The City of Lost Cats

January 1, 2025
An abandoned mansion inhabited by cats is set to be demolished, but one small girl might be the key to saving it. When 12-year-old Fiona once again attempts to run away from the tiny apartment she shares with her aunt, she happens upon a dilapidated, historic home, known to its feline residents as The City. Perhaps saving this place and these lost cats is the Destiny that Fiona's been seeking ever since her parents died, leaving her adrift. She quickly realizes this will be no easy feat: Destruction is imminent, and Fiona and the cats all struggle to determine whom to trust and whom to blame. Third-person chapters shift among the perspectives of Fiona (who has dark eyes and curly dark hair), three of the cats (each with a distinct personality), and a demolition worker. Delightful poetic interludes from two lost parakeets who also live in the house, as well as various notes, flyers, and news bulletins, appear between chapters, adding intrigue and offering additional insights into what's happening in the diverse community. With all these different elements and perspectives, readers may at first require patience, but everything comes together in a rewarding and exciting way with surprising twists and reveals. Fiona's journey to advocacy is inspiring, and the book thoughtfully touches on not just the need for shelters for animals, but the human housing crisis as well. A gratifying, bighearted tale about community, belonging, and cats.(Fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2025

Gr 3-7-When 12-year-old Fiona runs away from the cramped apartment she lives in with her aunt, it is not the first time. But this time Fiona swears it will be different. She is determined to stay away and find her destiny. After the sudden death of her parents last year, Fiona struggles with finding her place. When she stumbles upon an abandoned mansion known as "The City" by the group of cats that call it home, Fiona decides to clean up the space for them. Then she learns that there are plans to demolish the building, and she springs into action to save it and cats she has grown to love. In doing so, Fiona learns about the community, the housing crisis, animal shelters, and civic engagement. The omniscent narration covers multiple perspectives including those of three cats, Fiona, and a demolition worker. The narrative is interspersed with poetry from two lost parakeets who have found refuge in the house, news bulletins, flyers, and notes, all of which help to tell the stories of Fiona and the animals taking refuge in the City. VERDICT This ambitious multigenre novel provides enough twists to keep readers engaged and wondering how all the distinct elements will come together in resolution.-Rebekah J. Buchanan

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December 9, 2024
Twelve-year-old Fiona O’Connor’s life has been topsy-turvy since her parents died in a car crash. Frustrated by her
caretaker aunt Tanis and irked by Tanis’s boyfriend, Fiona runs away from home to find her destiny. She instead discovers a run-down mansion filled with more than a dozen cats plus two parakeets. Though she falls in love with the building and its inhabitants, she learns that she’s ill-equipped to
survive on her own and returns home. As Fiona avoids her aunt’s questions and summer dance camp, she visits and tries to care for her newfound friends. But when a demolition crew—led by her aunt’s boyfriend—shows up outside the mansion, Fiona realizes the property is in trouble. It’s a good thing, then, that she has a clowder of cats and a group of town librarians in her corner. Fiona’s fervent and compassionate narration alternates with chapters told from the POVs of the delightful felines, verse-spouting parakeets, and a pure-hearted demolitionist, making for a rounded, nuanced story by Kyi (Emily Posts). Themes of agency and community activism inject this endearing tale of misfits with infectious hope. Fiona reads as white; supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 10–12. Agent: Amy Tompkins, Transatlantic Literary.

January 1, 2025
Grades 5-7 After Fiona's parents died in a car crash two years ago, Aunt Tanis became her guardian, and they moved to a smaller apartment, which has never felt like home to Fiona. And when Tanis' insufferable boyfriend joins them again, Fiona decides to run away. She doesn't make it very far, just down to the town's harbor. There she discovers a derelict mansion. She decides to restore it as a comfortable home for the many abandoned cats and two lost parakeets living there, but the arrival of a demolition crew threatens Fiona's plans and the animals' home. One of the tomcats emerges as a leader, but what can he do? Will the cats triumph? Will the birds find their beloved home again? Kyi portrays Fiona's emotional state and the cats' signature qualities (from neediness to aloof independence) with equal sensitivity in this appealing story, which reveals some surprises as the action unfolds. The use of rhymed verse to represent the parakeets' communications works increasingly well as the story progresses. A fast-paced narrative with particular appeal for animal lovers.

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