The Time-Travelling Cat and the Roman Eagle (3)

The Time-Travelling Cat #3

by Julia Jarman

Topher Hope is on the move again. When his devoted cat, Ka, leaves a mysterious clue on his computer, a Roman word—CA;;LLevA—he follows her to a Romano-British settlement in AD 79. Ka is happy among the cat-adoring conquerors and their central heating! Topher, now a British boy apprenticed to a Roman mosaic maker, has mixed loyalties. When the eagle, symbol of Roman power, disappears from the forum, the fragile peace is threatened and Topher begins a desperate search. Can he find it and save his Roman friend, Marcus, from the Druid's murderous sickle? In this adventure, Topher needs all the amazing powers of the time-traveling cat.

Genres: Cats, Historical Fiction, Animals, Audiobook, Time Travel

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Julia Jarman is a British author of books for children of all reading ages and ability.

Reviews

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Topher owns an unusual cat named Ka. Ka is able to travel in time. One day, a gang of boys was trying to break into Topher's house. A giant eagle landed on the roof and Topher climbed onto its back and soon, they were headed back in time to a place called Calleva. The people were in the middle of a war. Topher met a boy named Marcus, the son of Cassius the mosaic maker. Topher's father in this period was an important man, he had gone to get the Romans to not build on a place that was sacred to his faith. Unfortunately, Topher's brother and his friends steal an eagle that means a lot to the Romans. Topher and Cassius manage to find the Eagle and his father's arrival, stops blood from being shed. The live eagle comes back and takes Ka and Topher home. They go and visit Calleva and see the sights. Ka gives birth to four kittens.
This book was picked for the NFL challenge as Philadelphia Eagles are a favorite team of mine.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shades of Brittanica... this is the third in this series of children’s stories about Ka, the time travelling cat and her human, Topher.

Again Topher faces some current day problems when his family moves house and he is bullied. In the past he is a young Brit apprenticed to a Roman working with mosaics. Ka does an impressive job once more of helping him.

There was one point where I was reminded of the ‘what have the Romans ever done for us?’ scene in Monty Python and the Life of Brian.

Hoping that Bolinda will continue to adapt the other books in the series.

[Hallie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The slaves had been the first to throw in their lot with the foreigners. Roman masters were fairer than the British, they said. But it wasn't just the slaves who had no honour." (p.68)

An interesting view of the freedom-of-choice offered slaves in the past!

(Marcus's mother and sisters are in back Pompeii, and they've had word of the volcano.) 'His voice faltered slightly and Topher nodded to show he understood, but Cassius snapped, "Act like a Roman, not a sentimental Brit!"'

Did Jarman read Treece's Legions of the Eagle, by any chance?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in mind to see if it was suitable to read with my Year 3 class, as we will be doing the Romans in Autumn term. Quite an enjoyable story, but thought it was quite slow to start. A few scary moments, which makes me think that this book is too old for 7-8 year olds. Would say this is more aimed at 10+. But it has nice information and description of roman life that I would be taking out and using in my class.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am shortly starting a topic on the Romans with my class, and wanted a book that I could read to them to link into the topic. Topher and his cat, Ka, travel back in time to Roman Britain and encounter tension between the Britons and the Romans. Looking forward to reading this to my class.

[Clark Hanlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A intresting book that is about a cat that travels back in time to roman brittania