I've always loved books where something big is happening and the kids in the story figure out what they should be doing. In this case, curiosity is important, but it's also important that the kids in this story have their own unique skills and abilities. Zach, who is autistic, his sister Marlow, and their cat friend Leo take on the forces coming against their town. This is an adventure/science fiction book, which I also found fun. Thanks to NetGalley, I got to listen to the audiobook, and the narrator was well chosen for both the voice and ability to make the story exciting.

I spent a lot of this book working to figure out what genre this book is. I have students who cannot read anything containing magic, so I always want to be prepared to tell them when a book is not a good fit. Despite some chapter names and the beginning chapter, there is no magic in this book. It is firmly science fiction.

Leo, the neighborhood cat, is proud of the fact that he is not curious. As hard as the cat talker (Zach) down the block tries to engage Leo, he does not give in to the temptation of curiosity. But when Leo's brother is distraught because all the birds disappear after an earthquake and landslide, Leo works to figure out what is going on. He joins two children, Zach the cat talker, and middle school sister Marlow in figuring out what is going on in their town.

This was a very enjoyable middle-grade mystery. The cats and kids were all wonderful characters. It kept me guessing throughout. I am ordering a copy for my elementary library, and I think it will work well in any collection aimed at middle-grade readers.

The narrator is excellent, and I enjoyed the cat voices!

Thank you to Net Galley and Southbound Films for the ALC. All opinions are my own.