Synopses & Reviews
For a year, Tess has been trying to get used to her new stepfamily, but it just isnt working. When a school project that she labored over is accidentally destroyed by her stepsister, and her dad and stepmom dont seem to care at all, Tess has finally had it. She decides to run away and go live with her mom on the other side of Tucson. On the long walk there she acquires an unexpected companion: a gray-striped cat that follows her along the desert road. But nothing goes as planned after Tess and the cat finally reach Moms condo. Her mother seems more concerned with herself than with Tess, and she has a definite aversion to cats. Luckily for Tess, her new feline companion proves to be a reassuring presence as she struggles to face some difficult truths about herself and her family.
In this moving and realistic story, the unconditional love of an animal helps to heal a wounded teen.
Review
This is an engaging story about what happens when families change and how too much freedom can make a child feel lonely.
School Library Journal
About the Author
C. S. Adler is the author of many novels for young readers, including the recent One Unhappy Horse and Winning. She lives on Cape Cod and in Arizona.