Leonard (My Life as a Cat)

Leonard (My Life as a Cat) is shaped by its geographical settings, beginning in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and culminating in a journey to Yellowstone National Park.

Much of the novel takes place in Hilton Head, a 54-square mile island in South Carolina known for being the largest barrier island in the Southeastern United States (“About the Town of Hilton Head Island.” Hilton Head Island). A barrier island is a “constantly changing deposit of sand” that forms parallel to a coast (“What Is a Barrier Island?” National Ocean Service, 5 Mar. 2021). They are important habitats for wildlife and protect coastal communities from extreme weather. The adaptable nature of the island reflects the way Leonard will have to adapt to life on Earth and learn to live with uncertainty and change. The setting also aligns with Olive’s deep love for animals, as she volunteers at the local aquarium, further grounding the novel in a world where human-animal connections are central.

Later in the novel, Leonard, Olive, Norma and Q travel to Yellowstone national park, a 2.