Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Synopsis
From master of middle grade horror Mary Downing Hahn, a new thriller about bravery, unexpected friendship, and sinister cats that will captivate readers with its chilling mix of mystery and magic. Zoey loves spending the summer with her Aunt Alice, and her aunt's new house is the perfect place to cozy up with a good book. But she's unnerved by the overgrown forest next door, which is creepy even in the daytime and full of eerie sounds at night. Worse, there are rumors in town of a dark force in those woods. And Zoey can't deny that the wild black cats who live there seem to be watching her. When she encounters a mean old woman who claims to be their owner, Zoey realizes there's more to the cats than meets the eye. But little does she know that the closer she comes to discovering their secret, the more danger she's in . . .
Is The Thirteenth Cat appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 10 and up.
Middle grade horror with atmospheric tension, mysterious cats, and a menacing old woman. Mild peril and spooky elements appropriate for the age group, with a protagonist who must be brave to uncover dangerous secrets.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include animal harm.
Who'll love this
Readers will love the creepy forest setting, mysterious black cats, and solving the puzzle of what the mean old woman is hiding.