Aisha and her mother have carried on living after Aisha’s 19 year old sister June, left. It’s been hard for Aisha because she really needed her sister at this time. Their father had passed away leaving their mum often in a trance like state, hardly connecting with the daughter she had left.

Sure Aisha was cared for and thrived in school but her mother was never the same. Doing well in school was something to help her mother, and not burden her with any worries, but school is also where Aisha met her boyfriend Walter.

Walter is kind, smart, and will challenge Aisha in discussions – all things she grew to love him for. If only June was still home, because Aisha would have loved to talk about Walter with her.

When the news hits the world one day – a terrible truth governments have been hiding, everything is suddenly different. Aisha had dreamed of her future at University and then with Walter as he figured out what he wanted to do in life.

All of that is taken away in a moment. An asteroid miles wide is heading for Earth, with no way to stop it. The world has 9 months. No bunker will be deep enough to avoid it.

This announcement brings the decision – Find June. Aisha and her mother haven’t heard from her since she left, but they think they might know where she is. With Walter, his parents and a stray cat they named Fleabag, They set off in a brightly coloured campervan to find June before it is too late.

This story is set in Malaysia. It might be set pre-apocalypse but it’s more about family reconnecting months before the event.

Main character Aisha comes to terms with the loss of her future with her family and boyfriend and growing old. Finding her sister is the goal, but brings up emotions and thoughts buried deep for the past two years.

The title is a bit deceiving as they meet no cats along the way – they take a stray with them. The story flicks back and forward through time to portray what life was like before their father passed away and afterwards as the world apocalypse event is only months away.

Thanks to Net Galley and Guppy Books for the ARC of this novel.

Author – Nadia Mikail

Age – 12+

(2022, Pre-Apocalypse, Family, Emotions, Cheated, Road-Trip, Love, Siblings, Sisters, Malaysia, Award Winner, Animals, Stray Cat, Travel, Journey, Loss, Grief, Blame, Anger, Discovery)