About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
Taylor and his mother have moved from a small northern town to the heart of Toronto. The differences are dramatic as Taylor becomes part of a classroom of kids as diverse as the city itself. While taking a shortcut across a junkyard with his new best friend, Simon, Taylor becomes aware of a colony of wild cats that make the junkyard their home. Assisted by his classmates, teacher and the security guard, Mr. Singh, Taylor takes a special interest in caring for the cats. Suddenly there is an announcement—the junkyard is being redeveloped to become condominiums. Can Taylor and his friends save the cats of the colony from certain death?
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 9 to 12
- Grade:
- 4 to 7
- Reading age:
- 9 to 12
Awards
- Short-listed, Red Cedar Book Award nominee
- , Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards
- Commended, Resource Links "The Year's Best"
- Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books
Editorial Reviews
"Emotions are sharply felt. Conflicts within the colony as well as a scary climax...supply healthy measures of drama."
— Booklist Online
"Walters' story—written in collaboration with students in Toronto schools—moves fast and is plenty appealing...Readers will be too eager to see what happens...Solid writing, strong kid characters, caring adults, and cute animals could make this a popular choice."
— Booklist
"A wonderful read for any young person, especially one who is ready to develop their own values and make their own choices. Educators would find this book an excellent catalyst for a discussion on community, activism and citizenship."
— Resource Links
"[With] an authentic-sounding narrative voice...the book does a good job of incorporating the theme of cultural diversity into a personal story about accepting change...Taylor's voice is the novel's greatest strength, and his relationship with the cat colony, and one cat in particular, is where the story really engages."
— Quill & Quire
"Walters does a nice job in crafting a story that could be used to teach multiple subjects in a middle-school curriculum...Contain[s] enough interesting information about feral cat colonies and Toronto's cultural diversity to provide for interesting classroom discussions."
— CM Magazine
"[A] heart-warming cat rescue tale...Taylor is a striking, well-rounded character. He displays all the energy and eagerness of a typical young boy who loves animals, especially cats...The dialogue in this novel, both internal and actual is up-to-date and realistic, moving the action along well...This story will no doubt prove very popular with elementary school readers across Canada and the U.S."
— The Winnipeg Review
