‘”Those are all books?” she asked the cat.
“Yes. They’re bringing in books from all over the world and burning them here.”
“Why?”
“Because they think it’s the right thing to do.”
But that wasn’t a reason.’
The long-awaited sequel to The Cat Who Saved Books takes us back to Natsuki Books via a different route. In The Cat Who Saved the Library, our heroine is Nanami, a thirteen-year-old girl with a chronic asthma condition that often prevents her from leaving her bubble of books. One day, she notices books have started disappearing from her local library—but nobody else notices or cares.
That leads her on an adventure through the library stacks and into another world where war is on the horizon and books are being burned. Nanami is drawn into the fight to save those books by a familiar talking cat named Tiger, with an appearance from a now-grown-up Rintaro, the beloved stars of the previous novel.
Much like its predecessor, The Cat Who Saved the Library is incredibly timely; books are being destroyed and free thinking is being squashed. Sound familiar? The novel turns the fight for free speech and art into a perilous battle with grey soldiers fighting heroes straight out of children’s stories. And the descriptions of those who want to stop learning and reading really do make you feel like a life without books is a life without color—what a simple but powerful metaphor for anyone at any age to be reminded of.
Nanami is an endearing lead, at just 13 years old she has all the precociousness and bravery of a sheltered young girl who’s only just discovering the world, which colors her thought process and decision-making. While sometimes it can be mildly frustrating to read, her innocence is what makes this story work: Nanami still believes in adventures and fantasy worlds, making her the best candidate to embark on an adventure of her own through this often dream-like narrative.
The switches between the real world and the magical one Nanami and Tiger slip into feel immediately surreal and fantastical, blurring the lines between danger and daring. The jumps in time and place can be a little jarring and make the flow of the novel uneven, but it’s a quick read that’s easy to pick back up where you left off. The language is simple and gentle, while the dialogue impresses upon you the importance of good storytelling, with plenty of references to much-loved examples of that.
Tiger remains grumpy and rather maddening at times but only in a lovable way; he speaks with the wisdom of someone who’s seen many battles but something within him needs Nanami’s youthful spirit. Rintaro is gentle with a touch of mystery about him, and shows up when the narrative needs him most; it’s sometimes too convenient but still nice to have him along for the ride. And Nanami’s interactions with her dad ground the book back in reality and show you why she has such a big heart and willingness to fight for good. The way they interact and learn from one another is bittersweet but ultimately healing.
The themes of heart and bravery over physical strength are also great to read about; Nanami’s dad’s overprotectiveness about her health may hold her back in the real world, but the magical realm allows her to show how strong she really is. As someone who was often sick as a child and spent a lot of time off adventuring in the books I read, this brings back all kinds of nostalgic whimsy. It will remind you of how big and thrilling those worlds in your favorite kids’ stories are and how wonderful it is to get lost in them.
The Cat Who Saved the Library is a winsome read, full of compassion and children’s classics and strong moral messages that are more important than ever. If you’re a fan of books and especially of saving them from being banned, this fantasy take is a good reminder as to why we need to keep stories alive.