When Anna spots a cat in the yard behind her parents' doll shop, she is excited.

Then she realizes the cat is about to have kittens--even better! And Anna has something else to look forward to: her cousin Tania is coming from Russia to stay with Anna's family.

Anna already has two sisters, but she and Tania are the exact same age--eleven--and she imagines they will get along perfectly. But Tania doesn't respond to Anna's friendly overtures, and her sisters don't seem to like Tania at all.

Luckily, Anna finds a creative way to use her love of dolls and cats to bring everyone together.