Plot: Nothing is going right for Haru. She arrives to class late, ruins her shoe, forgets her wallet, and gets embarrassed by the teacher. Even worse, Machida, her crush, has a girlfriend already. After her terrible day, she saves a cat from getting run over by a truck. That night, a parade of cats visits her. Apparently, the cat she saved is the Cat King's son. The cats pledge to return her good deed. Unfortunately, Haru does not appreciate the gifts of catnip, cattails, and mice offered by the grateful felines. They still attempt to thank her, and offer her the greatest gift in the kingdom. They will make her marry the cat prince! Warned by a strange voice, Haru finds the Cat Office, run by a noble toy cat, fat stray, and stone magpie. Can the Cat Office save Haru from an early marriage?
Genre: Manga, Animals
Reading Level: Rated A for all All Ages
Similar Titles: I cannot think of any...maybe Beauty by Robin McKenley
Personal Thoughts: A well-written, well-illustrated manga. Many readers assume the book is a sequel, but it is not. The name is a mistranslation. A more accurate title would be "The Cat Returns a Favor." Apparently, it is based on a Japanese folktale where a young girl saves a cat and receives gifts from the cat as thanks. The manga provided a basis for a movie by Studio Ghibdi in 2005. While the manga and movie are not, perhaps, as elaborate as the more popular Spirited Away, they do provide an interesting story with a believable teenage girl.
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