The Last Free Cat

Gr 6–9—A premise that stretches credibility weakens this often-compelling, well-written romantic adventure. The author has created a future world in which cats have spread a deadly flu and are only legal if they are specially bred. It isn't clear why Jade risks everything to own a stray, but risk everything she does. She has led a sheltered life, until her father's death. Then she is forced to leave her wealthy neighborhood and move to a working-class area. She tries to toe the line until Feela, a cat not officially deemed free of cat flu, wanders into her garden. Jade's refusal to get government certification turns her world upside down. The sparks fly when she and a classmate flee from Comprot, the government security forces, to protect the cat. Along the way, they fall in love. When the journey begins, Jade is a naive girl who doesn't concern herself with the way the government or society functions. At its conclusion, she is a thoughtful young woman who has found love and principles to fight and sacrifice for, even though they result in a 10-year prison sentence. Purchase where romance or animal-centered fiction is popular.—Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT