Shy Cat and the Stuff-the-Bus Challenge

Gr 3-6–For fans of Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch, Day and White’s newest graphic novel opens conversations to younger readers about the state of food insecurity in North America. Mila and Kit are best friends who do everything together: draw comics, skateboard, play truth or dare, and they even spend time playing with the stray cats in the neighborhood. However, Mila starts noticing that Kit cares a lot about food—especially about the snacks that they are going to have when he comes over to her house. When their school starts a food donation drive called the Stuff the Bus Challenge, Kit is upset when he sees rusty, dented, and expired food being donated. Kit’s reaction sparks Mila’s curiosity, and she starts to recognize and question the realities of food insecurity in her community. Readers will find Mila’s friendship with Kit relatable. Authentic representations of family dynamics are present but not central to the plot—Mila has two moms who do not live together, and Kit lives with his single mother in an apartment. Though the comparison of stray cats’ food insecurity to Kit’s family’s struggles will be hit-or-miss with some readers, and readers may be disappointed that there are no concrete answers to the questions Mila poses, the novel opens a dialogue for young readers to examine the complex issue with grown ups in their lives.