Cathy's Book: If Found Call (650)266-8233

By Jordan Weisman, Sean Stewart, Jordan K. Weisman

Book Overview

The publishing phenomenon Cathy's Book redefined the way teens approach novels and set a new standard for interactivity, using the most popular kids' technology to enhance the experience of reading a really good story. As a new chapter is about to unfold with the publication of the sequel, Cathy's Key later this spring, the original novel is available in trade paperback. All of the supplementary items from the "evidence pack" are reproduced on pages in the back of the book, making this edition more accessible and portable. All of the original websites, phone numbers, and secret codes are still operational. Part romance, part thriller, part mystery, Cathy's Book stands on its own beyond the interactive angle and the intense marketing campaign that made it a bestseller. Readers identify with Cathy, they read her story, listen to her phone messages, check out the websites she mentions, and they leave her messages on her MySpace.com page and on a special voicemail. Fans have even created their own videos on YouTube, demonstrating their comfort and familiarity with this level of interactivity and technology. Reviewers and awards committees have also recognized the unique phenomenon that reset the bar for engaging teen novels. Don't miss this opportunity to get caught up in Cathy's world all over again Included in the paperback edition only is a special, teaser chapter from the sequel (which pubs two months later), to whet the appetite of the thousands of readers who have gotten caught up in the web of Cathy's story A YALSA Quick Pick

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0762433469
• ISBN13: 9780762433469
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Running Press Kids
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

An Interesting Concept

The way the book was written is really the best thing about it. The story and the characters are interesting (although the fantasy twist did throw me off a little), but the doodles and interactive opportunities were what got me reading in the first place.

Amazing!

This book was.... Wow. I've read a lot of books since I read this one, but this is still my favorite. The ending is definitely impossible to predict. Also, calling the phone numbers and such was pretty interesting. It made the story feel more believable.

Great Read

I thought it was an awesome read! I passed it on to my step-sister! Very interacie and very much worth the price ... If you don't want to call the number then you can go on the provided website and hear the message. Lets you get a feel for what the charictors look like and what kind of people they are.

interesting approach....

Cathy's boyfriend, Victor, unexpectedly breaks up with her and Cathy is not handling it well. Two days prior to their breakup, she woke up after an evening with Victor in which her memories remain fuzzy with a mark on her arm that looks like a needle track. Cathy isn't one to just sit back and take this, regardless of what her best friend Emma thinks, and soon she finds herself deeply involved in a complex puzzle with a murder, a biotech company, and some really scary men in Chinatown. What dark secrets will be revealed in CATHY'S BOOK? Sean Stewart and Jordan Weisman have written an unusual tale in which reader participation appears to be encouraged. A packet is included with clues from the story, such as pictures and newspaper clippings, which adds to the hands-on feel of CATHY'S BOOK. The approach is definitely engaging although only time will tell if this RPG style will work with young adult readers. CATHY'S BOOK is written as if it were the journal of a 17 year old girl. The artwork and doodling is interspersed throughout the story and provides a very realistic touch to the overall effort. The storyline veers off in a rather odd track, but is a plot that will more than likely appeal to fans of RPGs. As a character, Cathy is very well developed although her reckless behavior may give parents a few qualms about younger readers. However, Cathy's actions are very much in line with the type of person she is. CATHY'S BOOK is an interesting meld of mediums. The modern day RPG element is definitely kitschy and will certainly obtain some fans on that aspect alone. CATHY'S BOOK is recommended for older teenagers based on the content and is an interesting book that fully engages the reader in the story. COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Go ahead, do it. Call the number on Cathy's Book.

You know you want to. Don't worry. I guarantee she won't answer. You'll get her voicemail. You don't have to leave a message. ... But if you're clever, you can figure out her voicemail access code and learn a little more about her. And you know ... this book is Cathy Vicker's personal journal. If she's in trouble, it might be your duty to poke around in a bit to find out what's going on. But wait -- what's all this crap glued to the inside front cover in a baggie? Newspaper clippings, vital documents, a take out menu, business cards, sketches, a ripped up photo? Aw man. This could become pretty time consuming. At least it did for me. I've spent the better part of two days following up on every lead I can find in this little parcel. I've been calling phone numbers, cracking access codes, comparing signatures, and piecing together dates. Seems that this precocious 17-year-old girl has hooked up with a fella named Victor of about 23 -- probably too old for her to be dating in any case -- and he may be involved in drugs? Questionable genetic research? The Chinese Mafia? At any rate, Victor's co-worker has been murdered, Cathy's got a mysterious needle mark on her arm, and her best friend Emma needs Cathy to pitch in on their joint Biology project. To solve the mystery I've mostly been investigating web sites: both factual, pre-existing ones and fictional ones constructed for the conceit of this ARG. (That's "alternate reality game," Mom.) Cathy and Emma have their own My Space and AIM pages, of course. But there's even a site for a fictional wireless phone company with a forum in which all of Cathy's new helpers can share secrets. Here, let me get you started in your investigation. I really can't say enough about this book. It's quite ingenious. Of course, this sort of strategy has been used before to market products, as in the ingenious ilovebees.com ARG for Halo 2, but this is the first full-scale attempt (that I've been aware of) to actually incorporate real world knowledge discovery, interactive media, realia, and Web 2.0 applications to complete a literary work. And some of the reasearch is kinda hard, so to get the most from the book, you'll likely have to spend some time engaging in the online community. It really raises this use of social networking tools from "viral marketing" to "community building" -- from a trick to a tool, from a gimmick to an experience. Of course, you can just read the book if you want. It's not Proust or anything, but it's written well enough. I'm sure the young women it's marketed to will appreciate that Cathy is both amazingly confident and a bit of a screw up. She has no problem driving into San Francisco and wandering Chinatown by herself, but she has a problems fulfilling the basic responsiblities of friendship. And her problems range from the amusingly minor to frighteningly serious. It's a wild ride worthy of Buffy Summers. Really, though, if you don't follow through on the questions you still have by gett