Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat: Enemies
by Johnny Marciano · Klawde #2
Same evil alien warlord cat, bigger rivals — and the comedy machine gets a sharper edge
The story
Raj is starting middle school and hoping for a fresh start — until his coolest Brooklyn friend, Cameron, transfers to his school and turns out to be someone he barely recognizes. Meanwhile, Klawde is dealing with an enemy of his own: General Ffangg, his former student turned nemesis, has followed him to Earth with revenge on his mind. Both boy and cat are now locked in parallel grudge matches, and both are about to discover that getting what you want doesn't always feel the way you expected.
Age verdict
Best enjoyed at ages 8-10 in the same sweet spot as Book 1; the middle school setting makes it slightly more resonant for 9-11 year olds than the camp setting of the first book.
Our take
The revenge-rivalry comedy machine runs as strong as Book 1, but the Cameron arc gives parents and teachers more to work with — slightly narrowing the kid-adult gap while keeping the voice comedy that makes this series a reluctant reader staple
What stands out
Each audience's top 3 dimensions. Out of 30 scored per book.
Kids love
- Character voice Exceptional
Comparable to City Spies — Both maintain voice distinction across entire narrative without slip. Sits at anchor because voice remains unmistakable in dialogue, internal monologue, and narrative rhythm throughout 60 chapters.
- First-chapter grab Strong
Comparable to Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute — Opens in grounded middle-school setting with dual POV distinction established immediately through contrasting voice and emotional registers. Sits at anchor because both books establish engagement through character voice in familiar settings.
Parents love
- Moral reasoning Strong
Comparable to Artemis Fowl — Both raise moral complexity. Sits below because klawde-2 explores moral complexity within smaller scope (revenge + friendship) than Artemis Fowl (empire, colonialism, warfare across civilization).
- Reading gateway Strong
Comparable to City Spies — Both work as reading gateways. Sits above because klawde-2's alternating POV structure provides MORE natural reading checkpoints than single POV.
Teachers love
- Discussion fuel Strong
Comparable to Breakout — Both generate rich discussion. Sits below because klawde-2's discussion threads are focused (revenge, friendship) while Breakout spans every major theme.
- Read-aloud power Strong
Comparable to The Golem's Eye — Both have highly performable voices. Sits at anchor because both achieve voice distinction that classroom readers can clearly perform, with natural rhythm.
✓ Perfect for
- • Fans of Book 1 aged 8-11 who want more Klawde's pompous attitude and Raj's anxious charm
- • plus a fresh rival arc that escalates the series comedy. An excellent continuation pick for reluctant readers already hooked by the dual-POV premise.
Not ideal for
Readers who haven't read Book 1 — the character relationships and comedy rhythms are best appreciated in order, and the standalone enjoyability is limited for newcomers.
⚠ Heads up
At a glance
- Pages
- 224
- Chapters
- 60
- Words
- 42k
- Lexile
- 670L
- Difficulty
- Easy
- POV
- Alternating
- Illustration
- Moderate
- Published
- 2019
- Publisher
- Penguin Workshop
- Illustrator
- Robb Mommaerts
- ISBN
- 9781524787233
Mood & style
You'll know it worked when…
Very high — the parallel revenge plots generate constant forward pull, and short alternating chapters prevent momentum from stalling. Series fans will race to the finish.
If your kid loved this
Matched across 30 dimensions — interest hooks, character appeal, tone, pacing, emotional core. Not by what other people bought. By what fits the same reader profile.
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