Content

This book is about a man named Muhammad Alaa Aljaleel, who, in the midst of war and strife in Syria, set up a sanctuary for the cats that were left behind when people fled the war-torn country.

Some events of the book: 

1. Alaa did not flee the country when the war began, but stayed behind and continued his work as an ambulance driver.

2. Alaa notices the streets are empty except for all the cats that have been left behind. He starts small, taking care of just a handful.

3. The next day, he uses his money to buy fresh meat for the cats. Soon, he has too many cats to feed and too little food for them.

4. People hear of his good deeds and donate to his cause. He uses the donation money to open up House of Cats Ernesto, a sanctuary for orphaned cats.

5. He opens his sanctuary to other animals. He also builds a playground for the children, digs a well for residents, and distributes food.

Message

The underlying message of this book is that one person can do great things by starting small and building on those small successes. Alaa took the gifts and donations from others and turned them into something beautiful, in a world that was crumbling down around him. And he did it all by sharing these gifts, first with the cats, then with the children and others he met in his daily life.

Evaluation

I was drawn to this book because I love cats and the people that are willing to help them. I think in cases of war like this, citizens either have too great a sense of nationalism to leave, or their heart is too big to leave behind the pain and suffering of others. I am forever amazed at the bravery and courage of the Alaa's of this world.

Nonfiction Text Features

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