The third book in the successful Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb series finds Romeo awakening scared and confused from his second death. Romeo finds himself in the deepest, most forbidden place there is, Vent City. Falling into immediate peril, a stranger plucks him to safety only to reveal himself as a long, lost relative. After reluctantly meeting the gruesome Vent City mutants and hearing their heart-wrenching story, they band together to finally get their just revenge from the viscous Alleys who have taken control of the Factory. But a crushing illness threatens to end it all for Romeo, ultimately taking him away from his beloved Dennis forever. Will Romeo's third life be spared in time to face Fidel and bring the Factory back to its rightful owners? Or will the Alleys win again?
As a teacher for almost 10 years, author L. Rifkin observed the countless books her students read, and it was their natural curiosity about the secret communication between animals that finally inspired her to write The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb. She created a remarkable nine book series, with each book ending in one of Romeo's deaths until all nine lives are gone. L. Rifkin currently teaches kindergarten in Los Angeles. She and her husband, artist/illustrator Kurt Hartman, share a home with their son Henry and four rambunctious cats.