Jersey Wild Cats

 I have never been drawn to animal stories—whether about elephants, cougars, rabbits, or insects. If it is non-human, it usually doesn't capture my attention. But the novel Jersey Wild Cats—the author’s debut—has proved to be the grand exception. The story chronicles the adventures of two wild cats roaming the terrain in and around the rural wilderness and farmland of Cranbury, New Jersey, back in the 1950s. Here we meet Cleo and Caesar, two feral tabbies who fall in love. Like all wild animals, they spend their days out of sheer necessity searching their territory for food and water. Later, we meet Cleo and Caesar’s newborns, a brood of four tabbies. This includes Maverick, who is eventually separated from his parents. Adopted and carried away in a little boy’s pocket, Maverick goes on a tour of Cranbury until they reach a new home where he will live—apart from his own family, but safe with a human family who loves him.

But the book is much more than a feline Romeo and Juliet. In addition to learning about wild animals, we explore geography, ecology, pollution, the environment, and the fascinating history of the area. For example, did you know that the Lenni Lenape, descendants of the Paleo-Indians, lived in New Jersey after the last ice age 12,000 years ago? I thought not.

This novel also caused a collective pang in my heart. Alongside the story of Cleo and Caesar, we learn the sad tale of how animals have often been mistreated by humans throughout history.

Jersey Wild Cats is a gripping adventure story with animal protagonists, but it is equally about loyalty and community. It beautifully depicts the people of Cranbury, their kinship with one another, and the land they farm—down to the churches where they worship, their schools and teachers, beauty parlor and shops, and the local police. The story captivates you because it is such a rich mixture of cats, people, adventure, suspense, hilarity, love, and joy. It is a perfect read.

Kate Purefoy