Kun Xiao Xiao من عند Schwendau, النمسا من عند Schwendau, النمسا

Like most coming-of-age tales, The Cat Who Walked a Thousand Miles involves a separation from what is familiar and a journey in which the protagonist discovers who she is and how she wants to be as an adult. Unlike most such tales, this journey is taken completely on foot, and the protagonist is a cat. The journey is arduous. Along the way the young cat contemplates what adults have told her, sifts and sorts out what is true for her, and adds her own memories and perceptions while traveling. Kij Johnson tells her classic tale well, accompanied by beautiful and unusual illustrations by Goñi Montes. The story takes place at a time when cats were rare in Japan. The cat, a youngster dubbed Small Cat by her clan, lives near Tokyo. She becomes disoriented, injured, and separated from her family following a natural disaster. After failing to find a family group in which to participate, she sets out to find the home of her ancestor, the Cat from the North, remembering her fudoki, or family stories. Taking the Tokaido road, she passes through many trials and tribulations as winter sets in. She makes an occasional human or animal friend, but never quite feels at home, even as she finds comfort here and there. Her journey finally ends in a satisfactory way, as she understands who she is and discovers what home is. Readers who like cats, Japanese history and culture, coming-of-age tales, or any combination of the above will enjoy this short read. Fans of beautiful graphic art will want to take a look too. The story is available at http://www.tor.com/2009/07/14/the-cat....