Originally published in Dutch, I'm unsure how popular this book is outside of the Netherlands. That said, over here it's one of the most famous children's books written in our language. So I was happy to re-visit it for the first time in probably two decades. It also spawned a movie adaptation, which is really fun as well. Spoilers ahead.
Mr. Tibbe (Tibble in the English translation) is a young news reporter with social anxiety, leading to him often writing failing stories that interest nobody. One day he rescues a mysterious lady from a tree and befriends her. Her name is Minoes (Minou in the English version) and she used to be a cat before being inexplicably turned human, though she retained her ability to speak Cat. Tibbe lets Minoes stay at his place in return for news, which are provided by the many cats in town Minoes talks to. Soon the duo find themselves having to prove that one of the town's most beloved characters is a fraud and animal abuser, all the while Minoes is facing a difficult choice: will she stay human, or will she return to life as a cat, abandoning Tibbe and her new life?
I wasn't expecting to like this one so much upon re-reading so much later, but I can safely say that I can see why this is such a children's classic here. It's a book that's really fun, imaginative, heartwarming, exciting and tense all at once. The characters of Tibbe and Minoes are both really fun and you do relate to both of them. It's just great how they slowly start to bring out the best in one another. Minoes helps Tibbe over his social anxiety and he in turn learns Minoes how to face her fears. They're well-rounded and super likable characters.
I'm a bit mixed on them (albeit implied) possibly entering a relationship in the last chapter (considering Minoes is technically still a cat, just one in a human body) but it's all vague enough not to make things too uncomfortable.
The side characters are tons of fun, too. Each of the cats Minoes has befriended and helps out delivering the news has a unique personality and traits to them, my favorite being the Jakkepoes (Tatter Cat), an older stray molly who is fed up with pretty much everyone and everything.
I also like how the story starts out more light-hearted and simple, just with Minoes and Tibbe bonding and slowly getting really good at working together to collect news from the town. But once the plot truly gets going and the duo (alongside the town's entire cat population, plus a girl named Bibi) have to prove that one of the most beloved officials of town is a serial animal abuser, it gets super intense as well. Never quite dark outside of one or two small bits, but the way it is written truly keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. And keep in mind that I already knew what was going to happen. So, like, good job.
This is definitely a book I recommend. Even if it's for younger readers, there's plenty of good stuff going on here to keep older readers engaged and enjoying it as well. There's also a 2001 movie adaptation, which does have an international release as far as I can tell (called Miss Minoes in English, or simply Minoes in Dutch). So if you want to get the story in some way or form, I recommend both. The movie is actually quite close to the book, and very enjoyable as well. Both are just really fun and exciting.
Also, yes, I am classifying this as xenofiction in my tags because a portion of this book is written through Minoes' POV, and while she is physically a woman the book makes it very clear that mentally she's still a cat. Just one in the wrong body.
Rating: 5/5
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