Bad Kitty: Catnipped

Title: Catnipped

Author: Michele Jaffe

Art By: Lince

Pages: 172

TokyoPop & HarperCollins, 2008

Genre: Manga/Mystery

Recommended to: Teen readers 13 and up

Rating: A

   Crazy-haired cowboy boot-wearing anti-Nancy Drew Jasmine ("Jas") Callihan is back, and this time, manga-style! In her very first graphic novel, Jas has got a lot on her hands:

a) she can't manage to have brunch with her "Tabasco-hot" rock star boyfriend Jack Early without being mobbed by his fans

b) she's trying to solve a diamond heist at the mall 

c) her evil cousin Alyson and her hench twin Veronique are trailing Jas and her friends wherever they go

and 

d) trying to handle all of this while trying to avoid getting caught by the Thwarter, aka her overprotective dad!

It's going to be a long day....But can Jas find the culprit before someone innocent gets framed? 

   I've got to start out by saying....I love Michele Jaffe. She is hilarious. Seriously. Every time I pick up one of her books I immediately get sucked into all the humor, funny slogans ("That is so Visa!"), awesome characters (Go Roxy!), and creativity that she puts into the plot. 

   I'm not a big manga reader, so I was surprised to be overall very delighted with the book. I loved how the oh-so-talented artist Lince really made Jas and her friends come to life exactly as I'd imagined them, and how clues and hints were hidden into the artwork. In my opinion, the comic book is just as good as the previous two novels, if not better (who doesn't love illustrations?), making a quick (it took me only about an hour and a half to finish) and suspenseful read for those who need a break from real books! I can't wait to see what crazy situation Jas gets herself into next...

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