I'd pitch this as Matt Haig for middle grade. The author pitched it to her family as a book about an alien cat. I think that gives you the vibe. A gentle and witty celebration of found family, the power of friendship, and the beauty and heartbreak of being human.

Summary
Leonard is not only a cat, but an alien from another world! He originally was coming to earth to be a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park, however due to a mix up he materialized into a cat! When he comes to earth, Olive, an eleven- year- old girl rescues him and helps him learn about his new world. Leonard tries to communicate with Olive and through humor, some ups and downs, and quite an adventure. Will he be able to get to Yellowstone to get back to his home planet?

Review
I loved this book. Leonards wit and creative language was something that an elementary student could enjoy, but also reach to middle grade readers. This book would particularly appeal to cat lovers. When recommending to my 5th grade students some of them I recommended reading it via audio book instead of a physical copy. Some of the humor and language would be hard for them to read and understand in a physical copy, but hearing it they would get it better. Reading it physically as an adult I did enjoy it thoroughly !
I know this may sound silly, but it reminds me of Spongebob in some ways, with how the humor is written for kids, however as an adult you appreciate some of the other humor. There was nothing in it that was inappropriate, but some of the jokes would go over some younger children's heads. ( )

This was such a sweet book! I read it to my 8-year-old at bedtime and ended up loving Leonard and Olive's adventures just as much as my daughter did. Sorosiak's writing is laden with meaning and yet simple enough to follow. Leonard is utterly adorable as he tries to make sense of his new life, and Olive is heartbreakingly real. The plot moves along at a steady pace, yet there are moments of genuine empathy among Leonard's fantastic trials and tribulations as a cat on Earth. I'm so glad this came across our radar! ( )

A Cat from Outer Space?

Leonard is a cat, but he is also an alien. When Leonard came to visit earth, he was supposed to appear as a human park ranger in Yellowstone National Park. But a last-minute mix-up caused him to materialize as a cat, hundreds of miles from Yellowstone, in the middle of a flood.

Fortunately, eleven-year-old Olive is there to rescue him and take him home. Leonard must make lots of adjustments to live on a new planet in a cat’s body. While he does that, Olive is also adjusting to spending the summer with her grandmother, Norma, whom she does not know well. Her mother is traveling with her boyfriend, Frank.

Ever since Frank told Olive she was weird, and doesn’t know how to make friends, her self-confidence has dropped. Now, she is uncomfortable around others, sure they think she is strange, and are making fun of her. Olive has never told anyone what Frank said. Now her mother wants to move them from their home in Maine to California where Frank is going to live.

Leonard must find a way to communicate with Olive. He needs tell her is an alien, has get to Yellowstone in thirty days to make it home, or he will be stranded on earth, as a cat.

While trying to figure out how to do that, Olive and Leonard have many good times together, including working at the aquarium, along with trying to fulfill Leonard’s wish list of things to do on earth.

This book has lots of fun things happening in it, but also addresses the serious situations of the relationship with Olive and Frank, along with Leonard’s need to get to Yellowstone.

Will Olive tell anyone about the negative things Frank said about her? Can Leonard figure out a way to communicate with Olive? How can Leonard travel and make it to Yellowstone on time?

This story will appeal to ages eight to fourteen-years-old. Olive and Leonard have lots of thrilling escapades including having penguins circle Olive and bow to her, while Leonard experiences many new things including box games, bowling, and going to a movie.

All kids will enjoy this five-star tale, especially fans of cats, outer space, and thrilling adventures, and I recommend it!

Walker Books and Candlewick Books provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, Leonard, for the purpose of review. ( )

A fun novel considering what it means to be human -- or a cat -- told from the perspective of an alien lifeform. The book does a great job of embracing the philosophical aspects of the sci-fi tradition in a comfortable setting for kids. The human characters are almost universally positive, with negative experiences being non-serious and reported offstage. ( )