Duncan, eleven, is very smart with the rare ability to speak Cat, but his mother has always insisted he appear only average, and when a perfect test score draws attention to him, he not only discovers the wisdom of his mother's rules, he finds himself crossing the seas on a quest for his true identity.

The cat speaker -- A strange sail -- Up the drainpipe -- Not-so-good news -- Graveyard council -- A visitor in the night -- A noble summons -- Hero of the nation -- A glass of cherry punch -- Dangerous duty -- The bloodstained jacket -- Squisher and grinder -- The unknown enemy -- Overboard -- Lost at sea -- The sea cave -- The Princess Lydia -- Traitor Island -- Building the raft -- Shadow fight -- Duke's Island -- Captured! -- In the cage -- The rusty lock -- Army of cats -- The young Duke -- Cat justice -- Kittens' revenge.