. Instead of copying current slang, she - like any self-respecting teen - invents her own. The language Jas and her buds share, as well as that of the Evil Hench Twins, rings true with any teenager because it evokes the private words they share with their friends.

Many books aimed at young adult girls in the market today feature bad role models. Jas's ideas of bad are incredibly funny because she's such a good girl at heart. Reading a mainstream YA book where the teens use their brains and don't smoke, drink, or do drugs is a pleasant change. So parents, don't worry if you see your daughter or son reading KITTY KITTY. show less

Second in the "Bad Kitty" series, though I read this one first.

The week before school starts, Jasmine's father (nickname: Dadzilla) packs up her and her not-at-all-evil step-mom and takes them to Venice. While this is a non-ideal situation (leaving behind rock star boyfriend, and the crew of friends who get her through everything) she makes the best of it, becoming Model Daughter, taking Italian, and staying (mostly) out of trouble. Until her already crazy Italian class friend starts acting even more crazy, and believes her life is in danger. Jasmine tries her best to stay out of trouble, but of course, discovers she can't.

This is my first book by Michele Jaffe, and I am very happy to have discovered her. Jasmine is smart, sassy and show more up-to-the-minute, and American to the core. This is a witty, intelligent book for teens and teens-at-heart. The crime is a nice bonus -- keeps you guessing to the end and plausible enough. Pure pleasure. show less

Seventeen year old Jasmine is on an extended stay in Venice, Italy at the start for her senior year in high school. Unforntantly this is not the place she wants to be. She would rather be in the states where she has left her best buds and her boyfriend. Oh Heavens!!

While in Venice she befriends an odd bird of a girl who just happens to get her self killed. The police have decided it is suicide but Jas knows better. Using her sleuthing skills and the
unannounced arrival of her fab friends and not so fab cousins she uncovers the truth with a bit of hijinks and dodging near misses by the killer.

I love love LOVE this series and I wish that Jaffe would write more. Kitty Kitty was hilarious and clever. The footnotes (and chats) make the book even more amusing. I wasn't sure that Kitty Kitty would be as good as Bad Kitty, but I needn't have worried. It was pretty great.

Reviewed by The Compulsive Reader for TeensReadToo.com

Jasmine Callihan is back in yet another crazy and zany escapade!

This time Venice, Italy is her prowling grounds.

Despite her father's desperate attempts to keep her out of trouble, Jas finds herself entangled in yet another mystery. Trying to find out who killed her new friend, Arabella, will lead her from small, overstuffed apartments, to churches, and to large manors inhabited by the rich.

Luckily for her, she has many, many allies to help watch her back. And one of them includes a mysterious stranger who might know something about her history.

Full of convoluted mysteries, witty segues, and good fashion, KITTY KITTY is a glittering beach must-have, and the perfect follow-up to BAD KITTY.

A fun murder mystery set in Venice.