In the fourth installment of this popular graphic novel series, Katie the Catsitter and her superhero neighbor continue to tackle some of New York City’s biggest issues. As always, there is a focus on animal rights, but The Purrfect Plan focuses mostly on corporate greed through gentrification. These topics are handled appropriately for the target audience, but the way they choose to combat them (breaking & entering, large scale protest, and stock market manipulation) don’t offer any tangible solutions to readers who may be facing these real world issues.

Overall, The Purrfect Plan is a bridge novel where many side plots from the previous stories (friendship dynamics, the relationships of the adult characters, various other heroes and villains) are brought up and put back down without resolution. With many heavy topics being discussed, there was a need for more comic relief from the 217 cats, but the colorful characters and their quippy dialog did add a nice balance. Readers who love the other graphic novels in the series will be eager to read this one, so it is worth adding to the collection, but it will most likely just make them excited for the next one.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth