The Cat Who Saved the Library

The highly anticipated sequel to Sosuke Natsukawa's The Cat Who Saved Books – an uplifting tale from Japan about a talking cat, a book-loving girl and the power of books to make a difference in the world.

Nanami sees nothing wrong with a library and cat combination. But a talking cat is a whole other story.

Thirteen-year-old Nanami Kosaki loves reading. The local library is a home from home and books have become her best friends. When Nanami notices books disappearing from the library shelves, she’s particularly curious about a suspicious man in a grey suit whose furtive behaviour doesn’t feel right. Should she follow him to see what he’s up to?

When a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears to warn her about how dangerous that would be, together they’re brave enough to follow the frightening trail to find out where all the books have gone. Will Nanami and Tiger overcome the challenges of the adventure ahead?

Warm, wonderful and wise, The Cat Who Saved the Library is also a powerful lesson never to underestimate the value of great literature, and a reminder always to think for ourselves, no matter what our charismatic leaders might say.

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Louise Heal Kawai (Translator)

Louise Heal Kawai has been a translator of Japanese literature since 2006, translating several different genres of contemporary fiction. Besides the novels on this list, she has published short stories in online magazines and journals, play scripts and the odd poem. In 2022 she translated the international bestseller The Cat Who Saved Books, and in 2023 Hideo Yokoyama's The North Light. Her latest release is Point Zero, the classic 1959 thriller by Seicho Matsumoto.