Good Reads / Community Library Notes
The Traveling Cat Chronicles
Hiro Arikawa
Review by Priscilla Comen
The Traveling Cat Chronicles
Hiro Arikawa
Review by Priscilla Comen
The Traveling Cat Chronicles, by Hiro Arikawa, is the story of Nana the cat, told in his own words. He used to sleep on top of a silver van, but when he crossed the road, was hit by a car and is rescued by the man who owned the van, Satoru.
Satoru visits his friend, Kosuke because he cannot live with the cat any longer. Kosuke feels sorry for his friend and they recall the former cat they had both owned. That cat had died in an auto accident.
Kosuke and Satoru have been friends from the time they were in second grade. They swam in the school pool with classmates. Satoru was the best swimmer. One day, they both found a box with two tiny kittens in it. The next time they pass the box again, only one kitten remains. They decide Kosuke will take it home. But his father says an emphatic "no." Satoru has an idea. They will run away, and Kosuke’s father will feel bad and change his mind, Satoru and Kosuke climb onto a roof and threaten to jump off with the kitten. Mom and Dad come after them and Kosuke’s mom says okay, he can have the cat if he doesn’t jump. Nana tells us this story because he was there in his basket, watching.
After Satoru’s parents die in a car accident, Kosuke attends the wake and the funeral, and Satoru goes to live with his aunt. He can not take the cat because his aunt is away much of the time. Kosuke takes over his father’s photo studio business and eventually becomes the owner. His father still interferes with the business. Kosuke’s wife leaves him because he won’t stand up to his father. Kosuke thinks bringing a new cat into his home will bring back his wife. Author Arikawa gives the cat’s philosophy, how they feel about humans. He makes us believe Nana when he gives background information on the characters. He refuses to be part of the divorce drama.
Nana, the cat, loves traveling in the silver van and hearing the stereo play melodic music. Satoru provides crunchy foods and water for the long drives. They go to visit a farmer, Yoshimine, to whom Satoru wants to give Nana. Satoru had met him in junior high school where the two boys formed a garden club and renovated the greenhouse on the campus. During a field trip for the school, both boys sneak away to find Satoru’s cat in a nearby town. They get caught, and the boys stand up for one another. Good friends do that. Satoru takes Nana to see the sea, but it’s frightened of being washed out to sea, and runs away. They then visit friends who own a B and B near Mount Fuji that caters to owners of dogs and cats.
Will Satoru leave Nana with these kind friends when he becomes ill? Will Nana happily stay with them and a new kitten? Find this delightful memoir for all cat lovers on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
Satoru visits his friend, Kosuke because he cannot live with the cat any longer. Kosuke feels sorry for his friend and they recall the former cat they had both owned. That cat had died in an auto accident.
Kosuke and Satoru have been friends from the time they were in second grade. They swam in the school pool with classmates. Satoru was the best swimmer. One day, they both found a box with two tiny kittens in it. The next time they pass the box again, only one kitten remains. They decide Kosuke will take it home. But his father says an emphatic "no." Satoru has an idea. They will run away, and Kosuke’s father will feel bad and change his mind, Satoru and Kosuke climb onto a roof and threaten to jump off with the kitten. Mom and Dad come after them and Kosuke’s mom says okay, he can have the cat if he doesn’t jump. Nana tells us this story because he was there in his basket, watching.
After Satoru’s parents die in a car accident, Kosuke attends the wake and the funeral, and Satoru goes to live with his aunt. He can not take the cat because his aunt is away much of the time. Kosuke takes over his father’s photo studio business and eventually becomes the owner. His father still interferes with the business. Kosuke’s wife leaves him because he won’t stand up to his father. Kosuke thinks bringing a new cat into his home will bring back his wife. Author Arikawa gives the cat’s philosophy, how they feel about humans. He makes us believe Nana when he gives background information on the characters. He refuses to be part of the divorce drama.
Nana, the cat, loves traveling in the silver van and hearing the stereo play melodic music. Satoru provides crunchy foods and water for the long drives. They go to visit a farmer, Yoshimine, to whom Satoru wants to give Nana. Satoru had met him in junior high school where the two boys formed a garden club and renovated the greenhouse on the campus. During a field trip for the school, both boys sneak away to find Satoru’s cat in a nearby town. They get caught, and the boys stand up for one another. Good friends do that. Satoru takes Nana to see the sea, but it’s frightened of being washed out to sea, and runs away. They then visit friends who own a B and B near Mount Fuji that caters to owners of dogs and cats.
Will Satoru leave Nana with these kind friends when he becomes ill? Will Nana happily stay with them and a new kitten? Find this delightful memoir for all cat lovers on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.