The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb

The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb is a projected eight book series by L. Rifkin. As of March 10, 2009, there are four books published in the series. School Library Journal (January, 2005, pp. 135-136) described the series as a "contemporary fantasy" where "cats can receive mortal wounds and recover eight times before their lives end permanently."
Plot
Book 1
The secret world of cats is revealed in this epic tale of feline civil war starting with, “The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb - Life One”, where we meet young Romeo, a stray who finds himself battered between two very different worlds. It’s the domestic cats, the Sticks, vs. the street cats, the Alleys, as battle lines are drawn, warriors train for combat and a hero emerges to inspire a nation. Fraught with danger from page one, Romeo loses his family at the claws of Fidel and his gang of vicious Alleys. After being rescued from the Pound, Romeo finds a new home with “his person”, 9-year old Dennis Crumb. As long as Romeo stays inside with his adopted family he’s safe, however, when he ventures out he finds danger lurking around every corner. Fortunately, Queen Elizabeth, a wise cat who lives nearby, befriends Romeo. She takes him to the Factory, a burned-out building where other Sticks secretly learn how to defend themselves from the Alleys and the indifferent humans of the city. During Romeo's Graduations Ceremony from Stick school, Fidel and a gang alleys attack the Sticks and kills Queen Elizabeth and Rome(which is only his first life).
Book 2
As Romeo takes the first breath of his second life, memories of the brutal battle between the Sticks and the Alleys have left him scarred. Facing the reality that Fidel savagely killed his beloved Queen Elizabeth fills him with revenge. The Sticks throw themselves into combat training in preparation for the next battle, but the Alleys have something else in mind. They attack the Factory and kidnap Twinkle Toes just as his life was beginning to thrive after being abused by his people. Fidel sends word that Twinkle Toes was abandoned on the tiny Island where the Great Statue looms. Romeo and a few Sticks hitch a ride on a ferryboat to rescue him, only to find themselves stranded. And there’s no Twinkle Toes. Fidel has tricked them again. After a series of near death adventures, the Sticks make it back to the Factory. They find the rest of their friends being held hostage by Fidel and his gang, which now includes a new member. It seems Twinkle Toes has turned traitor. Romeo is later killed a 2nd time and falls into the sewers.
Book 3
Awakening scared and confused from his second death, Romeo finds himself in the deepest, most forbidden place there is, Vent City. Falling into immediate peril, a stranger plucks him to safety only to reveal himself as a long, lost relative. After reluctantly meeting the gruesome Vent City mutants and hearing their heart-wrenching story, they band together to finally get their just revenge from the viscous Alleys who have taken control of the Factory. But a crushing illness threatens to end it all for Romeo, ultimately taking him away from his beloved Dennis forever. Romeo’s third life is spared in time to face Fidel and bring the Factory back to its rightful owners.
Characters
Sticks
*Romeo Crumb - Romeo is the star of the book series. He is a Stick and is owned by a boy named Dennis tile the end of book 3. His mother and brothers were all killed by Fidel's allies.
*Mr. Sox - Mr. Sox is a elderly male Stick. Who is some what the leader of the Sticks. He wears glasses and teaches the cats history class.
*Queen Elizabeth - Queen Elizabeth is a female cat who leads Romeo to the factory(where the Sticks live) She is later killed by Fidel in the end of book 3.
*Fluffy - Fluffy is white male cat and Romeos best friend
*Snickers - Snickers is a fat male cat who is one of Romeos friends.
*Tabitha - Tabitha is female cat and one of Romeos closet friends.
*Calvin - Calvin is male cat who wants to be a actor. He is in Romeos class
*Twinkletoes - Twinkletoes is one of Romeos friends. He later becomes a ally in book 3.
*Uncle Fred - Uncle Fred is male cat in Romeo class who keeps failing so he still in class. At the end of book 1 he graduates.
*Darla - Darla is a female cat in Romeo's class
*Waffles and Vittles - Waffles and Vittles are two huge cat who guard the factory. They are also brothers
*Mr. Shadow - Mr. Shadow is a old cat that teaches survival in the factory
*Waldo - Waldo is the factory's photographer
*Roy and Yellowtial-Roy and Yellowtail are two cats that bring fish to the factory.
Allys
*Fidel - Fidel is the villain of the book and wants to destroy the Sticks. He is killed at the end of book 3
*Bait - Bait is Fidel's lackey and is usually hit by Fidel for doing something stupid.
*Steak - Steak is a male ally cat
*Raven - Raven is a female ally cat
*Smelly - Smelly is big smelly cat that runs a bar
*Cheeseburger - Cheeseburger is the biggest cat in the book and can fight dogs.
Other Characters
*Denise Crumb - Denise is Romeos owner in the first 3 books.
*Bull - Bull is mean bulldog and is leader of the dogs. He kills Fidel at the end of book 3
*Mr. Gamble - Mr. Gamble is Romeo's dad and leader of the mutants
*Mrs. Gamble - Mrs. Gamble is Romeo's mom but is killed by Fidel and alleys.
Mistakes
*In book one is says Romeo sits behind a female in class. Even know later is says he sits behind Snickers whose a male.
*In the first book Fidel as gang of 5 cats follow him around but they do not appear after that book.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu