The Wildcat Behind Glass

$18.00

By Alki Zei

Translated by Karen Emmerich

Melia is spellbound by the stuffed wildcat in her family’s living room—her cousin swears that it comes to life and roams the streets at night. When she finds a signed note from the animal with secret instructions, a thrilling and dangerous adventure begins.

★ Starred Kirkus Review

Hardcover • ISBN: 9781632063649

Publication Date: May 28, 2024

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About the Book

For Melia and her sister Myrto, summer means a break from Grandfather’s history lessons and weeks of running free at the seaside with their ragtag group of friends. Best of all, cousin Nikos will visit and tell his fabulous stories about the taxidermied wildcat, which opens its blue glass eye when it wants to do good deeds and its black one when it makes trouble. The black eye must be open lately because all the adults have been acting strangely, arguing about politics and fearful of the police. Soon even the children are divided—who can Melia trust? And can the wildcat help keep her family safe?

Set in Greece during the 1930s, when the nation was torn apart by fascism, The Wildcat Behind Glass is an unforgettable tale of family, humanity, and what it means to be free. From its 1963 release to the dozens of international editions and honors that followed including a Mildred L. Batchelder Award, the novel has enchanted generations of young readers. Now, a fresh English translation—the first in over 50 years—breathes new life into the timeless story.

Praise for The Wildcat Behind Glass

“A fierce and wondrous marvel, this book is for everyone who wants to stand against the danger in the world with courage and imagination—which is to say, this is a book for everyone.”

— Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket

“The ‘lesson’ or ‘moral’ of the book is obvious, and relevant in a democracy that seems more threatened right now than the Hellenic one. Such disasters arrive not all at once, like a tidal wave, but insensibly, like the tide. They creep up on us over a happy summer. We hardly know they have happened until they already have. And life, disconcertingly, goes on, often pleasantly, while they are taking place. Though she offers it quietly, Zei’s message is clear. The central illusion of childhood—that there is a safe place—must always be surrendered.”

— Adam Gopnik, The New York Times

“At once evocative of times past and more cogent than ever.”

— Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“This is a book I wish I'd read as a kid, but even for a woman approaching old age, it is wonderful! The story is imaginative and daring and will call to that part of every reader that wants to be more courageous, adventurous, and kind. Thanks to Alki Zei for writing this, and for the beautiful translation by Karen Emmerich.”

— Deborah Ellis, author of The Breadwinner

“On the 50th anniversary of the original publication, Emmerich offers an approachable translation of this 1936–set historical novel by Zei . . . [who] presents a child’s viewpoint into life under creeping dictatorship. A beginning ‘Note for Curious Readers’ places the narrative in context, including defining fascism and explaining Greek philosophers such as Plato.”

— Publisher’s Weekly

“An extraordinary child’s-eye view of a pivotal and terrifying time. Melia’s voice is honest, funny, and heartbreaking as she tries to make sense of the nonsensical events in her world. Richly layered and lush with metaphor, this new translation of Alki Zei's The Wildcat Behind Glass is a gift to today’s readers.”

— Kate Albus, author of A Place to Hang the Moon

“Although set in the 1930s, The Wildcat Behind Glass is a timeless story of a family struggling to remain free and true to themselves while their country is being ripped by fascism. Alternately funny, tragic, and poignant, this tale is deeply moving. Not to be missed.”

— Anne Blankman, author of The Blackbird Girls, winner of the National Jewish Book Award

“Combining innocent childhood adventures with dangerous high stakes, The Wildcat Behind Glass is a sweet coming-of-age story in which a Greek family resists fascism in the 1930s.”

— Leah Block, Foreword Reviews

“I can’t believe no one put this in my hands as a child. Rarely have I read a book both as timely and timeless as this one. The Wildcat Behind Glass is that magical sort of novel that will likely live on forever, continuing to captivate the hearts and minds of readers both young and old. It’s also a novel of incredible importance. Though set on the other side of the world almost a century in the past, its messages about the dangers of fascism and the power of storytelling are perhaps needed now more than ever.”

— J. Kasper Kramer, author of The Story That Cannot Be Told

“A timeless and important book about growing up in 1930s Greece on the cusp of a dictatorship. I found myself smiling while reading about Melia and her sister Myrto’s idyllic summer on a small Greek island, then gripping the pages as the repressive regime starts closing in on them and their family. Alki Zei’s story, as told through Karen Emmerich’s seamless translation, is both a cautionary tale of the insidious nature of fascism as well as a poignant celebration of love, family, and freedom.”

— Julie Lee, author of Brother’s Keeper

“This is one of those rare reads, which masterfully weaves emotions and thoughts using imagination and harsh reality to deliver a tale that transcends age and time. . . . Most importantly, this is a fun read. The humor and imagination keep a light playfulness humming along while the harsher side pokes in the background. I'm going to be tossing this read into my homeschooling line-up for next year because it's one that shouldn't be missed.”

—Tonja Drecker, Bookworm for Kids

“Zei’s remarkable skill was in being able to create a story about everyday events while major political upheaval was taking place in Greece and democracy was slowly being eroded. The clever use of humour, such as when some bumbling policemen are following the children, is in sharp contrast to the more sinister event of books being burnt in the town square. . . . Despite the intervening years, Zei’s book, with Emmerich’s skilful translation, has a contemporary feel making it as relevant today as it was when it was first written.”

— Outside in World

“This is a new translation of a classic of Greek children’s literature, and it really has a fresh, relevant feel. . . . Young readers will enjoy speculating about the wildcat, and will relate [to] the sisters’ relationship. And there’s some serious espionage that the kids are involved with that make this an exciting read.”

— Stephanie Tournas, Youth Services Book Review

"A masterpiece! Undoubtedly perfect, extremely moving. One should not always refrain from expressing one's enthusiasm! This novel sums up all the essential qualities that one seeks in the children's literature of our times. Through a sensitivity always alert, a freshness of the eye, a concrete vision that excludes all moralising prose, Alki Zei succeeds in keeping, from beginning to end, the "childish" tone of the narration in order to deal with overwhelming frankness with a subject of such grave consequence as Fascism, which for once we are not afraid to call by its name... One would need many pages to analyse what makes possible this perfect balance between the daring essence of the subject and the constant complicity of the writer with the children's world. The result is the passionate involvement of the reader, regardless of his or her age."

—Bernard Epin, L’École et la Nation

“A fierce and moving tale by Alki Zei that contemplates the power of humanity under inhuman regimes. With wonder and delight, The Wildcat Behind Glass reminds us why we fight for those we love. Karen Emmerich’s expert translation and Zei’s smart writing make this tale accessible for both the young and old. I loved this story—the wildcat must have had its blue eye open when I picked this book up.”

—Jade Song, author of Chlorine

“Alki Zei packs so much childhood frustration and fascination into this slim volume! The Wildcat is a character that balances the good with the bad, and becomes a really interesting connection between Melia, Myrto, and their cousin Nikos. Despite the tendrils of fascism that are creeping into their lives, both girls are still young enough to have a magical view of the world, and their summer adventures feel timeless thanks to Emmerich’s translation.”

—Kristin Richland, Phoenix Books

“A fascinating translated tale set in the 1930s as Greece is turning into a dictatorship. The young sisters enjoy their childhood games and stories about the taxidermy wildcat in their parlor, even as the reader becomes aware of terrible changes in their town due to the new dictator. Zei captures childhood perspectives and humor beautifully, making this appropriate for ages as young as eight, despite the dark times portrayed. I’ve never read of the Greek experience during World War Two, and this is an excellent contribution to children’s literature of this time period.”

—Robin Stern, Books Inc.

“Melissa, nicknamed Melia, is a girl whose playful games, adoration for her grandfather’s ancient myths, and delicate yet complex feelings set the stage for this cautionary and subversive tale set in 1936 during the rise of fascism in Greece. The newest translation of this hair-raising Greek novel that reads and feels like an unforgettable classic.”

—Thu Doan, East Bay Booksellers

“[Zei writes] with such freshness and lightness that, once the book is closed, the doubt remains whether it is a political novel or a sort of personal "adventure" in which the political element must necessarily enter given the era in which, precisely, the novel is set.”

— Diego Zandel, Osservatorio balcani e caucaso transeuropa

“The Wildcat Behind Glass has marked contemporary Greek juvenile literature since it was first published in 1963. Through various trans-national republications, cataloguing for school study and frequent honours, it is considered to be one of the best books for children worldwide according to librarians, literary critics and teachers. Alki Zei is therefore a precious asset for Greek contemporary literature . . . . as she belongs to a generation of people who have sacrificed their ambitions and private lives for the sake of collective dreams and fight for peace, freedom and democracy, she considers it her duty to record those important historical events so that younger generations know . . . Naturally, the greatest virtue of her books remains their exquisite literary value which derives from masterly expression, perfect plot and a subtle sense of humour, thus resulting in breathless reading.”

—Angelica Vouloumanou, National Book Centre of Greece

“Greek author Alki Zei has helped countless generations of Greek children understand some aspects of life that are difficult to comprehend—neglect, drug addiction, war, poverty, fascism, and racism—preparing them for the realities of the world with tenderness and great optimism. Her works, particularly The Wildcat Behind Glass and Petros’ War, have long been a part of the Greek curriculum and are beloved works of Greek children’s fiction.”

—Anna Wichmann, Greek Reporter

About the Author

Alki Zei, born in Athens in 1923, studied philosophy at the University of Athens, drama at the Athens Conservatory, and screenwriting at the Moscow Cinema Institute. She got her start in publishing by writing YA short stories for the Greek magazine Neaniki Foni.

During the Second World War, she was actively involved in the struggle for freedom and democracy and against the German occupation of Greece. Because of it, she became a political refugee in the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1964. Three years later, she was exiled once again, but this time to Paris, France. From 1974 until her death in 2020, she lived in Athens.

Zei penned books for mostly children and YA audiences, but her unassuming and straightforward method of writing, along with her narrative skills, has allowed her work to be enjoyed by all ages. Her books Achille’s Fiancée, The Wildcat Behind Glass, and Petros’ War are among the best-sold titles in contemporary Greek literature.

Besides being a prolific writer, she was also a translator of children's books from French, Italian, and Russian, and was the Greek translator of authors Gianni Rodari and Vera Panova.

About the Translator

Karen Emmerich is a translator of Modern Greek poetry and prose. Her translations include Rien ne va plus by Margarita Karapanou, Landscape with Dog and Other Stories by Ersi Sotiropoulos, I’d Like by Amanda Michalopoulou, Poems (1945–1971) by Miltos Sachtouris, and The Few Things I Know About Glafkos Thrassakis by Vassilis Vassilikos. She is the recipient of translation grants and awards from the NEA, PEN, and the Modern Greek Studies Association. Recently, Emmerich was awarded the 2019 National Translation Award for What’s Left of the Night by Ersi Sotiropoulos. She is an associate professor of comparative literature at Princeton University.