Cats at Sea

Anton and Cecil #1

by Lisa Martin, Valerie Martin, Kelly Murphy (illustrator)

Cat brothers Anton and Cecil are as different as port and starboard. Cecil, stocky and black with white patches, thirsts for seafaring adventure. Slim, gray Anton prefers listening to the sailors' shanties at the town saloon. One day when Anton goes to port, he's impressed as a ratter on a ship bound for the high seas. Cecil boards another ship in hopes of finding Anton. What begins as a rescue mission turns into a pair of high-seas adventures. Anton takes on a fierce rat, outwits hungry birds, and forges a forbidden friendship, while Cecil meets dolphins and whales and finds himself in a pirate raid. On an ocean as vast as the one Anton and Cecil have discovered, will they ever see home--or each other--again?Black-and-white drawings illustrate each chapter."

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Cats, Animals, Adventure, Fiction, Childrens

250 pages, ebook

First published October 8, 2013

About the author

I grew up in New Orleans and spent my high school years writing overwrought poems and short stories. Then I took a detour into the land of numbers (business! accounting!), taught college sophomores, met my husband, hung out at home with our two sons, and now am finally back to the lovely world of words.
I live in Charlottesville, Virginia with my family and our two cats, all of whom have made their way into my stories.

Reviews

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay little read, with a few stumbles. Set at a time when tall ships plied their way around the world and "primitive" (ie non-European) peoples could still be convinced to sell you anything for a few strings of shiny beads. The old-days setting sat strangely with modern customs (such as putting a bandanna around a dog's neck, which started in the 1980s, not the 1880s) and phrases such as "I'm good to go." Also, dishes were actually washed in galleys with seawater, not fresh, since fresh water was stored in barrels and was too valuable to use for things like washing.

The whole whale thing was a little odd, even for fiction about talking cats, and what was the point of dragging in the "mysterious disappearance" thing? It made nice little night time relaxer until I began to find the constant switch of POV annoying. Therefore only 3 stars; if the authors had been better at weaving the two tales together without such abrupt shifts, it would have been four.

[Allison Ketchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my six-year-old daughter over the course of three days, and we were both riveted. Anton and Cecil are cats, brothers who live in the lighthouse with their mother, Sonya. All the cats near the docks know to be cautious lest they be pressed into service aboard a ship, but young Gretchen is taken, throwing the cats into shock and horror. Cecil is an adventurous cat who loves to join the fisherman on short jaunts, but Anton prefers to stay near home. When Anton is pressed into service aboard the Mary Ann, his brother tries to follow, only to fall into the ocean. Desperate to find his brother, Cecil stows aboard the next big ship to come along, not realizing how very large the ocean is. Each brother has his own adventure, ranging from pirates and monster island birds to close encounters with a whale and friendship with a lizard. All along, a cat-like eye in the sky seems to draw them to each other, with the old cat saying, "Where the eye meets the eye, the lost shall be found," echoing throughout the book. Forces beyond the cats' control seem to be bringing them back together, but will Anton and Cecil find each other on the wide sea?

The determination of the brothers to find each other despite the odds is, of course, a lovely illustration of loyalty and familial bonds. Anton, though the meeker of the two cats, rises to the occasion and proves himself brave and resourceful. Both brothers make unlikely friendships and find help in unexpected places. The adventures they have are staggering; pirates, a ghost ship, mermaids, dolphins, an island market, a strange island with bizarre animal inhabitants, and the brothers shine through it all, exemplifying loyalty and courage through the most dire circumstances.

The paranormal has a role here, too, with the strange moon appearing as a cat's eye, seeming to bring the brothers nearer each other. What, after all, are the odds that two cats would be brought together over the vastness of the ocean without some outside force helping them along? Anton and Cecil are intrigued by the idea of a great cat in the sky helping them along, but they do their best to make a reunion possible using all available earthly means as well.

This is a delightful read-aloud to a younger child, although it's billed as a book for the 8-12 set. I'm sure the adventures and sympathetic characters are more than enough to hold interest in that age group. Nautical terms are explained or their meaning clear in context. Harrowing situations add excitement, but are resolved in a reassuring manner. We read this 256-page book over three days, with my daughter eagerly asking when we could read more ANTON AND CECIL.

ANTON AND CECIL: CATS AT SEA is a rollicking adventure and tender family story with the feel of a classic. Publicity draws comparisons to THE WIND AND THE WILLOWS, and I don't think that is an exaggeration. Memorable animal characters, positive messages, and riveting adventures make this a good bet for Christmas gifts for 2013. Available October 8, 2013.

Source disclosure: I received an e-galley of this title from the publisher.

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I expected more from this book because it's CATS and the SEA. The book started off pretty well, and I did love both of the brothers, but after Anton is taken on board a ship, the level of believability dropped significantly. Cecil, frantic to find his brother, just hops on board another ship, and off he goes into the wide, blue yonder, not even investigating whether or not the ship is going in the same direction as his brother's ship. Then it's a basic "have you seen my brother" book along with a legend that really doesn't make sense or isn't explained sufficiently.

It was a good book in some ways, but overall I think it missed its potential, and I was ready for the book to be finished, even though it was fairly short.

[Sarah Redmond · Rating 1 out of 5]

It took literal months to finish this book because of how bad it is. The central motif is never actually explained and it drags on for far too long. The book was advertised as a fun swashbuckling adventure and it was really just two cats getting bullied and having to feed themselves for once. Don’t waste your time

[Taylor Nicke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never been so disappointed with talking cats going on an adventure.

[Desi A · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP loved it and we have moved on to Cats on Track.

[Ms.Gaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Algonquin books and they have a new imprint coming this fall - Algonquin Young Readers! I rec'd a galley of this debut title and am looking forward to seeing the final product since it will have full artwork (and a map! - I'm always more interested in a title when it includes a map)

Anton and Cecil are two brother cats with very different outlooks on life. Cecil is outgoing and jumps aboard sailing ships once in a while to satisfy his curiosity, while Anton is more cautious. Oh, Anton doesn't hesitate to sneak into a saloon to hear the sailors singing, but he has no interest in going out to sea - in fact, it frightens him. When Anton is grabbed and taken aboard a sailing ship, Cecil is very concerned with the welfare of his brother and sets out to find him.
Each brother has amazing and strange adventures at sea, including a weird fingerling mist covering the ship Cecil is on, and the unbelievable rescue by whale experienced by Anton.

Children interested in stories about adventures at sea or stories with cat characters or even stories with mystical folktale elements will want to try this book. Believable dialogue, adventurous situations and a bit of mystery make this an enjoyable tale. It's a challenge for younger readers, offering opportunities for expansion of their vocabulary. It's also an excellent choice as a read-aloud, with many discussion points.

[Cathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

upper elementary
third person POV
AR test
first in series

Hey, it was about cats, okay?
The cats live in a harbor town - only at the very end is it described as being in Nova Scotia. One brother wants to go to sea (Cecil), another does not (Anton). When Anton is taken aboard a sailing ship Cecil boards another one in hopes of finding his brother. They have many adventures (pirates, mermaids) and talk with other animals. There is a lot of mumbo-jumbo about "when the eye meets the eye" and of course, through an amazing set of coincidences, the brothers end up on the original ship sailing home.

Has an advanced vocabulary, describes big sailing ships with correct terms. May lose readers over that.

[Laura Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about the bonds of family. Anton and Cecil are brother cats who live on a wharf; they are total opposites in that Cecil longs for adventure and travel, while Anton is happy snoozing and playing it safe. Shockingly, though, one day Anton is scooped up and put on board a ship to be a rodent catcher. Cecil catches the first ship he can in pursuit. The two brothers have different, but equally amazing, adventures as they work to find their way back to each other. Nicely illustrated, great characters, strong but not overpowering themes of family and friendship - a good fit for middle grade readers!

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love reading stories about cats and I really liked the story about Anton and Cecil who were separated and their adventures as they try to find each other again while dealing with pirates, being marooned, encountering mermaids, and meeting other animals. And the eye in the sky who watches over all cats at sea added a nice mysterious quality to the story. I especially enjoyed the ending when Cecil finds his brother and then meets the cook who takes them all back home. All in all a wonderful adventure story. I think this book would especially be enjoyed by a young audience.
I received my copy from Goodreads First Reads.

[Ceci J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Cats at Sea (Anton and Cecil #1) by Lisa Martin is a great book because the writing was descriptive, and the characters emotions were clear. Though this book may have been slightly under my reading level, I wanted to give it a try, and I'm glad I did. This book is about how Anton, a small cat, gets trapped on a boat, and how his brother, Cecil, travels around the ocean to find him. Cecil is interested about sailing, unlike his brother. The brothers though complete opposites, love each other to death, and desperately try to find each other. The book certainly filled some boring minutes in my day!

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anton and Cecil are brothers who are very different. Anton prefers to listen to shanties and stay out of the way of people. Cecil likes adventure.

But one day, Cecil finally gets his adventure when his brother is taken on a ship and he has to find him.

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. I thought the book could be slow at parts, but overall, was a nice adventure story. I liked Anton and Cecil and the characters that come later as well. It was a fun story and I'm sure children will enjoy it.

[Heather McCarron · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was BORING to us. My 1o-year-old and I pushed through this one over several weeks and kept hoping it might pick up; several times we almost called it quits but kept going because she needed to read it for a reading challenge at school. If not for that, we would have returned this one to the library after the second chapter. It was one boring, too-long chapter after another. And the whole thing with the whale and the weird legend that was never fully explained was just odd. Maybe books with talking animals just aren't our cup of tea.

[༺Kiki༻ · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:

✱ Varjak Paw
✱ Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
✱ Last Dogs series

[Io · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story, with an absorbing plot. It is really beautifully written. Definitely a cut above the typical offerings for this age group, particularly with regard to its use of language. Overall, a lovely read.

[Librariansteph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the two main characters and thought the descriptive passages about setting were evocative. However, the supernatural elements didn't really work for me and there was at least one mysterious occurrence left unexplained that kept pulling me out of the story.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. Cecil and Anton had distinct personalities, and their adventures were convincing. The illustrations were cool, too.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started it, I didn't know how I would ultimately feel about this book, but I discovered it to be a really sweet story. I am very glad I read it.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anton and Cecil live under the light house with their mother,Sonya. Anton the smaller of the brothers likes to hang at the saloon and enjoy the singing. Cecil spends his time hanging at the docks watching the ships. Knowing that some cats are taken on ships never to be seen again Cecil isn't worried. Curious about the sea he jumps onboard a ship he knows returns everyday, and each day after he rides out and enjoys the sea. Returning early morning from the saloon Anton is grabbed and taken aboard a large ship that was new to the dock, arriving at the dock in time to see his brother taken Cecil tries to get on board to rescue his little brother but fails. Arriving to see her son taken out to sea,Sonya begs Cecil to find his brother and bring him home. So starts lots of adventure for both brothers.

[P.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written for the middle-school aged reader yet could be enjoyed by any age. This is the reason it got 5 stars. It was well researched with nautical terms and the plot was extremely plausible. The addition of a touch of mysticism only added to the world as interpreted by animals. This is book 1 out of a set of 3 and will be donated to the St. Joseph’s School in Chehalis, WA after I have read and reviewed all three.

[Half Pint McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wonderful! My 9 yr old daughter who loves cats thoroughly enjoyed exploring Anton & Cecil's world and joining them on their adventures. I listened to it w/her and found it really well written & enjoyed it too! We're excited this is a series are looking forward to the next one!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sea faring tale of two brothers who find adventure on the high seas after being separated when one suffers impressment as a ship's ratter, and the other goes looking for him to bring him back home to the harbor of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia as he promised their mother that he would.

[Sylviane Stoltzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute tale of two cats on an adventure!

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real cute childrens book.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little story about 2 brother cats 💙

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this when I was 11 but it was so memorable that I had to review it. I just love some sailor cats

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids (6, 8) loved this.

[Mutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book for kids. I’d give it 3.5 stars if I could.

[Shwetha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read for the 5 year old.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story told from the cat's point of view.