Cathy's Book
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | October 3, 2006 |
| Founder | Sean Stewart, Jordan Weisman |
| Products | Young adult novel |
| Parent | Running Press |
Cathy's Book: If Found Call (650) 266-8233 is a young adult novel incorporating elements of an alternate reality game, created by Sean Stewart and Jordan Weisman, with illustrations by Cathy Brigg. Released on October 3, 2006, through Running Press, the book includes a unique evidence packet featuring letters, photographs, birth certificates, phone numbers, and Cathy's handwritten annotations in the margins.
Synopsis
The narrative centers on a teenage girl named Cathy following her breakup with her boyfriend Victor. Together with her close friend Emma, she embarks on a quest to uncover hidden clues that expose surprising revelations. The story is framed as Cathy entrusting the book to Emma to assist in locating her.
After Victor ends their relationship, Cathy discovers an unusual mark on her arm, later identified as a needle puncture from a blood test Victor conducted. Their search introduces them to figures connected to the legendary Chinese Eight Ancestors, combining elements of mystery and adventure. Additionally, the book provides phone numbers that readers can call to leave voicemails for characters such as Bianca, Cathy, Victor, Emma, and Tsao's Airwell Organisation.
Recognition
In November 2006, Cathy's Book entered the New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Books at position number seven. It also achieved bestseller status in countries including Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Following
The novel garnered interest from a broad demographic beyond its intended teenage female readership, sparking discussions about plot developments and character outcomes across various online communities.
Advertising agreements
In exchange for promotional placement on the BeingGirl website, the authors and publishers incorporated mentions of the CoverGirl cosmetics brand within the book. These brand references were omitted in the paperback release.
Sequels
The original work was succeeded by two follow-up novels: Cathy's Key (2008) and Cathy's Ring (2009).