Varjak Paw

I loved this book! Creativity and great illustrations

I read this book in installments to my 9-year-old boy. He loves cats and takes martial arts and loved this book. He chose it for a book report later in school. The story moves quickly and has more to it than many books written at the same level (there is a lot of white space, and there are pictures, but there are a lot of ideas well presented). I enjoyed reading it to him and I believe he will enjoy re-reading it on his own. I got my copy from Daedalus Books at salebooks dot com. They have some great deals!

I enjoyed reading this book to my then 5 and 9 year-olds. Both my daughter and son loved the characters and their experiences. We can all benefit by heeding the lessons that Varjak learns as he faces his various challenges. Don't miss the sequel, the Outlaw Varjak Paw. The kids are writing to the author to ask him to write a third book. I hope he does.

This is a book about an indoor cat, named Varjak Paw, one of the youngest of his family. Then the person that has been his family's owner for generations dies and a man with two very strange black cats appears. Elder Paw, the oldest in the family, tells Varjak about the Way of Jalal, but much of it has been lost through the ages. Jalal is his ancestor who traveled from Mesopotamia to the Contessa's house (where they live now). Varjak sets out to the city to find a "dog" to help them. In his dreams he is taught by Jalal "the Way". In the city he makes new friends and new enemies. I don't want to give any more away so you'll have to read the book to find out the ending. The ending is very surprising.

Varjak Paw is a young cat -- an aristocat, if you will -- who doesn't fit in with his snobby family. When the cats' pampered way of life is threatened, Varjak ventures out into the big bad world to fetch help. Along the way he meets loyal friends, fearsome enemies, and learns a sort of martial art for cats that is not as stupid as I just made it sound. This is one of the most well-constructed books I've read in a while. The writing is smooth and elegant, yet the adventure never lets up. Adult and young-adult readers will find much to enjoy -- and learn from -- in this exciting and wise tale.