“;People who did not talk to animals could not be trusted.”; Here lies the heart of Hilo writer Lou Zitnik's novel, set in and around the real-life Palace Theater in his hometown.

The tale is told partly through the viewpoint of two cats — a nice touch is their description of the “;flat people”; who live in the “;flat world”; of the movie screen, a place without taste or scent. They provide a filter for all that happens, so if you can't humanize cats to that extent, this may not be the book for you.

The story itself is a gently paced tale involving humans in need — a lost love, a homeless mother and son, a few men who seem to operate without compasses — and a building in need, the Palace itself.

The book is charmingly illustrated with Zitnik's images of cats (of course), the theater and scenes from around Hilo town.