The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb: Life Eight (Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb (Quality))
"In this contemporary fantasy, cats can receive mortal wounds and recover eight times before their lives end permanently. Young Romeo Crumb was born to New York City alley cats who let him be taken to the Pound to protect him from Fidel, the evil leader of the "alleys." He becomes a "stick," a domestic cat, unaware of his heritage. Queen Elizabeth, a neighbor cat, introduces him to the streets and takes him to the Factory, where he attends school, learning survival techniques, cat history, and how to read. Romeo and his friends become involved in conflict with the sinister Fidel and his "henchcats," with adventures, intrigues, rescues, and attacks leading to a final confrontation during which he learns the truth about his parentage. The characters are fully drawn, and Romeo's efforts to find his family and help his friends ring true and create a sympathetic protagonist. His world is brought to life through descriptions of the decaying Factory and a field trip into the subway system. Fast pacing and building suspense will draw readers into the story and leave them looking forward to the projected eight additional books in this series." --Beth L. Meister, Yeshiva of Central Queens, Flushing,NY School Library Journal