I love this unique book. Filled with palindromes, we follow Ava (whose name is also a palindrome), who is seeking to get a cat. In her journey, she discovers other palindrome words throughout the book.

I did not read the first Ava and Pip book, but had no problem following this story. This is a cute series for girls (9 - 12) about siblings, writing, being creative, looking for your stengths, friendship and more. The family loves words and language. They especially love palindromes, words that spell the same forward and backward. Their father is a playwrite and he encourages his daughters to use their strengths.

Ava is turning 11 and wants a pet, not any pet, but the honey coloured cat that her mother told them about. The cat had been brought into the vet's office where her mother works, possibly after being attacked by a coyote. It has been turned over to the Animal Rescue and Ava wants her family to adopt him. Her parents finally agree with her and Pip and they head to the Animal Rescue to adopt the cat. Ava names him Taco Cat, because of his colour and the fact that it is a palindrome. The problem is that when they get Taco Cat home, he is completely anti-social. He hides under the couch for days and Ava begins to think she has made the wrong decision about getting this cat. While this is going on, Ava is having a personal dilemma. Her BFF has befriended the new girl, Zara, and Ava feels that they are drifting apart. Not only that, but Zara has caused a rift between Ava and Chuck, another friend. With Ava not feeling great about everything, Pip tries to cheer her up and keep her occupied by creating a book called, Alphabet Fish. Ava writes the poems while Pip does the illustrations. As the story goes on, Ava has a lot of decisions to make, some of them tougher than others, but she learns about friendship and about doing the right thing. This is a great book for a school, classroom, or child's library. ( )

What an absolutely adorable story this was! Apparently this is the second in a set, with the first book revolving around Ava Wren, and her sister Pip. Which I didn't find out until after I'd finish this particular story. I can assure you, Ava and Taco Cat reads perfectly fine as a standalone. If anything, it actually made me want to seek out the other book as soon as possible. Ava and Pip are simply the sweetest, and the perfect example of what sisterhood really looks like.

Truth be told, Ava herself is exactly what an eleven year old girl would be like. Carol Weston easily brings the reader into Ava's mind, a place that swirls with questions of what she wants to do when she gets older, thoughts on whether her best friend is trying to leave her, and the passionate desire for a pet cat. I was extremely impressed with Weston's ability to nail down an eleven year old personality. Sometimes reading MG that is first person narrative can be a little daunting. Characters have the opportunity to feel too old for their supposed age. Not Ava. This darling girl was simply eleven, going on twelve, and full of all the emotions that I'd expect her to have at that age.

There are so many things that I could gush about! The fact that Weston expertly weaves in a discussion on friendship, and the ability to move beyond having a best friend into having many good friends. The idea that when new people move into your life, it isn't always easy to trust them at first. Best of all, the way that a pet can become part of the family without anyone even noticing. I adored every minute of it. I can't quite say too much, for fear of spoiling the last few chapters, but trust me when I say that this book is quite unexpectedly heartfelt. I teared up, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

If you have a young reader, especially one who is passionate about writing, I'd put this straight into their hands. There is so much in this story that will resonate with them, and this is coming from a reader who is well beyond the intended audience. Ava is adorable, and I see many readers falling in love with her. ( )

In the second Ava book, Ava's diary is centered on the adoption of Taco Cat (a palindrome) from the local shelter. The family tries to make a pet out of the scared and scarred cat, while Ava also copes with her best friend's new friend, and the jealousy she feels.

We are reading Ava's diary. Although she is exceptionally articulate for an 11 year old, Weston captures the thought process and feelings of an 11 year old perfectly.

A delightful book, filled with likable characters.

(Spoiler warning!)
What is the right thing to do, when two people want opposite things, and both are in the right? After Ava has legally adopted Taco Cat, and had him for several weeks and the whole family has grown to love him, it turns out he was a runaway pet from an elderly widow, who misses him terribly, and had owned him since his kittenhood four years ago. What would Ava do? What would you or I do? ( )