about the book
Oona, age 10, and her brother Fred, age 5, found their constant companion, a cat named Zucchini (Zook) lying in a flower pot between their apartment and the pizzeria, where they serve fried zucchini, the only vegetable Fred will eat.
Zook has faded blue eyes and his fur is almost completely dark brown. One ear is missing a bit and his breath is terrible. There’s a spot under his fur where a BB is lodged, and he yowls like a bull horn. But the kids love him deeply, and Zook gave their dad much comfort as he battled cancer. Their dad died two years ago.
Now Zook is really sick too, and Oona and Fred are so worried. The vet says Zook’s kidneys are failing. To help Fred, Oona assures him that cats have nine lives and their pet has only used five.
As they wait for Zook to get better, Oona tells stories about his previous lives. She knows that she is fibbing, but according to her Rainbow Whopper Theory, the stories are just white lies. Some of the stories are sweet and some are epic. Some mirror their own lives. Wildly wordy, she fills her tales with crazy terms (like frazzlebug and pickapoo) and her brother joins in making up words. To help Fred learn to spell, she draws rebuses (puzzles with pictures and letters).
Oona is worried about bringing Zook home now that her mom is dating Dylan, the villain. She’s sure he was Zook’s previous owner and is the one who shot their beloved cat! Oona told a really big whopper years ago when they found Zook, and she was sure she would never have to tell the truth. But now she knows the time is coming when she’ll no longer have that option.
about the author
Joanne Rocklin was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and as soon as she was able to fist a pencil, she started writing poetry and stories and keeping a journal.
Her mom was her greatest supporter and kept every scrap of paper Joanne ever wrote. When a teacher criticized one of Joanne’s poems because of poor penmanship, her mom marched to the school and had a little discussion with the teacher! When Joanne grew up and wanted to be a writer, it was her mom who introduced her to the SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Joanne earned a doctorate in psychology and became an elementary school teacher. She also taught a class in writing books for children at the University of California, Los Angeles. Now she writes full time and lives in Oakland, in Northern California with her husband Gerry. Their sons live nearby with their families. In her spare time, she enjoys babysitting her grandkids, “cooking up a storm”, singing in her synagogue choir, and playing with their golden retriever, Zoe.
Joanne has always had cats, and she claims they help her with her writing. The cat that currently runs their home is a stray by the name of Mitzie. She was found outside a Thai restaurant covered in fleas and starving. Like Zook, she has a BB pellet lodged under her skin. Mitzie silently listens whenever Joanne reads from her manuscripts and is an excellent foot warmer. Joanne says Mittzie is currently “revising her heartrending memoir Please Take Me Home With You (It Will Be Worth It, I Promise)! “
Sources:
Author website
Author interview : Shelf Elf
Author page : Amazon
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