When her mother has to spend the summer working in a new city, Elsby finds herself tucked away in a storybook home with her great-aunt. Determined to use her time in her favorite hobby of painting, Elsby is shocked and intrigued to discover a cat in the garden. However, this cat is wearing a hat, jacket, and pants! This small discovery leads Elsby to learn of magical talking cats next door who need her help. Alongside newfound friend, Elsby reaches out to these cats and learns a whole lot more than she bargained for.

Can't say I loved this one. In fact, what I can say is that many times I thought to myself, "Oh I'm so ready to be done with these stupid cats."

I love middle grade novels, magical books, and general cozy vibes. So this one should have been a home run, as it was filled with all of those things! So much about this story could have won me over. What didn't work for me was pretty much every single character. Obviously, Clarissa was the worst. Hated her from the beginning. But, to be perfectly honest, Elsby was quite annoying. Penelope was SO PRETENTIOUS. Marzipan and Horatio were very watered down versions of what I wanted them to be. Overall they both fell flat when they could have had such character.

What it boils down to, especially with the relationship between Elsby and Penelope is that this book FELT very middle grade, and in the worst possible way. Drawn out arguments fraught with insecurities but very little direct confrontation. Sure, that may be true to this age, but is that fun for anyone to read? Well, it wasn't for me.

Elsby has been dropped off with her great aunt while her mother goes to work in another state. Being from the city, a small town is quite different. She finds out that the cats next door, whose owner just died, can talk and like to wear clothing all the time. They are in a pickle though, they are running out of food and need help getting it. Elsby jumps in to help with her new friend. When the cats reveal the other reason they need help, things start going bad.
Opinion
This was a super cute book that any animal lover would love to read. It is perfect for upper elementary and middle school children. The content was appropriate enough that I would have no problem putting it in anyone's hands. If you are opposed to magic, steer clear of this book.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Audio for providing me with an ARC of this book.

A fun story of fantastical talking creatures. I enjoyed this title and look forward to it's publication. The ai generated narrator for the audiobook arc hindered my full experience so I will be rereading when it gets published. A great story for a middle grade reader to adult

Elsby isn't exactly thrilled to be spending a big part of her summer staying with a great aunt in a sleepy town in New England. Her summer gets a lot more interesting when she discovers that her neighbors are talking cats. The kitties have been in dire straits since their caretaker, Rose, passed away, but Elsby loves animals and is happy to help buy groceries and get library books for them. But then the cats ask her to participate in a magic spell that will help them continue to speak, and Elsby doesn't have a good feeling about it. The feeling of dread grows when she discovers that her one friend in town is sneakily helping the cats with magic spells. But if the cats don't want her, what can Elsby do?

This book is part whimsical and part chilling. I love the cats, and I'm fascinated how magic is portrayed in this book. I'm rather used to kids discovering magic and immediately accepting it as good and fun, but this magic has the possibility for sinister consequences. It's interesting to think about how easy it is to become a victim when you're pulled into something you don't understand. Overall, this is an engaging read with charming characters and good pacing. It's not too scary, but it has dark elements, making it perfect for young readers who want a little spine-tingle in their whimsical books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This story has a beautiful cover. The title is catchy. If you like a bit of mystery with witches and cats, you will love this read. It is not scary, more fantasy driven, cats that wear clothes, love books and talk….how fun!

Name of Book: The Cats of Silver Crescent
Author: Kaela Noel
Narrator: Voice Galley created only for early review
Publisher: Harper Audio/Greenwood Books
Genre: Middle School, SciFi, Fantasy
Pub Date: April 20, 2024
My Rating: 3.5 rounded up
Pages: 208


While eleven-year old Elsby is staying with her aunt for a few weeks. She discovers a family of cats living next door. However, these kitties are almost human - they can speak, walk on their hind legs, and dress in clothes as well as hats! Elsby finds she is living in their enchanting world but must find a way to help them so that they can release the magic that made them this way.

This was enjoyed and Elsby totally reminded me how much I love to use color pencils!

Although not big fan of a digital narrator but have to admit this Voice Galley did sound like an eleven year old little girl.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Audio/- Greenwood Books for this early audio.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 20, 2024.

When Elsby is sent from NYC to live with her great-aunt while her mom is on business in CA, she discovers a group of cats living in the house next door where the owner recently died. Cats that stand on their back legs, dress in clothes, and can talk and who tell her they need her help; not just help getting food, but doing the magical spell on the Summer Solstice that will let them stay in their current form. A page turning fantasy.

Where was "The Cats of Silver Crescent" when I was in middle school? I found this book to be such a heartwarming and delightful read. Anything with cats is an immediate winner in my book (pun intended), but talking cats donning Victorian-era style attire? My heart might've just skipped a beat from the sheer cuteness of it all!

Kaela Noel crafts a story that resonates with themes of friendship, loyalty, and family. Through the young protagonist, Elsby, we are drawn into a world that blurs the line between the ordinary and the magical. As someone who would have been deeply engrossed in such tales as a child, it felt like a trip down memory lane. The narrative was imbued with a sense of wonder that would capture the imagination of any middle-grade reader.

The overarching plot about Elsby helping these endearing feline characters harness their magic felt wholesome and sweet. There's an underlying lesson about trust and the essence of magic that resides in every individual, which I appreciated. The nod to other beloved writers like Kathi Appelt and Katherine Applegate in the book description is merited; Noel's writing does share similarities with the emotional and captivating tales these authors weave.

However, no story is without its little quirks. While I was thoroughly enchanted for the most part, there were a few narrative threads that didn't quite tie up to my satisfaction. It left me wondering about certain plot points that could have used a touch more clarity.

Nevertheless, "The Cats of Silver Crescent" is an enchanting tale that will likely find its way into the hearts of many. It's a solid 4 out of 5 stars from me, and I eagerly await more stories from Kaela Noel!