Iris is 12-years-old and growing. Everybody seems to notice this except her mother; her mother wants Iris to stay a child for as long as she can. But even a mother can't stop Mother Nature and Iris is growing up --- in fact it's time for her to get a bra. The problem is, her mother says she can't afford to buy Iris a bra right now. Iris can't turn back puberty! What is she going to do?

Then a cat comes down the fire escape one night and invites himself through their security gate, right into bed with Iris. He's a big softie, and Iris loves him. Every day he comes down to visit her while her mother's at work, and she feeds him. She names him Fluffy, and they sit together on the fire escape in the summer sunshine.

Iris worries about the cat, especially since he takes walks around the neighborhood everyday. Iris starts looking around for Fluffy --- the upside is, she gets to know her neighbors. There's a great big man all covered with tattoos, who looks just like his great big pit bull. There's a wacky parrot who cusses a blue streak (especially if anybody tells him he's a dirty bird). There's an old man who lets his dog out every day to do his business in the stairway. And there's the loony Cat Lady. Everybody tells Iris, no matter what else she does, to stay away from the Cat Lady. But Iris wonders if Fluffy came from the Cat Lady's apartment, and she has to find out.

Now, while Fluffy and his wanderings may take Iris's mind off her money problems at home and her girl issues, the problems are still there. How do all these plot switches help her in her quest for new lingerie? You'll want to read this book to find out just how. A girl determined to get herself what she needs, and help everybody else in the process, is unstoppable!

   --- Reviewed by Tamara Penny