Cat's Cradle

Cat is back in London after her adventures in America and the Caribbean. Awaiting her is a letter that may provide her with information about the mother who left her as an infant on the steps of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Unfortunately, the writer lives in Scotland. Undaunted Cat sets off to find the truth and in so doing is once again catapulted into situations that call upon all her resourcefulness and courage. This is the seventh in the Cat Royal series and follows a similar pattern to its predecessors. Picking up on Cat’s background, theatrical allusions abound from the organisation of the chapters (Acts and scenes) to the content with its strong element of melodrama and even pantomime. Cat is a lively protagonist whose exuberant approach to life will attract young readers. By giving her orphan status and a bohemian background, she can move across all barriers with friends ranging from the aristocracy to criminals from the London slums. This allows Golding to introduce a wealth of colourful historical detail and characters. However, this background is applied with a broad brush, in no way impeding the non-stop action of the plot which moves briskly along carrying the reader with it. A lively, undemanding but extended read for readers aged 8 and up. And Cat Royal fans can look forward to more.