Episode Description:

In partnership with Kansas City PBS and other local PBS stations, PBS Books Heather-Marie Montilla is joined by Authors Susan & Lexi Haas to discuss their book the year of the buttered cat as the 2024 Library of Congress National Book Festival authors featured this week by PBS Books.

the year of the buttered cat is based on the real-life story of Lexi Haas. In the spirit of “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio and “Out of My Mind” by Sharon M. Draper, the year of the buttered cat offers powerful messages of friendship, family, loss and the art of redefining ourselves.

The 24th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, August 24, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

About the Book:

Thirteen years ago, when she was just a tiny baby, something terrible happened to Lexi Haas. Something criminal. It left her with an out-of-control body and without a voice. Now, as a precocious, superhero-obsessed teen, Lexi is counting down the final 24 hours to a risky brain surgery that might help her talk or–dare she dream it?–to walk and use her hands. As surgery grows closer, Lexi finds an urgent, relentless need to share the story of the year in her life she calls The Year of the Buttered Cat. That year, on the verge of shutting out the rest of the world, Lexi began a gutsy and solitary quest to find her “missing” body. After the family cat went missing, too, and a mysterious letter appeared, Lexi reluctantly enlisted two budding friends to aid her search. But when these friends also disappeared, Lexi had to learn new ways to reach out to the world to save her friendships and uncover the truth about what happened to her as a baby. the year of the buttered cat is based on the real-life story of Lexi Haas. In the spirit of Wonder by R.J. Palacio and Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, the year of the buttered cat offers empowering powerful messages of friendship, family, loss and the art of redefining ourselves.

Guest Biographies:

Susan Haas

Susan Haas is a disability advocate and mother of Lexi Haas. Together, they form a writing team focusing on disability education. Lexi has a rare and severe form of cerebral palsy. While she can’t walk or talk, she was reading by 10 months old, has an impressive memory, a keen sense of humor and an invincible spirit. Recognizing her young daughter’s gift for words, Susan began writing with Lexi to help foster independence and develop communication. She soon learned that Lexi’s fresh perspective needed to be shared with others. In addition to writing together, Susan and Lexi also enjoy presenting to schools and organizations around the world, helping others learn about disability from a first-person narrative. “The Year of the Buttered Cat: A Mostly True Story,” the duo’s first book, is featured at the 2024 National Book Festival.

Lexi Haas

Lexi Haas is a disability advocate and daughter of Susan Haas. Together, they form a writing team focusing on disability education and advocacy. Lexi has a rare and severe form of cerebral palsy. While she can’t walk or talk, she was reading by 10 months old, has an impressive memory, a keen sense of humor and an invincible spirit. Recognizing her young daughter’s gift for words, Susan began writing with Lexi to help foster independence and develop communication. She soon learned that Lexi’s fresh perspective needed to be shared with others. In addition to writing together, Susan and Lexi also enjoy presenting to schools and organizations around the world, helping others learn about disability from a first-person narrative. “The Year of the Buttered Cat: A Mostly True Story,” the duo’s first book, is featured at the 2024 National Book Festival.