Cats! Millions of cats! Tomomi and her younger brother Tetsu spend their spring vacation feeding stray cats with a woman who regularly does so. their parents are heading towards a break-up over what to do about a neighbor's unwillingness to keep an agreement over where their fence line is. this has become important because the family is ready to re-build their run-down, ancient home. Tonomi's father is coming home less and has even taken another apartment.

Tonomi follows her yonger brother around suring this spring break, not seeming to have any friends of her own to be with. This story is confusing and slow moving. It is hard to understand what is going on and what this pre-adolescent is learning. ( )