Varjak Paw [Hardcover]

SF Said (Author), Dave McKean (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-When danger, in the form of a strange man and his two deadly feline companions, intrudes upon the sheltered existence of a family of Mesopotamian Blue cats, Varjak must venture Outside for the first time to seek help. He meets a feral cat named Holly, who takes him to the city and helps him survive on the mean streets. His nights are filled with dreams of his fabled ancestor Jalal, who teaches him the Seven Skills of the Way of Jalal; they help him, in his waking hours, learn to fight and hunt. After run-ins with several cat gangs, the protagonist befriends a dog that helps him and Holly to rescue Varjak's family and hundreds of other cats from being turned into robotlike creatures to be sold as toys. The jumbled plot leaves many unanswered questions. Readers never learn why this evil man wants to turn cats into robots, and why he uses Varjak's owner's house as a base of operations. It's also not clear what the Way has to do with anything. In a story filled with so many holes, only the illustrations offer consistent pleasure. Warm yellow pictures drench the pages on which Jalal teaches Varjak the Way, which nicely evoke the Mesopotamian setting of the dreams; the rest of the drawings are edgy black-ink silhouettes of cats and other animals; they're energetic and expressive. Despite the compelling art, most libraries can skip this animal fantasy.
Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. In this British import, a Mesopotamian Blue kitten, Varjak Paw, leaves his sheltered, privileged life to venture out into the world to save his family from invading black cats. To survive in a dangerous city full of vicious dogs, cat gangsters, and the mysterious, evil Vanishings, Varjak learns the Seven Skills in the Way of Jalal, a secret martial art for cats. Mastering the Way helps the cat learn to trust his own instincts, which comes in handy after he decides to enlist the help of a dog to fight the evil cats and save his family. Varjak is a spirited adventurer who evolves gradually and believably into a courageous protagonist. By cleverly and adeptly relating the story through a cat's perspective, Said makes the novel especially fascinating. McKean's striking, black-and-white sketches add an edgy, haunting aspect to the tale, which is full of action, adventure, and suspense. The story is sure to leave readers looking forward to more about the formidable feline. Ed Sullivan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: David Fickling Books (May 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385750196
• ISBN-13: 978-0385750196
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,945,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book, September 3, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Varjak Paw (Hardcover)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!!!, January 4, 2006

By 

Narwhally (Orinda, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Varjak Paw (Hardcover)

I honestley picked this book off of the booksore shelf because the cover is awesome, but I'm glad I did because it's ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER!
Varjak Paw and his family live in an old house perched way up on a hill. He has lived there all his life (he's only a kitten, so he hasn't been alive very long. But still, I would get bored too) and is beggining to get restless. The tales of his ancestor, Jalal the warrior cat, make hime even more restless. Varjak wants adventure, and one day hr gets it.
When a strange man enters the contessa's house, Varjak senses that this man is up to no good. Then he sees the mans cats - bigger, faster, stronger, blacker, and more powerful than any cat he's ever seen before. Now Varjak knows this man is trouble. The Elder Paw also senses danger. He takes Varjak in a corner and tells Varjak a secret, an old secret, a secret that has been in the family for a long time. The secret is about The Way, a kind of martial arts for cats.
Varjak is forced to abandon his home in order to find a dog to scare away the gentleman and save his family. Accompanied by two street cats, Holly and Tam, varjak sets out into the city. Now Varjak must use The Way and every ounce of courage in him to survive the gangs and mysterious Vanishings and fulfill the quest. But can Varjak find a dog and save his family before it's too late?
You should really read this book, even if you dont like cats, because it is EXCELLENT.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Cool Cat, June 19, 2003

By 

beckyjean "beckyjean" (East Granby, CT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Varjak Paw (Hardcover)

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.