Neville immediately captures the reader's interest and establishes conflict with her first sentence, in which Dave Mitchell states that he wants a cat for a pet because his father likes dogs.

Kate, a neighborhood eccentric who takes care of strays, gives Dave one of her brood, whom he names Cat. Dave's relationship with Cat provides a framework for the book and a catalyst for Dave's maturation. In one chapter Dave attempts to sneak Cat on the family's vacation trip, and when Cat escapes during a traffic jam, Dave jumps out of the car in pursuit, thus forfeiting his vacation. In another chapter Dave and a friend bring Cat to Coney Island, where they meet a group of girls who use Cat as an excuse to approach the boys.

This encounter contributes to Dave's growing awareness of male-female relationships, and he meets one of the...