About this Event
Inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, LaReau (the Witchycakes series) and Murphy (Together We Build) spin the heartening tale of a newly adopted cat who finds herself living in the shadow of her predecessor. Shelter feline Kitty, once a street cat, believes she has finally found a forever home with 11-year-old Max Winters. Instead, she discovers a family still haunted by the memory of Licorice, Max’s beloved former cat, who disappeared. As Kitty struggles to carve out a place for herself within the family, she becomes increasingly certain that Licorice’s presence remains inside the house—and increasingly fearful that she will never measure up. The mystery surrounding Licorice’s vanishing deepens Kitty’s anxieties until the truth about the cat’s fate comes to light, reshaping her understanding of both the household and her own presence there. Moments of genuine creepiness alternate with cozy instances of domestic life across Kitty’s wistful narration, which perceptively considers the dichotomy between the freedom of the outdoors and the safety of a kept life. Realistic shaded pencil artwork amplifies moments of unease, longing, and tension throughout this grounded story of a cat’s search for belonging. A satisfying emotional arc and hopeful resolution make this an appealing tale for animal lovers and mystery readers alike.
Kara LaReau worked as an editor at Candlewick Press and Scholastic Press, where she edited celebrated titles such as Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie (winner of a Newbery Honor), The Tiger Rising (finalist for the National Book Award), The Tale of Despereaux (winner of the Newbery Medal), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (winner of the Boston Globe Horn Book Award), and the Mercy Watson series. She’s the author of the award-winning chapter book series The Infamous Ratsos, illustrated by Matt Myers; middle-grade trilogies The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters, illustrated by Jen Hill, and the ZomBert Chronicles, illustrated by Ryan Andrews; the chapter book series WITCHYCAKES, illustrated by Ariane Moreira; and many picture books. Kara lives in Providence with her husband and daughter and their cats.
Kelly Murphy is a New York Times-bestselling author-illustrator and recipient of the E.B. White Award. She has notably illustrated the works of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Beatrix Potter, as well as book covers for various Newbery Medal-winning novels, creating thousands of illustrations and award-winning art for clients worldwide. Her 52 books have been translated in 16 languages, earning countless awards and starred reviews, featuring on "best books of the year" lists by Publishers Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, Kirkus and The New York Times. Kelly teaches illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, is a keynote speaker, competition juror, and leads professional workshops nationwide. She lives in Providence, RI, with her husband, author-illustrator Antoine Revoy, and their many animal companions.
Event venue & nearby stays
Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence, United States
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