✨Licorice (2026)

By Kara LaReau

Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

4Rbooks                                        5/6                              grades           5-8

Amazon                                        4.6/5                           grade level   3-7

Goodreads                                    4.23/5

Common Sense Media               5/5                              age 9+

203 pages

Synopsis

             Kitty lives in the shelter. She’s a rescue and spends her days playing with the staff and listening to the stories, and opinions, of bunny. One day Max comes in to select a new pet. To his mother’s surprise, Max chooses Kitty. She was surprised because Max had once had a cat but she had runaway and been killed.

            Kitty comes to Max’s home and meets Cookie the hamster, Fred the turtle, and Duchess the parrot.  She quickly learns that there is a lot to learn about the house, Max, and his mom. Kitty tries hard but keeps making mistakes and worries that it will only be a matter of time before she is sent back to the shelter.

            While there, Kitty also learns about Licorice, the cat Max had before her. Licorice’s scent is everywhere and it seems her shadow has never really left the home. Licorice wonders if she will ever by loved and accepted by Max, especially when Duchess goes out of her way to remind her how she is not Licorice. She also begins to suspect that maybe the story about Licorice isn’t quite what everyone believes and maybe there is more to learn.

Parental Guidelines:    medium

Kitty’s cat family was swept away in a flood.

Kitty is bullied by the family parrot, Duchess.

Max is depressed after the “supposed” death of his previous cat Licorice.

Sometimes Max lashes out at Kitty verbally.

Everyone thinks Licorice was killed by a car.

Licorice may have eaten some of the other pets.

A “friend” takes something that isn’t his from Max.

Recommendation

              This is a kid friendly reimagining of the 1938 gothic novel Rebecca. The first word that came to mind upon finishing this book was macabre. It would have been a great novel for Halloween. At times it is a simple story about a cat in a new home trying to replace a beloved pet. Then it will take a dark turn and you wonder what is going on.  It keeps you in suspense until then end, and even then, you wonder what is going on.

            This would be a good book for a classroom read, especially around Halloween. Sensitive readers might need support and guidance when dealing with the spookier parts. Don’t let the beautiful cover and artwork fool you, this is not a feel-good, sweet story. But I enjoyed the read and if there is a sequel, I’m sure I will pick it up, too.