• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Taylor and his mother have moved from a small northern town to the heart of Toronto. The differences are dramatic as Taylor becomes part of a classroom of kids as diverse as the city itself. While taking a shortcut across a junkyard with his new best friend, Simon, Taylor becomes aware of a colony of wild cats that make the junkyard their home. Assisted by his classmates, teacher and the security guard, Mr. Singh, Taylor takes a special interest in caring for the cats. Suddenly there is an announcement—the junkyard is being redeveloped to become condominiums. Can Taylor and his friends save the cats of the colony from certain death?

Eric Walters is the author of many acclaimed and bestselling novels for children and young adults. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Silver Birch, Blue Heron, Red Maple, Snow Willow, Ruth Schwartz, and Tiny Torgi, and have received honours from the Canadian Library Association Book Awards and UNESCO's international award for Literature in Service of Tolerance.

Eric lives in Mississauga with his wife, Anita, and three children, Christina, Nicholas, and Julia. When not writing or touring across the country speaking to school groups, Eric spends time playing or watching soccer and basketball, or playing the saxophone.

To find out more about Eric and his novels, or to arrange for him to speak at your school, visit his website at www.ericwalters.net.

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Eric Walters' profile page

• Nominated, Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards
• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books

"Walters does a nice job in crafting a story that could be used to teach multiple subjects in a middle-school curriculum...Contain[s] enough interesting information about feral cat colonies and Toronto's cultural diversity to provide for interesting classroom discussions."

CM Magazine

"[With] an authentic-sounding narrative voice...the book does a good job of incorporating the theme of cultural diversity into a personal story about accepting change...Taylor's voice is the novel's greatest strength, and his relationship with the cat colony, and one cat in particular, is where the story really engages."

Quill & Quire

"[A] heart-warming cat rescue tale...Taylor is a striking, well-rounded character. He displays all the energy and eagerness of a typical young boy who loves animals, especially cats...The dialogue in this novel, both internal and actual is up-to-date and realistic, moving the action along well...This story will no doubt prove very popular with elementary school readers across Canada and the U.S."

The Winnipeg Review

"Walters' story—written in collaboration with students in Toronto schools—moves fast and is plenty appealing...Readers will be too eager to see what happens...Solid writing, strong kid characters, caring adults, and cute animals could make this a popular choice."

Booklist

"Emotions are sharply felt. Conflicts within the colony as well as a scary climax...supply healthy measures of drama."

Booklist Online

"A wonderful read for any young person, especially one who is ready to develop their own values and make their own choices. Educators would find this book an excellent catalyst for a discussion on community, activism and citizenship."

Resource Links