An interesting storyline which will encourage discussion, particularly about the world we are living in at present.
Feature image credit: Pan Macmillan Australia
A chronic asthmatic, 13-year-old Nanami loves to read. She would spend every waking moment at the local library reading if she could. One day, she notices that books have been going missing from the shelves and something doesn’t feel quite right. She is surprised by a talking but very unfriendly tabby cat named Tiger who seems to know what is going on, so Nanami begins a journey trying to save the missing books. She steps into another world and has to face an enemy which is more powerful than she could ever have imagined.
Nanami lives with her father, who works long hours. She has found refuge and solace in books, and being an asthma sufferer, has learnt to take things easy. But Nanami is also brave and her love of books above everything else spurs her on to take risks she would not normally consider.
The Cat Who Saved the Library is a sequel to The Cat Who Saved Books, written by Japanese author Sosuke Natsukawa. Both books have been translated into English by Louise Heal Kawai. Translating from an original language is never really easy and one may wonder how much better a story would be if you could read it as it was written.
The Cat Who Saved the Library is a story of courage, the power of books and believing in yourself. For lovers of literature there are many references to the classics. It is fun to think to yourself, ‘Yes I have read that one!’
One may think that Tiger is the main character in the story but in actual fact he is only there to encourage the real hero, Nanami, to be the person who can save the books despite her age, health, and fear. It is also a story about who has the right to make decisions for us — about our lives, how we should live, what we should read, and who we should be friends with.
The Cat Who Saved the Library seems very relevant right now. We have people in power around the world making decisions about how we should live, what we should read, and who we should believe. There are many parts of this story that may make the reader stop and reflect. I found myself taking notes on some of these powerful insights, including the fact that those who do not read, lose the power of imagination:
‘And, pursuing one’s own desires, accumulating more wealth, seeking greater pleasures — this is how the current age defines freedom. It wasn’t always so. There was a time when controlling your desires, freeing yourself of those desires, used to be the true definition of freedom.’
It is difficult to work out what age level The Cat Who Saved the Library is pitched towards. The protagonist is only 13, but the ideas around book censorship and quality vs quantity are more relevant to older readers. It would provide great discussion points in a high school setting, or with friends, which would suggest a higher age bracket. It is reminiscent of previous stories like Farenheit 451, but without a clearly defined audience age range.
As Nanami herself says, ‘Books teach you that there is hope to be found in all places. That you’re never alone. That you can run through a sea of flames and find your way out.’
If you read the first book in this series, you will want to return and find out what has happened since. The bottom line is, this story will give the reader a lot to think about.
Reviewed by Sue Mauger
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: April 2025
RRP: $12.99
