Fiona, disenchanted with her self-absorbed aunt and the woman's manipulative boyfriend, decides to run away. She ends up stopping at an abandoned mansion, and goes in, looking for some water to drink. She finds, much to her surprise, a bunch of cats who have been living there.

Piper is the first cat to take to Fiona, and Piper is a tough tittle thing, taking on fireworks, and being dismissive of the supposed leader in the mansion, Cot, a black & white male.

Fiona loves the mansion, drawing several pictures of the interior, and is horrified when she sees the construction vehicle outside the mansion, and the demolished house next to it. Unbeknownst to her, the cats are very upset and angry about the beast outside their home which has already quickly destroyed the house beside their sanctuary. The cats begin trying to find ways to stop the beast from moving on to their home. Fiona does also, researching ways to halt the process, and becoming aware of the power of peaceful protest and community from a book the local librarian loans her.

Together, the cats and Fiona find ways to get the neighbourhood involved, and eventually notify the mayor, and expose a little corruption along the way. Fiona also gains a new, better relationship with her aunt, and considers a direction for her life.

I did not expect how much fun this book would be. I loved the cat and their myriad personalities and opinions, as well as heartbreaking stories of how they came to be on their own.

Fiona feels alone and totally misunderstood by her aunt, who does not listen to things Fiona is saying, at first. Her aunt is overwhelmed taking care of a child she never expected to have, and this makes for a conflict-filled relationship that only improves once both learn a little more about each other, which I liked.

I also did not expect this book to tackle such weighty things as affordable housing, a little municipal-level corruption, grief, animal abandonment, and bullying, but by adding in much needed humour, and cats, author Tanya Lloyd Kyi has created an occasionally tense but ultimately enjoyable story.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Tundra Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.

My son, when he saw the cover of the book: "It looks like she yeeted that cat out the window."

At first, we absolutely loved this book! We were all laughing so hard when we got to the part about Cot "knowing all about girls" lol!

"Cot understood things about girls. They drew you in with a bit of tuna, or the waggle of fingers implying the possibility of tuna. But as soon as you let one approach, you were surrounded by a crowd of others, petting and patting and pulling. Next thing you knew, you were wearing doll pajamas and a nightcap."

But then, around 65%, one of the cats found a danger noodle (a small one, but still), and due to my severe phobia, I had a horrific nightmare, which I still remember vividly weeks later. (I actually find it pretty funny that a children's book caused me to have a nightmare. That was new.) Then the next night we continued on, and there were more mentions of it and my kids were just "NOPE NO MORE", as they also are not fans of said terrifying creature which shall not be named. (Honestly, books have "trigger warnings", why aren't there "phobia warnings"?)

Anyway, overall it's a cute book, my kids loved how the POV changed from the girl, to the different cats' perspectives. They didn't like the birds "and their annoying rhyming", but I did!

My kids were probably slightly too old for this book (age 10 and 14), but they love cats so we tried it out!

I really liked this book. It was adorable and I loved all of the cats. I also loved the parakeets (Fries and Gravy) and I liked that they're perspective was written as poetry.

12-year-old Fiona escapes her Aunt's apartment to spend time caring for cats in an abandoned mansion. Fiona and the cats must fight to have a safe place for them all. This book does a great job switching between narrators-some human, some cat, some poetic bird. The multiple perspectives represented in the story allow the reader to read a fuller and more interesting novel.

I was not hooked automatically by this book but it quickly caught me up in the story of a young girl who has gone through major traumas and lives with what seems to be an uncaring aunt. She runs away and discovers an abandoned mansion that is the home of a clowder of cats. Cot is the leader but he is being challenged by a young female named Piper. And there is the most wonderful and loving Maine Coon named Tarantino who has his own amazing back story.

An evil employee of the city who happens to be the aunt’s new boyfriend, has a deal with developers to tear down the building behind the back of the mayor. Fiona, the girl, in trying to defeat the two men trying to demolish the building, discovers the cats are only one reason to save it. It is a heritage building that has some unexpected connections to the people involved. It is a great story of how one girl and a clowder of determined cats can change the world. A feel good story that is filled with suspense and emotion, I did not want it to end. Five purrs and two paws up.

In this heartwarming middle grade novel, Fiona escapes her summer dance class to find an abandoned house, haven to a collection of stray cats (and two lost parakeets). When they learn of the upcoming demolition, Fiona and the cats must find a way to save the house while learning the importance of community and working together. Throughout the story, author Tanya Lloyd Kyi, reveals links between the characters and the house. Newspaper clippings, posters and reports interspersed amongst the chapters provide background information and clues for the reader to follow, and poetic verses that signal the birds’ conversations add an additional break from the prose. Young readers will enjoy the pacing of the book and piecing together the connections that lead to the conclusion. The City of Lost Cats would make a great addition to the read-aloud repertoire of middle grade teachers. Its focus on community, activism and collaboration aligns well with multiple subject areas, and readers will relate to the challenges faced by both animal and human characters. Thank you to Tundra Book Group for providing this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I have nothing to say except it was really cute and adorable. Loved reading this! The plot was really interesting and the underlying message it sent was really awesome too!

The City of Lost Cats was a delightful, sweet story about cats, found family, and neighborhood activism. The City is really a house, a big rambling old mansion that is in danger of demolition. When Fiona, desperate to escape dance camp, sneaks into the mansion, she encounters the dozens of cats (plus a couple of lost parakeets) that make the City their home. We learn about the main cats' backstories, as well as Fiona's. The stakes were high and the resolution felt earned.

I really enjoyed the themes lying beneath the story. This book is a subtle, effective example for young people about the power of community and the ability of individual citizens to effect change.

The story follows Fiona, a twelve year old who ran away from home and found a mansion full of lost and stray cats. She starts caring for the home and the cats when she discovers is the mansion is due to be demolished.
This story was super adorable. It included multiple POVs including Fiona’s, a few cats, and even some birds!
I loved all the different characters and animal personalities! I also loved the sense of found family within the community and how powerful that community can be when they all come together.

Aunt Tanis never listens, ballet is stupid, and Fiona just wants read since all the girls in her class are mean. When Fiona’s parents were in a tragic accident, she began a new life with her aunt, who means well, but sometimes just doesn’t have a clue. So when she signs Fiona up for ballet camp, all bets are off. Fiona decides to skip camp and spend her days visiting a cat city she’s found in an old abandoned mansion. Soon, problems arise when a demolition is planned for the neighborhood abandoned homes. Can Fiona and the cats she’s grown to love save their city together before it’s too late? What a great little extended read for third or fourth graders! This tale has tropes of found family, building community, tiny heroine, making animal and human friends in surprising places. I loved all the well-developed characters and would recommend this book to elementary aged readers.

4.5 stars.

A very sweet, poignant, and timely book about a young girl discovering a group of cats living in an old, abandoned mansion set for demolition. The messages in this book couldn't be more relevant, and I hope it inspires kids to speak up for what's right and work towards their own Destinies.

I thought the different perspectives were quite fun to read about, especially the birds. Writing their chapters as call and response poetry was cute and clever, and definitely how I can imagine birds speaking to each other. I just wish they formed more of a proper bond with the cats, but I guess the animals remaining civil by the end was a win in and of itself. Also, generally speaking, who doesn't love animal books told from the animals' perspectives? I certainly do, and aside from the poetic birds, I loved the cats' chapters too. Cot and Piper are quite the pair. A perfect king and queen of the CITI for sure. (I'm guessing they were more or less implied to be mates by the end, given all the king and queen references, right?)

And can I just say: I loved the whole sense of community in this book. All these different characters and their stories coming together in the end, just like the town did to support Fiona's cause? I just adored it. There’s something so sweet, heart-warming, and hopeful to me about these kinds of stories where entire communities or neighborhoods come together for something, be it a celebration or an act of change. It makes me feel a lot better about the world, which is something I could really use, right about now, given our current political/cultural climate. So I thank this book for reminding me that there's still good in the world and that people really can make a difference when we all come together to fight for the same cause. Like I said, I hope this book inspires and empowers the next generation. We really could use more activists like Fiona.

Loved this book so much, flew through it and would recommend it to all the older elementary readers at my school!

I want to live in this book.

I freakin LOVED this. From page 1 I was invested. It's heartwarming, magical, and full of personality—literally! Because each of the many perspectives feels like a full personality. You can imagine exactly what kind of cat they'd be from their infernal narration.

I don't want to spoil even the tiniest thing but there are chapters that are a bit more poetic than others. The first one I came across TICKLED me and I read it several times. This book brings me joy and I'm a full-grown adult.

Even so, my inner child so related to Fiona’s journey. She ties it all the whimsy beautifully to make a wholesome story.

If you love stories that feel like a warm hug (with a little mischief) and CATS, this is THE book for you.

Meet Fiona a kind girl who lives with her Aunt Tanis and her aunt's boyfriend who she most dearly hates Dex Dextral. One day when Fiona is trying to find her destiny (yet again) she finds a hidden mansion full of cats which makes her embark on an adventure. When she finds out Dex is going to demolish the mansion, she does everything she can possibly do to save the cats. Will she convince Dex not to demolish the city of cats?
My favorite part of the book: Was when Fiona found the city of cats because it is full of animals because I love animals
What I learned: That if you have confidence you will succeed at anything
I suggest that young readers read this book because it's very funny, fun and emotional and has many animals

An endearing book about all the ways in which we can be both lost and found. This book felt like a warm hug and the main character Fiona will inspire young readers to be brave and to stand up for what they believe in- and that everyone is deserving of empathy, especially a group of lost cats. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!

💛😻Absolutely loved this book. It’s the story of Twelve year old Fiona who has big emotions and even bigger heart. Life changes beyond anyone’s control turn her world upside down. That’s when she meets the adorable, incredible, fun & fluffy residents of Cat City. This book has so much heart and if you are a cat person you will see your fuzzy bestie’s antics reflected expertly on the page. The icing on the cake was the birds who speak in verse, absolutely genius idea! 😻💛 Thank you NetGalley for the sweet read!

This middle-grade novel follows a young girl, Fiona, as she learns about civil disobedience while trying to save a derelict mansion that is home to a clowder of cats. Parts of the story are also told from the POV of the cats.

It is a cute story and enjoyable but is a bit clunky. I do not think that my school has the audience for this particular book, as those who are interested in cats are unlikely to stick through the writing and change of POV.

I know this book has an audience that will love it.

Thank you to Tundra Book Group and Net Galley for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc!

This was a lovely and light middle grade novel following a young girl who, after losing her family, finds a new home and purpose in an abandoned mansion full of stray cats. I loved the way Fiona's character was written, and how her fantasies about finding her "Destiny" morphed into concrete activism to defend the mansion and its cats. The cats were fabulously well written with spot-on cat personalities and mentalities. It was perhaps a little unrealistic that so many things worked out perfectly in the end but then again, I think the world could use some hope right now, unrealistic or not. Over all, this was just thoroughly fun to read and I can't wait to put it in the hands of my students.

Thank you to Tanya Lloyd Kyi, the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A full five stars for this book! My 8 year old son and I read this together as his bed time story and we both equally enjoyed it. He loved all the different point of views and each night looked forward to finding out who we would be reading about...very quickly he got such a kick our of Aunt Tanis and her boyfriend Dex...along with their jobs are ...you guessed it! MUNICIPAL HALL lol!

This book was perfectly written for the late elementary early middle grade ages and would make a wonderful addition to any school library. The many stories about finding family outside of your birth family can be very relatable to many children and their circumstances while also enjoying the fast paced and adorable story of Fiona and all the cats living among "The City".

This was a really well done novel and had that children’s genre element that I was looking for. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and was invested in what was going on. I loved the use of cats and thought it was a cute story going on. Tanya Lloyd Kyi wrote this well and glad I got to read this.