Review: Top Secret Stuff Going On Here
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 7, 2013
I received a free copy of this book from the author, through LibraryThings; an honest review was requested."Arlo's Epiphany" by Jane Oldaker is one of a series of cute stories, in which various domesticated animals are secretly covert operatives for The Agency, and can communicate with one another. They work together to maintain peace and sanctity of hearth and home.Arlo is one successful covert operative who begins to doubt his continued effectiveness, due to having come out on the short end of a confrontation with McTavish, an overweight bully of a Tom cat. In short, Arlo was bitten on the tail. However, Mahoney is another operative who - although he spends much of his time asleep on his back - was himself an ex-alley cat who could make short work of McTavish any time he felt like it. Unfortunately, Agency regulations frowned on engaging non-combatants in any kind of retributive action.Working in strict secrecy, Mahoney jointly hatched a plan with many of the other agents to take McTavish down a couple notches. Chickens, dogs, cats, sparrows, ponies, rodents and others all wanted in on the action, in defense of Arlo's injured pride... and injured tail. But any covert action against a non-combatant being strictly forbidden, it was necessary to maintain total secrecy, even keeping Arlo in the dark.In the end, the operation worked flawlessly. McTavish got his comeuppance, Arlo was avenged, and Mahoney was finally able to strike fear into the cold, black heart of McTavish. But again, agency rules required that Arlo never be told of the action in his defense. Looking back at the title of this story, you will be correct in presuming Arlo did figure it out eventually.This whole tale of the tail was a cute, entertaining and imaginative piece of fiction, suitable for pre-readers through middle graders or older. I am considerably older, yet I am looking forward to reading more about the covert operations of the animal Agency. I recommend that you do the same.