What type of literature is "It's Like This, Cat" by Emily Neville?

"It's Like This, Cat" by Emily Neville is classified as a novel. This work is a coming-of-age story that follows the experiences of a young boy named Dave as he navigates life in New York City, forming relationships and facing challenges with his family, friends, and his beloved cat.

As a novel, it provides a more extensive narrative than a short story, enabling deeper character development and exploration of themes such as friendship, adolescence, and urban life. The structure of the text, with its multiple chapters and a more complex plot, distinguishes it from poetry collections, which are typically comprised of individual poems focused on particular themes or emotions. An epic would generally involve grand historical narratives and heroic deeds, which does not align with the intimate, personal style of Neville's work. Consequently, recognizing "It's Like This, Cat" as a novel is essential for understanding its literary significance and the way it presents its characters and themes.