Boris is a big gray cat who loves sleeping and playing and exploring and hunting. And his owner loves him for all of his simple cat ways.
But Boris, typical as he may be, is part of a much larger story in this moving exploration of love, longing, compassion, and most of all, the continuous give-and-take of companionship.
Newbery medalist Cynthia Rylant's powerful collection of poems is sure to find its place in the hearts of readers of all ages, especially those who have been lucky enough to experience the many joys and hardships that come with true friendship.
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### From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-This is a memoir told in 19 poignant vignettes. The free-verse poems, with marvelous use of space and line endings to create pacing and suspense, celebrate Boris the cat in Rylant's signature, dry-but-endearing style. None are exuberant, yet readers will certainly enjoy the recognition of feline (and human owner/friend) behavior. The language is delicate and precise. The vocabulary is not erudite or fancy, but it is mighty expressive. The selections encompass companionship, bewilderment, tenderness, apprehension, wry laughter, and all those emotions pet owners (and friends and parents) experience. It's a grand experience, this set of poems, this rumination on the cat and the human condition. Everyone with a pet (and without) will read and remember this title, and come back to it. _\- Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY_ Copyright (C) Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
### From Booklist
Gr. 7-10. This small book, written in terse free verse, introduces Boris, a gray cat who gets himself adopted, even though his unnamed narrator-owner (apparently Rylant) had no intention of getting a new pet. Like almost every cat owner, Rylant feels that her pet is remarkable. His name in his previous home was Hunter, and the moniker was well deserved--so much so that when a new cat moves next door, Rylant fears for its safety (ultimately, the two cats become best friends). Although Rylant, master of the perfectly chosen adjective, beautifully shares the affection she feels for Boris, this is, ultimately, a self-indulgent work. The book's subtext is the inevitability of change, and the larger lessons here are for middle-age women going through their own transformation: the narrator worries about no longer being cute enough to avoid traffic tickets, mourns children growing up, and tentatively welcomes relocation. This can be appreciated for the sway of the writing or for its celebration of cats, but probably those most affected won't be young people. _Ilene Cooper_ _Copyright (C) American Library Association. All rights reserved_
Description:
Boris is a big gray cat who loves sleeping and playing and exploring and
hunting. And his owner loves him for all of his simple cat ways.
But Boris, typical as he may be, is part of a much larger story in this moving
exploration of love, longing, compassion, and most of all, the continuous
give-and-take of companionship.
Newbery medalist Cynthia Rylant's powerful collection of poems is sure to find
its place in the hearts of readers of all ages, especially those who have been
lucky enough to experience the many joys and hardships that come with true
friendship.
__
### From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-This is a memoir told in 19 poignant vignettes. The free-verse
poems, with marvelous use of space and line endings to create pacing and
suspense, celebrate Boris the cat in Rylant's signature, dry-but-endearing
style. None are exuberant, yet readers will certainly enjoy the recognition of
feline (and human owner/friend) behavior. The language is delicate and
precise. The vocabulary is not erudite or fancy, but it is mighty expressive.
The selections encompass companionship, bewilderment, tenderness,
apprehension, wry laughter, and all those emotions pet owners (and friends and
parents) experience. It's a grand experience, this set of poems, this
rumination on the cat and the human condition. Everyone with a pet (and
without) will read and remember this title, and come back to it. _\- Cris
Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY_
Copyright (C) Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All
rights reserved.
### From Booklist
Gr. 7-10. This small book, written in terse free verse, introduces Boris, a
gray cat who gets himself adopted, even though his unnamed narrator-owner
(apparently Rylant) had no intention of getting a new pet. Like almost every
cat owner, Rylant feels that her pet is remarkable. His name in his previous
home was Hunter, and the moniker was well deserved--so much so that when a new
cat moves next door, Rylant fears for its safety (ultimately, the two cats
become best friends). Although Rylant, master of the perfectly chosen
adjective, beautifully shares the affection she feels for Boris, this is,
ultimately, a self-indulgent work. The book's subtext is the inevitability of
change, and the larger lessons here are for middle-age women going through
their own transformation: the narrator worries about no longer being cute
enough to avoid traffic tickets, mourns children growing up, and tentatively
welcomes relocation. This can be appreciated for the sway of the writing or
for its celebration of cats, but probably those most affected won't be young
people. _Ilene Cooper_
_Copyright (C) American Library Association. All rights reserved_