Varjak Paw
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
"Dazzling." —The New York Times
Mesopotamian Blue cat, Varjak Paw, has never been Outside before; he and his family have always lived in the isolated house at the top of the hill. But Varjak is forced out into the city when the sinister Gentleman and his two menacing cats take over his home. With help from his mystical ancestor, Jalal, Varjak manages to overcome challenges such as self-survival and a threat from the gangland cats, and he ultimately discovers the terrifying secrets behind the Vanishings. But can he save his own family from their fate?
With wonderful integrated illustrations from acclaimed comic book artist Dave McKean, this book will appeal to all ages.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In the tradition of dystopian animal stories like Watership Down, British author Said's dark allegorical tale introduces a pampered indoor cat who ventures "Outside" for the first time. Varjak Paw is a purebred Mesopotamian Blue whose eyes are not green like the rest of his family's; yet readers may pick up on clues from Varjak's grandfather, the Elder Paw, that the kitten may share a trait or two with his esteemed ancestor, Jalal. A series of events leads to the Elder Paw's hastened attempts to instruct Varjak in a discipline called "the Way" (the Elder only knows three of the Seven Skills) and sends him on a mission to save the feline family. Outside, Varjak learns from urban street cats about a dreadful fate called "Vanishing," involving the disappearance of great numbers of cats. Meanwhile, in his dreams, Varjak visits his ancestral land along the Tigris River, where Jalal instructs him in the Seven Skills of "the Way," akin to the tenets of the spiritual practice of the martial arts (e.g., the first skill is "Open Mind," the second, "Awareness," etc.). The fate of the "Vanished cats," "not quite alive, not quite dead," also underscores the importance of living consciously. The author follows mythic archetypes in this densely plotted cat story, illustrated in chilling, sinuous pen-and-ink images by McKean. The exposition is suspenseful and the conclusion taut. As Said evokes the dangerous life of a cat fending for itself, he also weaves in elements of humor and legendary bravery, proving that growth stems from adversity. Ages 8-12.
Customer Reviews
Nice
Read this book as a kid around 8 years old. I’m almost 25 now. I picked it because it was one of the few books with pictures and it had a cool cover. I loved this book as a kid and it’s still great as an adult. I was hesitant reading it because I loved it so much as a kid and feared I had grown out of it but in the end it did not disappoint. I had a lot of fun re-reading this book. It brought a smile to my face to read some parts of the book and realize why I loved it so much as a kid. This book is a must read for young people. Especially if you are a more outcasted individual it will give you the courage to be yourself and it teaches you some fundamental skills of life that are real life super powers.
Review
This book is awesome!👍 (idk what I'm doing a review for)
Fantastic!
This book is fantastic! Though the pictures may make it seem like something for young children; the adventurous storyline makes it enjoyable for all cat lovers.