By clicking “Accept,” you agree to the use of cookies and similar technologies on your device as set forth in our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy. Please note that certain cookies are essential for this website to function properly and do not require user consent to be deployed.

Black Cat Island

An Almost Entirely True Story

Contributors

By Casey Cep

By Kathryn Schulz

Illustrated by Aaron Becker

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Apr 6, 2027
Page Count
80 pages
ISBN-13
9780316586030
Age Range
6–8

Price

$19.99

Price

$25.99 CAD

Format

Hardcover

Format:

Hardcover $19.99 $25.99 CAD

Thousands of cats make a daring midnight escape in this page-turning adventure inspired by an astonishing true story, reminiscent of 101 Dalmations and perfect for fans of Jon Klassen’s The Skull!

When a clever cat named Millicent is whisked away to a mysterious island, she discovers thousands of other black cats living there under the watchful eye of a man called Mr. Hiss. He claims to love these beautiful creatures, but Millicent suspects otherwise. As the coldest winter in memory sets in, and Millicent discovers his sinister plan, she realizes she must find a way to lead the cats to safety before it’s too late. This timeless tale of courage and ingenuity proves that hope will always lead us home.

  • “What a winner! A delightful book with a fascinating backstory and a villain who gives Cruella de Vil a run for her money.”
    Katherine Applegate, Newbery Honor-winning and New York Times bestselling author
  • “Ten paws out of ten.”
    Brian Selznick, Caldecott Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling creator
  • “Magnificent illustrations and a captivating narrative of cats captured and winning their own freedom will steal the hearts of young listeners and new readers alike. A true picture story book with the heart of a Beatrix Potter tale and a grounding in American history.”
    Rosanne Parry, New York Times bestselling author
  • Black Cat Island is a lucky find for any reader who crosses its path. A fascinating, mostly-true story that brings a remarkable historical footnote delightfully to life.”
    Dashka Slater, New York Times bestselling author
  • “Black Cat Island is unlike any picture book we’ve ever read before—a humdinger of a page-turning story that carefully builds towards a great and satisfying ending. The evocative illustrations crackle with life and offer a wonderful sense of time and place.”
    The Fan Brothers, bestselling creators of The Night Gardener and It Fell from the Sky
  • “What a story. I loved it."
    Dave Eggers, Newbery Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling author
  • “You don't have to love cats to love this book. You don't even have to like cats. It's just a really good story that happens to be (mostly) true.”
    Carl Hiaasen, Newbery honor-winning and New York Times bestselling author

Casey Cep

About the Author

Casey Cep and Kathryn Schulz are staff writers at The New Yorker. Their acclaimed nonfiction for adults includes Kathryn’s Pulitzer Prize–winning article “The Really Big One” and Casey’s New York Times bestseller Furious Hours. Black Cat Island is their first children’s book. They live with their two daughters and three cats on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, not far from Poplar Island, where the real events that inspired this story took place.

Aaron Becker is a bestselling author-artist who received a Caldecott Honor for his wordless book Journey, the first in a trilogy that’s followed by Quest and Return. In 2024, he received the Carnegie Medal for Illustration for The Tree and the River. His other work for children includes the stained-glass board book You Are Light and the illustrations for Survivor Tree by Marcie ColleenBorn in Baltimore, Maryland, he currently resides in Amherst, Massachusetts. Over his lifetime, he has owned three black cats.

Learn more about this author