Nimbus

In this affecting tale by Eldredge (Evangeline of the Bayou), a cat struggling to make it home to her owner finds that she has magical powers. Black cat Nimbus is devoted to her young human owner, Fletcher. So when Fletcher is attacked by a strange monster that he accidentally frees from a jar, Nimbus defends him. Both boy and feline are hurt in the fray; Fletcher's cat-distrusting aunt blames Nimbus for his injuries and abandons her far from home. Nimbus encounters and befriends a fashion-conscious, would-be actor rat named Rhett, and takes refuge with Agatha, a reclusive human witch whose four cats reluctantly accept Nimbus's presence while she heals. There, Nimbus discovers her ability to dreamwalk. Though desperate to return to Fletcher, Nimbus soon realizes that her destiny may lie elsewhere. Fanciful, optimistic, and filled with a gentle humor, this heartrending tale is also offers a thoughtful exploration of animal abandonment and trauma, and the bond between owner and pet. As Nimbus discovers the tragic circumstances that brought each of her new friends to live with Agatha, she confronts her own fears and tumultuous kittenhood, while never losing sight of her goals or beloved owner. Ages 8-12. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (Sept.)

Nimbus is as gritty and determined as she is adorable. Tear-jerker moments explore pet abandonment—readers may want their own pets on hand to hug—all the way through the magical, action-packed finale. A deeply imaginative journey that puts the "cat" in cathartic. — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)