The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas: How a Cat Brought a Family the Gift of Love
Families with autistic kids may find hope in this charming true story about a single British mom, her nine-year-old autistic son, and their cat. For three years, the feline, named Ben, helps the boy, George, make great progress relating to creatures, both human and furry. But the miracle-working kitty runs away while George and his mom go on a rare vacation (to Egypt). The boy blames his mother (the author). “You wanted to go away, and now Ben’s gone. It’s your fault,” he says. In this happily-ever-after tale, George and his mom find the cat (with the help of a woman who uses a microchip reader). And Ben gets to have (almost) the last word, with nearly two pages in his voice. “Before Ben came, I didn’t want to love anyone. I didn’t know what love was,” he says. “But it’s different now.” This book is most likely to appeal to families with autistic kids and to cat lovers. --Karen Springen