Ciao Harley!

This book is geared toward children aged ten to fourteen years old.  It is soft-bound, contains ninety-four pages, and is slightly over-sized.  This story is about cat named Harley who has traveled with his human family for an extended trip to Venice, Italy.

While out exploring the city, Harley meets and befriends some local cats.    He learns the vital role cats play in this metropolis.  His new friends show him around, tell him about customs unique to the town, and inform him of the cat history of Venice–which turns out to be important for the current time period.

Harley has numerous adventures, including seeing a beautiful white cat, who wears a red cape, that he instantly becomes enamored with. He finds out her name is Angela.  But when he tries to uncover more about her, he discovers she is shrouded in mystery.  His friends know about her, but don’t want to tell him all they know.

Harley befriends a talking statue, that claims to be centuries old, and has curious powers.  He also stumbles into a secret meeting his cat friends are a part of.  Harley finds himself in the middle of a huge city-wide cat fight that involves the two rival cat factions in the city.  That altercation changes the course of his life, and shifts how the cats of the city view him.  In addition, Harley has a dangerous, odd encounter with a very strange man.  He experiences some uncomfortable situations with him.  It is suggested this individual might be a ghost.

This 4-star book should appeal to the imagination of the target age group.  I always enjoy tales where the animals can talk, even if it is just with each other, and not humans, too.  So this is a book that would be enjoyed by those who like imaginative yarns with talking animals, especially cats.  Because of the ghostly elements, I recommend this book only to those who would not find that offensive.

I’d like to thank the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.