Tamiu: A Cat’s Tale by Angelino Donnachaidh
Winner of the 2024 North Street Book Prize, Middle Grade
With a rich, soulful, and thought-provoking cat's-eye-view of the very beginnings of human society, Tamiu: A Cat's Tale is a gorgeously illustrated adventure myth about the first encounter between prehistoric humanity and the ancestors of the modern housecat.
This epic adventure of natural magic, self-discovery, and survival is perfect for fans of cat-centric fantasy. Follow Tamiu, a fearless and gifted young cat from the Woodlands, as she embarks on a journey that will change the fate of her world forever.
Tamiu is an adventurous young Cat from the Woodland at the center of the World Island. A fearless hunter gifted in the Cat magic of stealth, agility, perception, and growing and shrinking, Tamiu has only once in her life had to run from anything—a mysterious and insatiable beast called Fire.
At the Grand Fray of the Woodland Cats, wizened sages back from the vast Outer Worlds share stories of long-lost Cat Clan cousins who are not only giants but have even mastered the elusive magic of cooperation—the one art Tamiu's mother always told her was beyond the reach of the Cats. With the power of these Lions, surely not even Fire could threaten her.
When Tamiu sets out to find these far-off giants—unsure if they are even real—she stumbles headlong into a world far bigger than she ever imagined, filled with stranger creatures than even the most wondrous tales of the sages. Most puzzling of all are the humans, who seem to be capable of almost anything despite understanding nothing. They struggle to even catch their own birds or mice, yet an assortment of once wild and free creatures lives under the sway of their taming and domesticating magic—even, incredibly, Fire. Luckily, no one can tame a Cat. Can they?
This fun, fast-paced, gripping, and moving tale is a must-read for fans of magical creatures, feline heroes, and intricate world-building. Perfect for readers who love tales of bravery, self-discovery, friendship, and epic quests, Tamiu: A Cat's Tale makes for a thoughtful holiday gift.
"Angelino Donnachaidh's wise and winsome novel Tamiu: A Cat's Tale is that magical book that's clear and concise enough for middle-grade readers, while containing deep lessons for adults to ponder...Finely detailed soft pencil illustrations by Fiorella Ikeue are equally good at expressing the animal characters' mythic and naturalistic qualities. They're never too cutesy, yet a human-level intelligence shines through the creatures' eyes."
—Jendi Reiter, final judge of the North Street Book Prize (see the complete critique)
Read an excerpt from Tamiu: A Cat's Tale (PDF)
Buy this book on Amazon.
