Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Previous collaborators Okorafor and Ford (LaGuardia) spin an elaborate tale told through the fictionalized perspective of the author's real-life temperamental and territorial cat Pumpernickel Pickle Periwinkle Chukwu Okorafor, or Periwinkle, imagined as hailing from Neptune. By day, Periwinkle enjoys chowing down on chicken fillets and running so fast on his cat wheel it would make his "ancestors proud." At night, the feline sneaks through a portal hidden at the back of a closet that leads to his secret space-cat lair, where he parks his spaceship. Entering his cruiser, Periwinkle soars through the cosmos and engages in literal flights of fancy with an enigmatic space cat he calls Orange Meow. Life seems perfect for the precocious pet until he relocates with his human family to their native Nigeria. Slice-of-life-feeling comics loosely braid together a story of transition and exploration as Periwinkle acclimates to this new landscape ("Birds different. Trees different. Cats different. I excite!"). But when he's disparaged by local humans and learns of an impending alien invasion, Periwinkle's expectation of carefree adventure goes sideways. The graphic novel's neo-impressionist art style imparts a moody, ethereal feel to the feisty feline's free-wheeling space opera. Ages 8--12. (Aug.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--The latest collaboration between Okorafor and Ford features a clever cat named Periwinkle, whose two humans make sure all cat comforts are provided. But at night, this seemingly domestic cat leaves the condo and races through space in a ship he built himself. When his humans take him along on a trip to Nigeria, Periwinkle finds that many people there dislike cats. Despite this poor welcome, he uses his skills to protect the town of Kaleria against alien invaders. A space cat lair away from human eyes, a spaceship that can be summoned by remote control, and a personality that's "always up for new adventure" serve this feline hero well. Ford's illustrations capture the everyday life of a beloved pet as well as the intense action scenes. Periwinkle's early days in the household are in sepia tones marked with the electric blue of his ricochet path from one spot to the next. Space scenes feature deep blues and purples offset by bright orange. Warm earthy tones in Kaleria contrast with the icy blue of the invaders. Periwinkle's humans and most other characters are Black. VERDICT Okorafor's story blends the everyday life of a pampered cat with satisfying sci-fi action. Middle grade readers who enjoy stories from the pet's point-of-view will be delighted to meet and get to know Periwinkle.--Suzanne Costner
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A funky feline explores new landscapes. The Space Cat, an Oriental shorthair known to his humans as Periwinkle, has an imagination as expansive as the universe. Lovingly tended to during the day, Periwinkle slinks off to his luxurious Space Cat lair at night and, from there, zooms away into the boundless night sky in a small orblike spaceship. But things are about to change; Periwinkle's family has decided to spend a year in Nigeria--where they're originally from--so his human mom can work on her book. For the intrepid explorer, Nigeria is as alien a landscape as the outer bounds of the universe, not least because the humans there have a strong distaste for cats, and the other cats that live there are hardened by that harsh reality. But ultimately, Periwinkle puzzles out his place in Nigeria's feline society and enjoys a disaster-averting adventure, with help from the curious cast of animals who slink around the local marketplace. Okorafor's storytelling is intuitively episodic, blurring the realities of everyday pet life with gleeful fantasy. Ford's sci-fi comic illustrations, rich with cosmic blues, purples, and oranges, bring a dynamic energy to this eccentric escapade. Periwinkle's particular syntax ("When I come here, I reminded all things possible," "Yes, I winning!") may distract or amuse, depending on the reader. A glowing, flowing, and uniquely imaginative cat story. (photos of the Okorafor family and their cats)(Graphic fantasy. 8-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
