Home is where we are together Based on a true story, Finding Messi is about the unbreakable bond between a girl and her beloved cat, Messi. When Ukraine is attacked, eleven-year-old Iryna and her mother must leave everything behind in Kyiv, including Messi. When Messi goes missing, Iryna rallies the community to help find her pet. Finding Messi gently explains the impact of war on families. Young readers will gain a better understanding about children around the world who are displaced by war through the story of Iryna and Messi.