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INTERMEDIATE FICTION
Kyi, Tanya Lloyd

The City of Lost Cats

288 pp. | Tundra | March, 2025 | Trade ISBN 9781774882108 $17.99 | Ebook ISBN 9781774882115 $10.99
(2) 4-6 Kyi offers a timely tale, told from a variety of intersecting perspectives, that blends heart and humor with sharp social insight. Fiona is a determined twelve-year-old who's searching for her capital-d Destiny two years after the death of her parents. On the first day of summer vacation, she stumbles upon The City, a condemned mansion sheltering a ragtag community of lost cats. There she meets a brave, spunky calico trying to prove herself, a pompous black-and-white tomcat who considers The City his domain, and a shabby Maine Coon who brings goodwill—often in the form of a gift from the hunt—to the unusual home. Kyi deftly explores issues such as community, belonging, and housing insecurity as Fiona sets out to turn The City into an official cat refuge. The story's structure—plus the incorporation of news bulletins, whimsical commentary in verse, and community calls to action—makes it an irresistible read for cat lovers. Fiona's interactions with her preoccupied guardian Aunt Tanis, the town's clever librarians, and an unexpected new friend offer a layered portrait of a girl discovering her voice in a noisy world; readers will likely find her wishes for independence and connection deeply relatable.
Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

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