Young teen Chris Carlyle understands, but doesn't like, that his parents have made the decision for the family to move from their farm, where Chris has lived his entire life, to the city. What Chris doesn't really understand is why he can't take one of his two pets with them: a mountain lion named Sunshine whom he raised from birth and is largely tame and able to roam around their rural environment without bothering anyone or anything. While Chris is able to hide Sunshine in their move to the city, he isn't able to hide Sunshine in the city. Of all the options offered to him, Chris decides to send Sunshine to the local zoo to live under the direction of curator Dr. Del Hartwood, his assistant Isobel Moon, and the head animal keeper, elderly Branch Hawksbill. The three allow Chris to visit Sunshine whenever he wants, although he cannot take Sunshine out of his enclosure as he would like. Dr. Hartwood has long been in a battle with city council for funding; lack of funding has run down the zoo to the detriment of the animals, whom Dr. Hartwood admits live in less-than-ideal conditions. Seeing not only Sunshine suffering in being caged, Chris contemplates taking drastic measures in freeing him--and all of the other animals, when he sees their suffering.
—Huggo