ALA Booklist

Twelve-year-old Megan, who makes daily visits to feed feral cats in a vacant field, learns that an apartment complex will soon be built on the site. Anxious to save the cats, she finds herself (against her better judgment) talking to a stranger who promises to call the authorities and delay construction. Meanwhile, Megan witnesses a hit-and-run accident at the field, and receives a threatening note in a bag labeled cat food. There are subplots galore in this quick read--forgery, arson, and even kidnapping--but they all hang together, and thanks to Kehret's even tone, the scary aspects won't frighten younger readers. Megan is an appealing, idealistic character, and a strong sense of justice is part of the happy, satisfying ending. An enticing story for reluctant readers, as well as for Kehret's legion of fans. (Reviewed August 2000)

Horn Book

When Megan discovers that feral cats are living in a field due to be cleared for a building project, her efforts to save the animals put her in danger. First, she witnesses a hit-and-run car accident in which an elderly woman dies. Then she puts her trust in a manipulative con man whose illegal scheme depends on the building project's going forward. The plot relies heavily on coincidence, and the climax lacks credibility.

Kirkus Reviews

<p>Twelve-year-old Megan Perk unwittingly becomes involved in a criminal's plan to embezzle money from a construction company and is also the only eyewitness in a serious hit-and-run accident. The chain of events starts when softhearted Megan determines to save a group of feral cats that she discovers in an empty field near her house. Shane Turner is a convicted criminal who is embezzling money from his brother-in-law's construction company. When he spots Megan hanging around the site of the company's next project, he sees his whole plan of stealing even more money and then making a perfect getaway going up in smoke. Shane's scheme requires that the construction project start right awaya"any busybody do-gooders interested in saving a bunch of worthless wild cats who might delay the start of the building will throw a serious wrench into the plan. As if things weren't getting complicated enough, one day when Megan is feeding the cats, she hears a screech of brakes, horns blaring, and then sees the crash as a car and a minivan plow into each other. The story comes to a suspenseful climax involving a hot-air balloon, Megan's abduction by Shane, followed by a daring escape, which she engineers. Megan's relationship with her little sister is particularly well-handled: Kehret captures the annoyance the older sibling feels towards Kylie, as well as the guilt Megan feels when she knows she's being mean to her sister. There are moments of compassion and empathy when Megan realizes that Kylie is a person with feelings, too. An absorbing and suspenseful novel with a strong female main character. (Fiction. 9-13)</p>

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-A great story with intriguing plot twists and plenty of action. Twelve-year-old Megan is a likable, determined heroine. She discovers and then cares for a group of feral cats living in a field near her house, so she is horrified to learn that the area is soon to be cleared for construction. When her efforts to save the animals inadvertently interfere with a construction worker's criminal scheme, her life is threatened. After a kidnapping and a balloon ride, Megan and the cats are saved. The subplot, involving a teenage girl and a hit-and-run accident, adds complications to the story and keeps readers guessing. Each part of the tale ties neatly together in this exciting book that children won't want to put down.-Julie Ventura, Fresno County Library System, CA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.