The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs
By Cylin Busby
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
(February 2, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553511238
ISBN-13: 978-0553511239
Publisher’s Blurb:
Captain Natick does not want to take a kitten on board his ship when it
sets sail in 1837, but his daughter convinces him that the scrawny yellow cat
will bring good luck. Onto the ship the kitten goes, and so begins the
adventurous, cliff-hanging, lucky life of Jacob Tibbs. At first, Jacob’s entire
world is the ship’s hold, where the sailors heave their heavy loads and
long-tailed rats scurry in the darkness. But before long, Jacob’s voyage takes
him above deck and onward to adventure. Along the way, Jacob will encounter
loss and despair, brave thunderous storms at sea, face down a mutiny, survive
on a desert island, and above all, navigate the tricky waters of shipboard life
and loyalties.
My Thoughts:
The general tone of this book reminded me a great deal of Black Beauty, which I first read over 40
years ago. The story is told by the cat himself, in the first person. The cat
has great understanding of human things, including reading text—just suspend
your disbelief. The author must be a cat person; her descriptions of cat
behavior are very real.
The story itself is all right. While there are some exciting moments,
there is nothing to carry the reader away. Overall editing is good, with a few
minor hiccups. The characterization is probably the best part of this story,
from Jacob to Captain Natick, the feelings and personalities are real.
Overall, a pleasant read, but nothing that says “I’ve gotta read this again.”
Possible Objectionable Material:
Violent storms, killing rats. Some characters are castaways on an
island for a while and must make do in primitive conditions.
Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like cats, sailing ships, and historical settings. Boys or
girls. (Actually, there are only two female characters, neither of whom is in
the book for very long, plus a couple of wives that we meet at the very end.)
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.
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