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

Hunter knows humans are dangerous to himself and the other cats of his colony. He avoids them, as all wild cats should. So when a neighborhood boy starts showing up in Hunter's junkyard to chase away dogs and bring the colony food, Hunter keeps his distance. But a new condo development puts the whole colony in danger, and Hunter soon realizes the only way to save his family is to put his trust in the boy.

The story of Catboy told through very different eyes.

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

"An interesting experiment in collaborative creation and complementary storytelling."

Kirkus Reviews

"Fast-paced action will appeal to boys and girls."

Resource Links

"A simple but lively adventure that would appeal to young readers."

Tucson Unified School District

"Hunter is a good read, and it is obvious that Walters has a very intimate knowledge of his subject matter. He captures the tension between the different animals and humans quite well. Walters also touches on the impact of the human environment and human activities on the feral cat colonies...I would highly recommend Walters' Hunter to be included in a public or school library collection."

CM Magazine

"Structured in a way that allows the reader to learn along with the protagonist, Catboy touches on some important information regarding feral cat colonies...The author also intersperses messages about cultural diversity, gentrification and the question of morality vs. legality—all of which offer the possibility of further critical thinking and discussion...A page-turning and thought-provoking read."

BC SPCA

"This book should definitely be added to libraries with Catboy, and is recommended for fans of animal stories."

Library Media Connection