The Cat King of Havana

Lolcats. Salsa dancing. Unrequited love. Tom Crosshill's smart and witty debut teen novel treads a colorful coming-of-age journey from New York City to Havana that will appeal to fans of books by Matthew Quick and Junot Díaz.

When Rick Gutiérrez—known as "That Cat Guy" at school—gets dumped on his sixteenth birthday for uploading cat videos from his bedroom instead of experiencing the real world, he realizes it's time for a change. So Rick joins a salsa class . . . because of a girl, of course. Ana Cabrera is smart, friendly, and smooth on the dance floor. He might be half Cuban, but Rick dances like a drunk hippo. Desperate to impress Ana, he invites her to spend the summer in Havana. The official reason: learning to dance. The hidden agenda: romance under the palm trees.

Except Cuba isn't all sun, salsa, and music. As Rick and Ana meet his family and investigate the reason why his mother left Cuba decades ago, they learn that politics isn't just something that happens to other people. And when they find romance, it's got sharp edges.

• Funny YA Novel: From viral cat videos to dancing like a drunk hippo, Rick’s quest to be cool is packed with laugh-out-loud moments and witty, self-aware humor.
• Fish Out of Water: This New York City nerd might be half-Cuban, but nothing has prepared him for the vibrant, complicated reality of Havana when he invites Ana for the summer.
• Salsa Casino: More than just a dance, Rick discovers the rhythm of his own heritage through the specific, energetic style of Cuban salsa that brings him and Ana together on the dance floor.
• Uncovering the Past: As Rick connects with his long-lost family, he begins to unravel the painful secrets behind why his mother fled the island decades ago, turning a summer trip into a search for truth.

Breaking the fourth wall, Rick speaks directly and engagingly to readers, infusing Crosshill’s first YA novel with wry, self-effacing humor....Crosshill’s big-hearted novel shines. - Publishers Weekly

“Crosshill shows the difficulties and dangers of life behind the bloqueo, as well as the vibrant culture within the country. The book begins as a standard romance, then grows to include much more. All hail the Cat King, a strong new voice in contemporary storytelling.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Cosshill’s debut novel manages to make a book full of weighty subjects into a seemingly light read. The result is a funny, sometimes sad portrait of a teenager trying to connect with his roots and realizing that the world is more complicated than he ever wanted to know. - Booklist Online