Dewey:  The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vick Myron is a New York Times bestseller that tugs at your heartstrings.  At first glance it may appear to be only about the rather singular life of a cat who, as a kitten, was pushed through the slot of a library drop box on a cold January night, but if you delve into its pages you will find it is about much more than that.

The writing in this book is such that Dewey’s personality jumps off the page and draws the reader in.  I also enjoyed the pictures of Dewey that accompanied each chapter heading.  They helped my imagination along as I tried to picture a sweet, but quirky cat roaming around a small town library and making friends as he goes.  The life of Dewey Readmore Books was intertwined with the lives of many in Spencer, Iowa and Vicki Myron explores some of their stories, capturing much of the struggle, pain, and joy that make up life in America’s Heartland.  Myron’s ability to seamlessly mix stories from the past and present together makes the book both entertaining and informative.  She includes some of Iowa’s history as well as some of her own history which gives the book a depth I did not expect to find among the funny and sometimes touching stories of the world’s most famous library cat.

If you’re a history buff, you may want to pick this one up.  If you are a lover of libraries, I can enthusiastically suggest this for your to-read list.  But if you are a cat lover, I would say this is a must read.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  A suicide is mentioned but not in great detail.

Sex/Nudity:  None

Mature Subject Matter:

Terminal illness; death of a family member; suicide; divorce.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Beer and alcohol in general mentioned in reference to the activities of an alcoholic adult.