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, the cat, used to sleep on top of a silver van, but when crossing the road, was hit by a car and rescued by the man who owned the van, Satoru. Satoru visits his friend, Kosuke, because he can not 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 since second grade when they swam in the school pool with classmates. Satoru was the best swimmer. One day, they found a box with two kittens. The next time they pass the box, only one remains. They decide Kosuke will take it home, but his father says an emphatic, "no." Satoru has an idea to have them run away then Kosuke’s father will feel bad and change his mind. Satoru and Kosuke climb onto a roof and threaten to jump 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 funeral then 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. He thinks bringing a new cat into his home will bring back his wife. Nana, the cat, loves traveling in the silver van and hearing the stereo play melodic music. He refuses to be part of the divorce drama.
Author Arikawa gives us the cat’s philosophy, how cats feel about humans. He makes us believe Nana when he gives the reader background information on the characters. 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 stand up for one another. Good friends do that. Satoru takes Nana to see the sea, but he’s frightened of being washed out to sea, and runs away. They then visit friends who own a B and B near Mount Fuji. They cater to owners of dogs and cats.
Will Satoru leave Nana with these kind friends when he gets ill? Will Nana stay with them happily, and with a new kitten? Find this delightful memoir for all cat lovers on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
Kosuke and Satoru have been friends since second grade when they swam in the school pool with classmates. Satoru was the best swimmer. One day, they found a box with two kittens. The next time they pass the box, only one remains. They decide Kosuke will take it home, but his father says an emphatic, "no." Satoru has an idea to have them run away then Kosuke’s father will feel bad and change his mind. Satoru and Kosuke climb onto a roof and threaten to jump 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 funeral then 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. He thinks bringing a new cat into his home will bring back his wife. Nana, the cat, loves traveling in the silver van and hearing the stereo play melodic music. He refuses to be part of the divorce drama.
Author Arikawa gives us the cat’s philosophy, how cats feel about humans. He makes us believe Nana when he gives the reader background information on the characters. 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 stand up for one another. Good friends do that. Satoru takes Nana to see the sea, but he’s frightened of being washed out to sea, and runs away. They then visit friends who own a B and B near Mount Fuji. They cater to owners of dogs and cats.
Will Satoru leave Nana with these kind friends when he gets ill? Will Nana stay with them happily, and with a new kitten? Find this delightful memoir for all cat lovers on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.