• Age: 12
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12

She lives in fear—of the two-legs, of the noisy, massive trains that scream in and out of the station, of cats and rats and dogs and the dark of the tunnels. She lives in the subway, where the hard shoes kick her ribs, where shrill voices beat her ears, where she subsists on the garbage of the humans. But the little cat walks alone.
Until she meets Candlewax, a street kid exiled from the subway tunnels, and Katherine, a student photographer who loves her on sight. From these two she learns that trust can banish fear and love provides a home wherever you are.

Bev Cooke was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. When she's not writing or thinking about writing, she likes to talk with her two kids, figure out where her husband is so she can distract him from renos, read, daydream, think about gardening and pet her cats. Feral is her second book for children. Bev lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Bev Cooke's profile page

• Commended, Resource Links "The Year's Best"

"This is another excellent young adult novel from Orca Book Publishers."

Resource Links

"More than just the story of an abandoned and tameless cat...Readers will gain insight to the plight of the homeless who must survive using their wits."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

"A gripping, evocative story that is sure to resonate."

Booklist

"Capture[s] realistically...this desire to be accepted. Stylistically, this is a really interesting, compelling book."

CBC Radio One - All Points West

"A very unique perspective for young readers. Recommended."

CM Magazine