TheCaldecottHonor-winningtruestoryofMohammadAlaaAljaleel,whointhemidstoftheSyrianCivilWarcourageouslyofferedsafehaventoAleppo’sabandonedcats.Aleppo’scitycenternolongerechoeswiththerich,excitingsoundsofcopper-potpoundingandtraditionalswordsharpening.Hisneighborhoodisempty--exceptforthemanycatsleftbehind.AlaalovesAleppo,butwhenwarcomeshisneighborsfleetosafety,leavingtheirmanypetsbehind.Alaadecidestostay--hecanmakeadifferencebydrivinganambulance,carryingthesickandwoundedtosafety.Onedayhehearshungrycatscallingouttohimonhiswayhome.Theyarelonelyandscared,justlikehim.Hefeedsandpetsthemtoletthemknowtheyareloved.Thenextdaymorecatscome,andthenevenmore!TherearetoomanyforAlaatotakecareofonhisown.Alaahasabigheart,buthewillneedhelpfromothersifhewantstokeepallofhisnewfriendssafe.
