What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Trying to find a young adult fiction book about a girl that goes (I remember reluctantly) up to a space station with her pet kitten as a stowaway. I remember she had to drug the cat to keep it quiet and still during the journey to the space station. I think the book was framed as though you were reading her journal entries, but I could be wrong there. I read it as a pre-teen or early teen, so maybe 1987-1993, though I don't know if it as a new book at the time.

Any help appreciated.

I started this search because I'm looking for a few books to give to an 11 year old niece just starting to get into reading. She enjoys science and math, but a little scared of big books. Any other recommendations of smaller pre-teen sciencey books featuring a strong female character would be much appreciated too!!

Thanks all!

Is it Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century by any chance?

It's certainly not the first one in that series as the synopsis says she is grounded to Earth. My book starts with her having to go to some space station. Do you know if any of the others in the series have a cat? It's probably too new too as the first was published in 1996. (All of these assumptions according to amazon, I haven't read that book.)

In reference to other books that may interest, try H M Hoover's books.

Well, this would at least fit the publication date: This Place Has No Atmosphere

Didn't read it (yet) but was the first to come to mind.

Also Monica Hughes, excellent books without being too thick.

I don't recall a cat in This Place Has No Atmosphere.

My first thought was Anne McCaffrey's Barque Cats series, but that is too recent. It may fit your request for other titles however ... others I would suggest are the Enola Holmes series, Madeleine L'Engle, Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books, Fablehaven. Although the last couple are more fantasy than sciencey.

Vonda mcintyre, Barbary?

Doesn't have a strong female lead, but she might like Ender's Game. No cat tho :p

D.M.!!!! You are a genious!! I have been trying to scratch that itch for days.

Thank you so much. Also, A wrinkle in time series ... I'm getting her that one too. Yay and you figured it out in time for Christmas shipping too. Thank you! Thank you again. And thank you to everyone for all of the other suggestions. Whew! Solved.

Barbary

or wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_(novel)