'An absolutely riveting novel and a searing and incredibly important book. Storytelling at its best.' Donal Ryan'A cat has seven souls in Arabic. In English cats have nine lives. You probably have both nine lives and seven souls, because otherwise I don't know how you've made it this far.'Sami's childhood is much like any other - an innocent blend of family and school, of friends and relations and pets (including stray cats and dogs, and the turtle he keeps on the roof).But with Syria at war with itself, nothing is really normal. And Sami's hopes for a better future are about to be ripped away.Inspired by extraordinary true events, The Stray Cats of Homs is the story of a young man who will do anything to keep the dream of home alive. It is tender, wild, raw, and truly unforgettable.___'This warm, captivating and inspiring story shows that even the bottomless horrors of war-torn Syria are no match for the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit and the power of love and friendship.' Mike Thomson, author of Syria's Secret Library'Compelling and uncompromising' BBC Radio 4, Sunday