1. Read another book for young adults that portrays family relationships, such as The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson, Sea Glass by Laurence Yep, One-Eyed Cat by Paula Fox, or Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl. Compare the novel you choose with It's Like This, Cat. In which book does the major character seem more like a real person? What problems do the major characters face in each book?

How do the major characters solve their problems? How has each book helped you better understand family relationships? Support your answers with examples from the books.

2. If you have a pet, explain the relationship between you and your pet.

Compare your experiences to Dave's.

3. Choose one chapter in the book and rewrite it from Cat's point of view.

4. One of the first realistic fiction books published for young...