Book review by Jane
Most people who have had pets of some sort will usually recall one very special relationship with an animal. The author of this book recalls Dewey and all he did for his small town of Spencer, Iowa. He was not a heroic sort of character, but he did make small inroads in making the patrons of the library feel welcome. He also was instinctive and knew just when someone needed him to soothe hurt feelings or disappointments. The cat was not without favorites, as Ms. Myron explains that he had an attachment to her daughter.

The author describes the small-town life in Spencer, Iowa and explains how the cat brought many people through some hard times they experienced as a town, including the introduction of a large slaughterhouse. Other changes occurred, and the cat brought the people together. People found a way to help support the cat, which helped them in their struggles. People found that the cat was comic relief when things were harsh outside the library walls. Ms. Myron describes how the cat brought people through personal issues. An example would be that the cat brought the author and her daughter closer together. She also saw this happen with other parents--parents that needed to work long, hard hours to support their children.

The small town of Spencer undergoes many changes through the short history of the cat’s life, which for a cat, was long. The author takes you through her personal life and provides brief glimpses of the lives of some of the townspeople. It makes for good reading and reminds me that ordinary life can sometimes be humorous and heartbreaking. You may want to remember the tissues, as a blurb on the back of the book warns.

I noticed that Ms. Myron's co-author, Bret Witter, is from Louisville, Kentucky, which is where I live.

Jane.