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Varjak PawSF Said
Varjak Paw
by SF Said
A pedigree kitten who has never been outside must leave the house to find a dog, learning an ancient way of fighting from his ancestor in dreams.
A story about animals, adventurous and spooky in tone. We would put it with children of 8–11, and at a reading age of about 9 for reading alone.
Worth knowing before you buy
- An animal dies
- Mild peril
None of this makes it a bad book — often the opposite. It is here so you can decide whether it is right for your child now or in a year or two.
Our take on this book
Varjak Paw is a pedigree Mesopotamian Blue kitten who has never once left the house — until danger forces him out into the city alone, where to survive among the gangs, dogs and mysteries of the streets he must master the Seven Skills of an ancient martial art, taught to him in dreams by his legendary ancestor. SF Said's novel, with Dave McKean's striking illustrations, is a gripping, stylish adventure — part coming-of-age, part martial-arts quest, part urban mystery — with a genuinely tense plot and a real sense of danger. There is peril and the death of animal characters, so it suits a reader ready for a story with darkness as well as excitement. For a nine- to twelve-year-old it is a fast, atmospheric, unusual read with a wonderful feline hero learning to be brave and free, and its blend of action, mystery and heart has made it a modern favourite, especially with readers who want something a bit different.
If they like this, try these
Chosen by matching age, reading age, tone and subject — not by what is selling.
The Hundred and One DalmatiansDodie Smith
Beetle BoyM. G. Leonard
GargantisThomas Taylor
MalamanderThomas Taylor
ShadowMichael Morpurgo
Or let them write their own.
Nothing gets a child reading like a story they invented themselves. Your child plans the characters and the plot, and we write, illustrate and print it as a real book with their name on the cover as the author.
Find another book
Tell us the age, the reading age and what they like, and we will suggest a handful.