The Time-Travelling Cat and the Roman Eagle

This, the third adventure of Topher and his time-travelling cat, starts with many changes in the young boy's life -- new home, new school and the establishing of new friendships. The last of these proves the most problematic as Topher combats a mysterious bout of bullying. Suddenly he is transported to AD 79, where he helps forge peace between the Romans and his British tribe, his own relationship with a Roman boy providing the key. There is a curious change of style halfway through the book, the first part rather pedantically explaining events and how Topher feels, often in short, abrupt sentences. This contrasts sharply with the vividness and ease with which Jarman recreates life in Roman Britain. Particularly striking is the way Topher instantly becomes a Romano-Briton, as though living a completely parallel life. Jarman makes only a tenuous connection between Topher's experiences in each century, and occasionally hits an oddly inappropriate note (how often do you hear the expression 'he's a good cove' nowadays?) but has created an enjoyable story nevertheless.