I requested this book for the simplest possible reason: I saw a cat on the cover and noticed it was only 84 pages. I didn’t even read the blurb. 😂 I certainly wasn’t expecting such a short book to take me through so many emotions.

Otto is absolutely the star of this story. He is proud, authoritative, stubborn, determined, and completely, unmistakably a cat. His personality comes through so strongly, and I loved how many of his behaviours felt true to the very individual personalities cats can have. He will overcome an obstacle simply because he has apparently decided that he must prove he can.

But there is much more here than a cute cat doing entertaining cat things. Otto’s story moves through different stages of his life, different homes and different experiences, and there is a real emotional weight underneath all of it. His early loss is heartbreaking, and the effects of what he experiences stay with him as he tries, again and again, to find somewhere he belongs.

For such a short story, an astonishing amount is packed into these 84 pages. There are multiple stories within Otto’s life, plenty of humour, genuine sadness, warmth, and a beautifully constructed sense of everything eventually coming together. The final pieces connecting to Otto’s past were especially satisfying, and the ending gave the whole story an emotional payoff without feeling forced.

Otto’s need for belonging, despite the traumatic responses from his PTSD triggering difficulties with his behaviour and making it hard for him to integrate, makes his story surprisingly relatable. And while his circumstances are extraordinary, the very recognisable cat personality at the centre of it all keeps the story warm and funny.

This is an easy recommendation for anyone who loves cats, but I would also recommend it to readers who enjoy short, character-driven stories with humour, historical elements, family connections, and plenty of heart.

Thank you to April Teichman, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Some Records Are Destined to Remain Classified by April Teichman is a short and entertaining fantasy biography about a well-loved Maine Coon cat.
Recommended for cat lovers or animal fantasy enthusiasts.

This book was such a great short read! Similar to the other reviewer (btw, how come there are only two reviews?) I requested the book from NetGalley, because there was a cat on the cover. Although I did first read what it was about.
It is a wonderful story of the life of Otto, his adoption, military journey, and comfort years, all filled with humor and emotion.
I will say I wasn't a big fan of the AI art at the beginning of some of the chapters, but a huge fan of the two photos in the last chapters.