Jenny Kalahar

This is a wonderful book. I love cats and books and thought, why not.? Mr. and Mr. O'Malley own and run a used bookstore. They buy and sell used books. With no children of their own they welcome orphaned cats into their bookstore. These aren't just any cat's. They work with the local animal shelter and foster cats where they would have a great chance of interacting with the public and then become adopted. This bookstore has two cats ready for adoption. Stomper who reminded me in personality of Garfield. He was grumpy, wanted to be left alone and learned how to steal food from the small fridge inn the front room. Buglit is the most recent addition. She had belonged to an older lady who had passed away. She hated the shelter. When brought to the shelter, she felt a connection to Mrs. O'Malley. Both cats have their own personality. There are a variety of humans who play a big part in this book as well. You have the man who owns the music store down the street. There is young Kris who loves spending time in the bookstore. His love of books is obvious. It seems to go beyond the normal love of reading. He and Mr. O'Malley become very close. Like Buglit and Stomper he is a foster kid. Read this book to see how the three of them, Stomper, Buglit, and Stomper help each other through the ups and downs of everyday life.… (plus d'informations)

A tale of two cats, one boy, a bookstore and its owners, and a small American town, Jenny Kalaher’s Shelve under C is a fun story for middle-grade and up. Hints of mystery, family drama, and pleasing cross-cultural concepts are all bound together with a convincing thread of real life love. In this small town, the animal shelter sends its pets out to be fostered in local stores, where they become acclimatized to people and eventually meet their future families. But, just as a cat is not a book, a child is not a cat. And fostering, or adopting a child might include its own unique complications.

The cats’ points of view are nicely portrayed with the sounds, sights and smells that surround them. But, for the most part, humans tell this tale, describing the “salt and pepper” hair of a shop owner, the antics of an errant dog, the terrors of floods, and the mysteries of a lonely child.

Apart from occasional disaster, life progresses comfortably. Stacks of books fall down and are rebuilt. Damaged goods are repaired. And the reader learns, at a young boy’s side, just a little of the ins and outs of used book sales via store and internet. Meanwhile the boy learns to trust himself and those around him, and a cat learns to trust in more than just the food he can steal from the fridge.

Fun for animal lovers of all ages, pleasantly low-key and wise, Shelve Under C is one I should definitely like to share with my Mum.

Disclosure: I was lucky enough to find it when it was free.… (plus d'informations)