“Shush,” I say. “Your mom is trying to sleep.”
I carry them one by one into my box, then I squeeze in. “See, you can watch everything from up here,” I say.
“Wow!”
“Can we go out there, Tío Lolo?” they ask.
“Not yet,” I say. “But soon.”
“Is it fun outside, Tío Lolo?”
“So much fun,” I say. “As long as you’re with a friend.”
Epilogue
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
HILDA EUNICE BURGOS
Special thanks to: Carina Licon, Brian Geffen, and the rest of the Henry Holt team, for inviting me to join you on this fun feline journey, and for your expert advice and guidance as the sketches of this story came together.
Siara Faison, for bringing Miguel, Lolo, and the whole Blanca y Roja Bodega to life with your fabulously perfect art.
My writing critique group—Amy Sisson, Laura Parnum, Nicole Wolverton, and Susan North—for your friendship, for reading and providing great feedback, and for sharing your cat knowledge with me.
My family and friends, for your unwavering love and support.
All the hardworking and talented writers I have been so fortunate to meet and befriend through (among other places) Las Musas writing collective, the Dominican Writers Association, and SCBWI—thank you for your kindness and generosity, and for your much-needed stories.
The families of the victims of the tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary, who, through the organization Lives Robbed, fight tirelessly to make schools safer so all students and educators can achieve their dreams.
Readers, teachers, librarians—thank you for selecting this book.
SIARA FAISON
To my mom, dad, Ayana, Joey, and Kitty, I cannot say this enough, but I couldn’t have gotten here without you. Your love and support make me feel capable when I feel inadequate, powerful when I feel weak, and big when I feel small. I am beyond lucky to have you in my life. You are my zombie apocalypse team, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
To the Bodega Cats team, it has really been an honor to be a part of this series. It was so surreal to be plucked out of obscurity and brought onto a project I connected with wholeheartedly. Hilda has a way of connecting with the child in all of us who ever dreamed, and I’m so happy to help bring those stories to life through pictures.
Thank you to everyone on the team for teaching me and supporting me through my first major project. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, and the experience only leaves me wanting to always tell stories!
To our readers, thank you for joining Miguel and Lolo on their journey to discover themselves. I hope you never stop finding love and adventure in all things.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR
Hilda Eunice Burgos was born and raised in Washington Heights, New York City. The first time Hilda read a book—back when she was a student at P.S. 132—she knew she wanted to be a writer. After graduating from the Bronx High School of Science, Hilda headed to Philadelphia to attend the University of Pennsylvania and later Harvard Law School for her law degree. She and her husband have two grown children and an adorable dog named Bear. She is the author of Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle, The Cot in the Living Room, and Miosotis Flores Never Forgets. You can sign up for email updates here.
Siara Faison is a bookseller turned illustrator from all over California. If she’s not drawing, you can find her binging movies with her husband, sister, and old cat Kitty. You can sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
Henry Holt and Company ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
