Catty Atkins

Catty Atkins is a boy without a fixed address, and in early 20th century America, that makes him nothing. Along with his father, he drifts from town to town, everywhere a stranger, perpetually labeled "tramp" or "shiftless" by people who mistake wandering for weakness. But Catty carries something the townspeople overlook: a fierce pride and a quick wit sharp enough to cut through their condescension. When they land in a small community that refuses to see past their travel-worn clothes, Catty must decide whether to accept the judgment cast upon him or fight for a different story. This is a quiet novel with sharp teeth it never fully shows, a portrait of dignity under siege and the stubborn human need to belong on one's own terms. Kelland writes with tender precision about the bond between a father and son navigating a world that has already decided what they are.