An Ode to the Humans

A man loses the woman of his dreams due to his philandering ways. A lesbian couple are on the brink of an opportunity of a lifetime. A vibrant family with an adopted Chinese child struggles with racial bullying and extramarital flirtations. A successful Japanese American woman in her thirties is disheartened by the dating pool. What do they all have in common? A cat.

In the meantime, Charlie—the cat—is suffering from somewhat of an identity crisis. His caretakers, environment, and name changes repeatedly, leaving him unsure of his place in the world. Through his transient journey, he encounters a range of humans in alternative lifestyles. His experience of being rehomed instills him with the will to seek justice for others—such as the troubled children next door. Along the way, he stumbles upon friendship, a sense of purpose, and maybe even the meaning of life.

“An Ode to the Humans Who’ve Loved and Left Me” is a study of human nature, through the watchful eyes of an introspective tabby cat. It examines race relations, interpersonal complications, and the often uninspected effects of adoption. Spoken with an honest and heartfelt meter, it’s a gaze into the lives of those in search of belonging, and to be understood.

The children’s companion versions are titled, “For All the Lives I’ve Lived and Loved” and “For All the Friends I’ve Found”. My motivation for these pairings is for parent and child to bond through the characters together.

Fiction | Co-release December 2015 with “For All the Lives I’ve Loved and Lived”
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READER REVIEWS

JS Lee writes another unique, brilliant book...she is an absolute joy to read!! I LOVED this book!!!
JS Lee is such a gifted writer!! I absolutely LOVED this book!! I thought it was brilliant that the first person narrative is a cat! His unique personality, perspective, and big heart for humans was so touching! I couldn’t put this book down…I even stayed up until 4am to finish it! Thank you, JS Lee, for writing such an entertaining book! I am excited to read your other books! —Alisun Denisun

Wonderful story!
One of the aspects that I appreciate the most about it is the way in which JS LEE weaves deeper themes around race, interpersonal complications, adoption, and meaning throughout in such a balanced and thoughtful way. The story maintains a lightheartedness, while delving into themes that are often difficult to talk/think about – a hard balance to achieve! I found myself connecting with all of the characters, particularly the main cat/character, and thought about the deeper messages long after finishing the book. I highly recommend it! —JMR

I really enjoyed reading this novel
I really enjoyed reading this novel!
Introspective. Insightful. The author justly validated each of the character’s emotions.
I would like to share my favorite quote:

“Perhaps the meaning of life is the connections you
make–who you’ve loved, how you’ve loved, and who
you’ve let love you.
Maybe we’re all seeds in each others’ gardens, and our
value is not self-contained–but in how we contribute to
to each others’ growth.”

P.S. – If by some intuitive event that Moon or McLuckiest reads this review… I thought of you. —Chelsea

I loved this book!
I loved this book! An Ode to the Humans Who’ve Loved and Left Me, told through the point of view of a cat, is a touching and heartfelt book that I didn’t want to end. The cat’s study of human nature and family relationships touch on some deeper topics, yet the story remains light and hopeful told through the storyteller’s empathetic and honest tone. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! I also purchased the children’s book for my nieces and look forward to sharing the story with them soon. —Anne L

Rewarding and entertaining! Highly recommended!

Although this book is by an author practically no one has heard of yet, because she is local to me, I was lucky enough to pick up her first book and I liked it so much, I decided to preorder her next. I’m so glad I did, because this is a delightful work I wish to recommend to everyone.Told from the point of view of a cat, it’s the story of a creature who is at the mercy of humans and ends up living in many different homes throughout his life. He is lucky that in most of his homes, he is well-cared for and loved, but he also learns to understand that it is not that way for everyone. In this way, he develops a heroic empathy for others that ends up affecting profound changes in the world around him.

This cat’s story is really an allegory for adoption and outsiderness. Throughout the book, he encounters human adoptees and the ways that their struggles are similar to his own. He wishes for his people to have love, to experience acceptance, and for them to stay together rather than being displaced as he so often is. It’s really a very delightful and touching story that serves as a mirror to human struggles to build families, and how easy it is to accidentally allow pieces to slip through the cracks. It’s also a very sweet book, and a much lighter but equally as satisfying work than the author’s last one, which I also recommend. —Melissa

He’s more than just a cat ….
Such a great read and it will suck you in from the very beginning! JS Lee craftily examines a variety of real-world problems, including race and identity issues from adoption, all from the perspective of a relatable cat. Being a cat, Charlie often finds himself being put into new and sometimes scary situations in which he needs to adjust and adapt in order to survive. Through the new environments and situations he finds himself in, you are drawn to his simplistic, yet insightful observations of humans and how they act. Being told from the perspective of a cat, you can’t help but wonder if our pets are thinking and talking to us just like Charlie. —Kana