13 year old Nanami Kosaki loves books and reading and her local library is her second home. As she suffers from asthma and so cannot participate in the same activities as her friends and schoolmates, she visits the library all the time especially on her way home from school.
But just lately she has noticed that books have begun to vanish from its shelves. Old favourites such as a particularly nice edition of ‘Anne of Green Gables’ appear to have gone for good. However, she is also aware that none of the library staff appear to have noticed despite her attempts to involve Mr Hamura the oldest librarian. Nanami’s best friend, Itsuka calls him ‘Old Ham’ behind his back.
Nanami’s father works hard and often late which means that she often eats alone and has had to become self reliant.
Then one day, after Itsuka says her goodbyes and goes home, Nanami realises that she’s alone in the library except for a man dressed smartly in a grey suit wearing a deerstalker cap. She’s already noticed that books seem to vanish after his visits. After he adroitly disappears behind a bookshelf, she discovers that a complete set of books about Arsene Lupin, Gentleman thief has vanished. It’s one of her favourites.
Angry, she begins to look for him and her asthma begins to kick in as she sees a soft bluish light at the end of an aisle. As she hesitates a voice warns her not to investigate.
Nanami turns around and discovers to her surprise that it belongs to a solid looking, beautiful tabby cat that can talk. A cat that can quote from Macbeth and has a good line in quips. As Nanami says:
‘You really are perverse aren’t you?’ to which Tiger replies:
‘That’s how cats are.’
And who could argue with that? They join forces, and together, they find themselves in a castle where a group of grey men are taking crates of books to be burned. They meet the General who is at pains to explain that the powerful books that he has separated and put in display have put up a fight against being burned. Instead, he has to wait for their power to weaken and once people have forgotten them then they will meet the same fate as the others. He adds that
‘Books are to be burned because they’re dangerous. They lead people astray.’
When Nanami challenges the General by saying that she never forgets a precious book, his guards point their muskets at her and Tiger. Should they stay or run? But then the display books begin to shine or ‘fuss’ as the General calls it. As Nanami makes her decision and runs with one of her favourite books clutched tightly under her arm and Tiger running with her they flee down the passage through which they entered to meet one of Tiger’s old Friends. ‘Mr Proprietor’ he calls him.
But will Nanami and Tiger save the day with the help of her best loved heroes?
This is the sequel to ‘The Cat Who Saved Books’ and it was a welcome return for Tiger with his ears like ‘isosceles triangles’ and jade green eyes.,
It’s an enchanting YA book that in some way referenced Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’ with the burning of books and the rationale for doing it. But books are dangerous. They can call you to action, take you to other worlds or somewhere else for a couple of hours.
Libraries are places where people can not only access books but also ideas and this book comes at a time when, in Britain, we are having to watch as these great repositories of knowledge are being closed or reduced in numbers due to seemingly unending cuts in funding in local councils budgets.
Nanami is able to access the world through her love of reading and her choices seemed advanced for a 13 year old and she reads widely. Due to her asthma she is unable to join in so lives through her books which enabled her to experience other worlds and other lives. Through Tiger she makes new friends with a character from the previous book.
There is some philosophising on the nature of publishing and the current view that:
‘only the best selling books are masterpieces’ and
‘You’re only a great writer if you make money.’ But there’s also plenty of action and drama.
I remember the day I joined my local library as it felt like an important rite of passage so I recognised Nanami’s pride in her father taking her there for the first time.
As she continued to visit the library her world expanded as:
‘books had the power to lift her spirits, to rescue her from loneliness and sadness.’
Rediscovering them makes them feel like old friends.
I loved the idea of a talking cat although I would be worried what any of mine would have said!
I’m looking forward to meeting Tiger again on his next adventure!
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

The second book in the Cat Who...series features a young, lonely girl called Nanami and Tiger, the talking Cat. They meet when the girl worries about books disappearing en masse from the library. It is a fantasy story, but there are deeper intentions about the importance of books and how individuals seeking control and power may fear and manipulate them. It explores what we lose from childhood when we become adults and how it is essential to recapture this for a fulfilling life. It's a simple story but one that resonates. I like the characters, the hidden meanings and the fantastic adventure Nanami and Tiger have.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

As delightful, whimsical and heart-warming as The Cat Who Saved Books. Once again beautifully translated from the original Japanese, each turn of phrase adding depth and meaning to the magical tale. One to read when you need to escape into a world of books and the book-lovers who believe in their power to heal and restore.

I love this book with my whole heart...!!!

Nanami, a 13 year old girl who is obsessed with books and libraries, is the protagonist of this story. As an avid reader, I could relate to her almost entirely. She has some serious health issues ( asthma ) and as a result, her world is a bit limited between books, libraries and school. In fact, she is unable to do things like others of her age. Books certainly play a massive role in her life as she considers books as a source of opening new worlds, observations and imaginations before her, making her gain new experiences, knowledge and wisdom. She is a kind hearted soul that radiates kindness and love towards her surroundings.

In her simple world, something extraordinary happens that leads her to the talking tabby cat called Tiger (my favorite character from the first book). She eventually finds herself in a mission to save the missing books from the libraries. She has to face dark and challenging entities, learns that how little she knows about the world, and craves to face the real world finally.

I loved the bonding between Nanami and Tiger the tabby cat so so much that I didn't want this book to end. I really want to know more about this story... because I just love this world so much. It literary felt like the most comforting warm hug that fixed my mood.


We also get to see some characters from the previous book. This is overall an eye opening, thought-provoking and comforting read that is action packed with a blend of magical realism, thrilling and unputdownable. I finished reading it just in three sittings. Enjoyed this so so much.

Really grateful to Pan Macmillan, Picador and NetGalley for gifting me this eARC.

From loving the 1st book to loving the second one,the consistency didn’t change. Neither the amount of fondness for this kind of literature. I love every word, every pages. Why not,right? It's a book about book and although i am not a fan of cats in real life, i definitely love cats of the fictional world. Definitely read the book to heal, to feel good.

The Cat Who Saved the Library by Sosuke Natsukawa

Nanami is 13, dealing with asthma, and not exactly living the most exciting after-school life—until the library, her favorite quiet place, starts acting weird. Books are disappearing, no one believes her, and then… a mysterious guy in a gray suit shows up. Things get real when she meets Tiger, a talking cat who’s here to save stories from being erased forever.

What follows? Secret passageways, creepy faceless soldiers, and a wild mission to protect the magic of books. Nanami might be quiet, but she’s got serious courage—and this adventure is anything but ordinary.

This book is perfect if you love stories with mystery, magic, and a message that books (and readers) matter more than ever.

Big thanks to @panmacmillan and @netgalley for this magical read!

⤷ 3.5✩
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for providing me with this E-ARC via NetGalley.

This book takes a different approach from the last one, telling one story which is more character-focused and had one singular message. It therefore has a slower pace, rather than the sprints of the last book.

The change in structure does make it feel less punchy than the first book, and while I liked the characters, I did not necessarily feel deeply attached to them. The message is still meaningful, even though the first part had more sophisticated insights. It still feels like a good, insightful and cozy read.

This is the second book of the Cat Who Saved series.

The story follows a young junior high schooler, Nanami. Nanami suffers from chronic asthma causing her to not take part in sports activities. As a result, she finds solace in books and becomes a regular attendee at the library, where she becomes absorbed in to the world of books. While in the library, she notices a stack that is empty of books. She finds a gray suited man and when she starts following him, she gets an asthma attack and couldn't follow him further. Then she comes across a tabby talking cat--the same cat who was in the first book and together Nanami and the cat must prevent the Prime Minister and the gray soldiers from burning the books and thus try to save as much books as possible.

If you are a cat person, you may probably enjoy the book. I did enjoy the book and I liked the fantasy setting in the novel. It was actually an interesting read although it took a little time for me to get fully into the story. Nanami and Tiger, the cat will they succeed in saving the books? You got to read the book to find out what will happen next.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and give this book four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my opinion.

This book just didn't grab me and the slow pace geniunely sent me to sleep more than once. I decided to finish because it was short but it came very close to being a DNF. The setting is quite bland, the characters are one-dimensional and I'm not sure what the grey men were. Sadly forgettable. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love these books full of cats, reflections on life, echoes of another culture, and that make me feel good.
This one is another one that made me smile and think.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was such a wholesome and cosy read, cats are always a great addition but especially here where it shows how people need to trust themselves to make a difference.

This is one of those real gems of a book you come across sometimes that just makes you feel good and happy. It is really simple on the surface but actually has a really powerful meaning. I totally agree with the message of this book, as I’ve also loved reading and totally believe in the power of books. A really lovely read.

Books “teach you that there is hope to be found in all places. That you’re never alone. That you can run through a sea of flames and find your way out.”

Nanami is a young girl who lives alone with her beloved father and she loves books. She visits the library all the time and like a true book lover, she often loses herself in more than one book a time and has a longer TBR than she can keep up with. But just lately, she has found that more and more books are disappearing from the library and one day she finds herself at the end of an illuminated path that leads towards the cause of these disappearances.

We follow Nanami on more than one adventure as she and Tiger the tabby cat try and save the library and the world of literature from the dangerous Grey Man! Many have failed in the past but Nanami has a strong spirit and a courageous heart, which counts for more than physical strength.

Through this easy and quick read, many “big” questions of life are examined. If you enjoy cosy Japanese fiction with a little bit of fantasy mixed in then this would be a great choice for you. I haven’t read the previous book in this series but it didn’t cause me an issue at all in enjoying this one.

A follow up to The Cat Who Saved Books. It is a standalone book, so you can read it and enjoy, even if you didn't read the previous book.

Nanami realises that books are disappearing from her local library, but she seems to be the only one that notices. As of course it is a library and books will be on loan, but she knows they have been gone for much longer. Then she notices a grey man who is always hanging about in the library racks. Time for the cat to appear and help her save the books.

I was reminded of Fahrenheit 451, albeit fleetingly, as the story traces Nanami on a mission to save the books from another world to which they are being taken. It also charts her discoveries about life and people and her own seeming fragility.

Apart from the cat there is also another character from the first book that appears which was a nice touch. Overall I am not sure I enjoyed it as much as the first book. There was a lot of detail about the other world and it certainly stretched the imagination.

It’s been a while since I read The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa but, as soon I immersed myself into the first few pages of The Cat Who Saved The Library, I was totally pulled back into this world. Once again Louise Heal Kawai has done an amazing job translating this book into English, at not one point did I feel the loss of the sense of Japanese culture and literature. Each and every sentence, and trust me, I highlighted a vast array of them, was crafted beautifully and carried itself with the weight of meaning that the author wanted to convey.

At first sight, you would think that this book is more of a YA or younger reader genre but, as you read or at least as I read, there were multiple levels of messaging, theme and lesson being delivered. And in these extremely uncertain times there is strength and hope to be gathered from this beautiful story, irrespective of your age, background, culture or species.

There is a lot about the telling of this story that on appearance is whimsical and fairytale like, but as I’ve said this is a story told on multiple levels, much like the physically weak protagonist of the story. Nanami who has chronic asthma, and as such can’t always achieve physically everything she wants to do. The consequence of this is that she discovered reading at a young age and for her books are her passion and her guides, her mentors and her guardians. Nanami may appear to be weak, but her heart and inner strength and sense of morality are Goliath-like. This is a tale that crafts and delivers a message about how important and vital literature is to all of lives, and that neglecting this in today’s uncertain, self-promoting world will have far reaching negative consequences for us all.

Perfect for readers of all ages and one of those books that you can come back to time and again, each time bringing more depth or a differing viewpoint to its message and themes, this book celebrates the power of stories for us all.

Having read The Cat who Saved Books I was keen to read The Cat who Saved the Library.
Nanami notices that much loved books are disappearing from her local library and she is concerned. With the help of Tiger, a talking cat, she follows the man responsible for removing them. This is a fantastical tale with a moral. It is an easy read but there is an underlying tale. Much food for thought.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Sosuke Natsukawa/Pan Macmillan for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm such a fan of books in this space because of their cosy nature and this one didn't disappoint, bringing together the community element, the library setting and even a cat who can talk. It felt a little younger than other novels I have read in this space, both in how it was written and also because of the young protagonist, but overall I enjoyed it. It was just the kind of light mystery I was in the mood for!

This is such a beautifully simple book that packs an emotive punch and will fill your heart with such joy and hope - a must read to remedy the troubles of today's world.

I did enjoy this book however there was not a huge amount of action and the emphasis felt like it was mainly on morals and teaching the reader multiple life lessons. It felt slightly overbearing. It’s obvious the author loves words and books and this shows throughout.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series.
However, the following novel somehow lacked the flow and charm of the first one. It's hard to put a finger on it, as seemingly, all of the ingredients are there.. Tiger the Tabby, books and adventures..
I was struggling to power through and I couldn't force myself to enjoy it. It was a miss, rather than hit for me.