Mèo and Bé

Summary

Just before the United States enters the Vietnam War, eleven-year-old Bé and her three-footed kitten Mèo must rise above the injustices of war to find the comfort, safety, and love of a found family.

Eleven-year-old Bé hasn't spoken a word since her mother left. She hangs on to the hope that one day they will be reunited, but after two years of waiting, it's becoming more difficult. Her father can do little to protect her from her stepmother, Big Mother. Thankfully, Bè has a secret friend, her little kitten Mèo, to comfort her in the worst of times.

Unfortunately, Big Mother has other plans. She accuses her of stealing, and Bé is drugged and sold. When she wakes up, she finds herself in a locked underground bunker being held captive with a group of young women. Bé is too young to understand why they're prisoners, but at least she still has Mèo! As weeks pass, Bé makes a friend her own age, Ngân, even without speaking, and Mèo becomes a solace for the women.

A violent uprising enables the imprisoned women and girls to escape. Can Bé and Mèo, and their newfound friend, Ngân, find their way to a safe place they can call home—even though the world is literally exploding all around them?