TROUBLE'S DEFENSE
The Real Story as Told by the Cat
by Janet Breuer ; illustrated by Sarah Hoyle
A cat named Trouble declares that he’s not that troublesome in this picture-book retelling of Breuer’s Here Comes Trouble (2021).
Trouble isn’t about to let dogs Tucker and Ridge have the last word: “Since Tucker wrote such a dreadful story about me coming to live with him and Ridge, I thought I would tell the truth about what really happened.” The cat heads back to the beginning, when his first human owners abandoned him and his cat relatives in the mountains. Later, an elderly family adopted him and let him do whatever he wanted. When they could no longer take care of him, Tucker and Ridge’s family took him in. Living with two dogs and following new rules wasn’t easy, but Trouble soon realizes his new home isn’t so bad—until another pup shows up. Trouble is an unrepentant menace, but that’s part of the fun; his narration shows a lack of politeness that will make children giggle—even if they know cats shouldn’t claw furniture. Although Trouble’s a pest, it becomes clear that the cat belongs with his new family. Breuer effectively captures the cat’s righteous and condescending voice in simple vocabulary, making the text accessible for newly independent readers, and artist Hoyle’s bold, full-color cartoon illustrations ably show the feline point of view.
A solid companion piece, especially for cat lovers.