Varjak Paw

Varjak Paw #1

by S.F. Said, Dave McKean (Illustrator)

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.

From the hardcover edition.

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

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2003

About the author

Said grew up in the Iraqi diasporic community in London, moving there with his mother at the age of two. After graduating from the University of Cambridge, he worked as a press attaché and speech writer for the Crown Prince of Jordan’s office in London. He began a Ph.D. in 1997 looking at the lives of young Muslims in Britain, but left academia to focus on film journalism for the Daily Telegraph – where he brought attention to much 'world cinema', including contemporary Islamic cinema – and writing for children

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

first, let's focus on the artwork, because i saw this cover somewhere and i knew that i needed to read this book, no matter what its contents. i really do love dave mckean. he has been responsible for some of my favorite jonathan carroll covers, and the man just really knows how to draw cats.





he manages to get cat mannerisms down perfectly with such an economy of line - i love it. the only person whose cats even come close, and with a totally different tone is jeffrey brown:



he gets all the cute stuff - mckean settles for the slinky, creepy, dangerous cats.

fortunately for me, the book is also very good. it is the story of a purebred housecat who goes on a mission to find a "dog" in order to rescue his family from a bad man with two seriously bad cats who have taken over the house. along the way he learns some ancient secret cat fighting tricks in order to survive on the streets and meets some cat gangs and learns about the ways a cat can just go missing on the streets...

said does a good job of juxtaposing the pet cats with the feral ones; the stakes of each and their own particular values and mythologies. and now i am off to read the sequel!!



come to my blog!

[Ben Trevail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't believe this brilliant book has escaped me for so long. Beautifully written and illustrated. Possibly too challenging for my Y3 class but keen to share widely with all children across KS2.

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book no 1 of the 16 cat books

http://theliteraturevixen.booklikes.c...

Varjak Paw is the only one in his family of noble Mesopotamian Blue cats whose eyes arent green and he is constantly teased and ridiculed for this reason.His older brother even claims this is the reason their owner-the Contessa has stoppedvisiting them and only stays in her room.

One who doesnt make fun of him is his grandfather the Elder Paw and Varjak loves to listen to him tell stories about their ancestor Jalals adventures.

One day a strange Gentleman arrives with two ominiously black cats and takes the contessa away. Varjak and his grandfather are the only ones who thinks to question the weird events,but the others thinks things are just fine-as long as the gentleman keeps feeding them.

The Elder Paw tells Varjak that he needs to go find something called a dog,because its the only thing that can scare the Gentleman away so while the Elder Paw distracts the black cats Varjak sneaks over the wall but he knows they killed his grandfather.

In the end Varjak makes it to the city where he makes friends with two cats who teaches him the ways of the city.But even the city has dangers like rival cat gangs and cats mysteriously going missing.And he still needs to find a dog.

And then there are the Dreams....

This was a great book with actual depth to it and not just a cutesy books about cats.For a middle grade book it actually had some dark themes.

Maybe its not as dark as Felidae but it does feature some unsettling things that had you wonder even at the end of the book what was going on. The fact you only see the story unfold from a cats viewpoint makes some things unclear and makes the villain the Gentleman seem even more twisted than if we had viewed it from a human characters viewpoint.

Varjak was a symphatetic character even if he was far from forceful in his actions and when he finally through his experiences in the city takes charge of things he does suffer a lapse towards the end of the book and falls back into his old role.He gets better though. So its a coming of age story too.


The others characters are cats with some human traits but I never felt they were humans in cats bodies.There were just enough catlike qualities to make them interesting.



There is a sequel called Varjak the Outlaw wich I plan to read.

[Althea Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book in the store, and the cat on the front cover was so adorable that I had to buy it for my sister. Of course, then I had to read it before giving it to her!
This is definitely a kids' book - not even YA, but for younger children.
However - it's also an excellent book. McKean's illustrations are perfect for the characters and the story.
Varjak is a young Mesopotamian Blue cat who's been brought up to think he's something special. However, when his owner disappears and a strange and sinister man appears in his family's house, a dream connection with his legendary ancestor leads him to venture into the dangerous outside world, where he learns to reevaluate his priorities - as well as questing to save his family from the danger he's sure they're in.
It's a sweet story - but it's also got some genuinely spooky elements - and it's definitely in the realm of the fantastic.
Oh yeah, and did I mention how excellent Dave McKean's illustrations are? He rocks!

[A Severs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost a life manual for us all. The idea that no one is too special to help others and that comfort zones hold us back seem to have special relevance to the UK's current treatment of refugees.

Clever writing and brilliant characters - it's easy sometimes to forget it's about cats!

[Mady · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing cat Varjak Paw is!

Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue (a fictional breed) who has lived his whole life sheltered inside the home of an elderly lady, surrounded by a large family with countless cousins and uncles. But Varjak is different, and his family keeps reminding him about that. Everything changes when a mysterious Gentleman and his two sinister cats arrive at the house. To save the family, Varjak’s grandfather—the only one who truly believes in him—urges him to venture Outside and return with a dog.
Told entirely from Varjak’s point of view, the story is gripping from start to finish.

This was my child’s class book at school, read aloud in the classroom over the past month and a half.

[John Velo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this at a book sale one day and I only bought it because it had a cat on its cover...and I am not disappointed. What can I say? I'm a cat person!

Although this is more of a children's book and I could totally predict what could happen, I still found myself enjoying it. Teaches some lessons and the artwork is pretty neat.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Varjak Paw belongs to a family of Mesopotamian Blue pedigree cats who are owned by the Contessa. However, she has rarely been seen recently and when a mysterious gentleman turns up with two uncanny black cats of his own, the Contessa disappears. Being only concerned with comfort, safety and good food, Varjak's family are blissfully ignorant of the dangers Varjak can sense. Plus, Varjak, with his yellow eyes - something no true blue would ever be proud of - has never really fitted in. Only Elder Paw trusts and believes Varjak. Elder's tales of their ancestor, Jalal have always inspired Varjak and filled him with a longing for more. Now, with his family in danger, Varjak must be inspired once, this time into action and to venturing into the Outside. Varjak must face many dangers; cat gangs, cars, dogs and the strange Vanishings, before he can fulfil his potential and save his friends and family.
Will Varjak ever belong? Follow him as he learns important lessons, not least how to believe in yourself and to recognise true friendship.
There is adventure and mystery in this novel, along with a smattering of martial arts and a touch of 101 Dalmatians. The effect of the language is wonderful and is accompanied by subtle yet effective images. It was one that I instantly wanted to read aloud, so dramatic is the action. A wonderful read - especially for a confirmed cat person.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again a matriarchal society has been transformed into a patriarchal one, largely inhabited by male characters, but still, it's about cats, so I had to love it. Plus I really love that cover with the golden eyes. And yes, I did google to see if the breed really existed.

***

Casting about for the next read-aloud after the Penderwicks, we struck on this. Glad I finished it last month. Also, very glad that the McKean illustrations aren't as disturbing as the ones he does for Gaimain's books.

***

It's a cat adventure, therefor good. But this second time through, I'm thinking about the cliche of special training, and the hero who is unusually adept even before the training.

Also, I'm wincing from the contempt for the hunting abilities of pets. I know a cat who doesn't have claws and still managed to kill a mouse by pushing a carton of sodas over on top of it. Pets can kill, too.

***

2008 September 16

Ah, the ending is even better when I'm reading aloud. I"m already looking forward to the sequel.

[Bethany Sawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally gave this book 2 stars, I felt it was unrealistic and dull, no doubt because the whole idea of a kung-fu cat turned me off before I had even started reading, so I didn't give it a chance. Upon discussion, I realised I was being unfair and was persuaded to re-read it. The second time I found myself liking the characters, even though I knew the ending I still worried when they were in danger and felt their true friendships on the cold hard streets of the city, I willed them on their way. I realised how brave Varjak was, how fiercely loyal Holly was, and how gentle and sweet Tam was, and enjoyed the characters and the story with much more depth.

[Rhian Loxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamium Blue kitten, living in a house on top of a hill, he has never left the high walls that surround the Contessa's garden.

His family are happy to recline in the knowledge that a strange man will feed them caviar, as they admire their own handsome pedigree. Varjak however is bored, an outcast, unlike his siblings his name doesn't begin with J and he has eyes the colour of danger - he is desperate to see the world outside of the contessa's house. Armed with the wise words of Elder paw, Varjak learns the way of Jalal an ancient marshall art passed down through his ancestors.

I am currently reading this book with my 3c guided reading group. A great text for inference and discussion about feelings. Varjak is bullied by his siblings and ends up entering in to a dark world of gangs and danger. I read this over 2 nights and thoroughly enjoyed it and the story really engaged my group from the very beginning.

I am looking forward to reading the next installment, The Outlaw Varjak Paw!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book! Vividly imagined by SF Said with stunning illustrations by Dave McKean. This is a must-read for MG fans.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Varjak Paw is the eponymous hero of S F Said’s children’s book about a young cat with heavy responsibilities on his little furry shoulders. As pedigree Mesopotamian Blues, Varjak Paw and his family live a privileged life, sharing the home of a wealthy Countess who has kept them in style since their ancestor, Jalal Paw, made his way to her home from far off Mesopotamia. Grandfather Elder Paw is the family patriarch but his influence is declining. When young Varjak Paw discovers that all is not well in the Countess’s house and finds that a ‘Gentleman’ with two big black cats has moved in, Elder Paw takes his grandson’s reports seriously. Elder Paw understands that the Countess has gone and that nothing can be the same again and he urges the family to fight back against this danger but the family are spoiled and complacent. Their china dishes are filled with delicious foods, their litter trays are emptied, they have no reason to rebel. Ridiculed and deposed by a younger family member, Elder Paw tells his grandson Varjak Paw that the only thing which can save the family is a dog because humans are scared of dogs. He tells Varjak Paw that he must go ‘Outside’ and find a dog to help the Paw family to overcome the danger.

This book is the story of what happens when a brave and inquisitive little cat with a big heart and an eagerness to know the ways of his forefathers leaves the safety of his comfortable home to take on the dangers of the outside world.

I wouldn’t normally read children’s books. I do occasionally make an exception and dabble in the ‘Young Adult’ genre, but usually more by accident than design. I certainly don’t go looking for illustrated children’s books. When my husband returned from a visit to my sister with a copy of ‘Varjak Paw’ I was baffled as to why I’d been sent such a book to read. I knew I couldn’t just say ‘Thank you’ and hide it on the shelf since the book came with instructions to send it back because she hadn’t read it yet. I took the bull by the horns, ran a hot bath and started reading. My expectations were not very high.

Much to my surprise I loved this book and despite the illustrations, I didn’t feel at all as if I were reading a children’s story. In fact, Dave McKean’s illustrations were beautiful and added enormously to the enjoyment of the book. In no way did I feel patronised or talked down to by the writer.

The book follows a structure in which the young cat learns step by step to understand and implement the seven secrets of ‘The Way’ from his long-dead ancestor, Jalal, via a series of dreams in which the older cat explains to him how to be a proper cat. Varjak Paw’s family have been indoor cats for so many generations that they have lost their feline knowledge of how to hunt, how to fight and – in effect – how to be proper cats. If Varjak Paw is to help his family, he has to learn the old ways and he has to learn them quickly since he’s a kitty with no street smarts and no experience of how to look after himself. He’s also a lonely little chap, ostracised by his litter mates and his cousins for having the ‘wrong’ colour eyes, taunted for not being a real Mesopotamian Blue.

With the help of two street cats, Molly and Tam, and with the dream advice of Jalal, Varjak Paw learns the old ways and puts them into practice, learning to fight and to hunt for food, taking on the power of the gangs and discovering the secret of the frightening ‘Vanishings’ that the street cats all fear. He also learns about the power of friendship and the empowerment of being self-reliant. As the readers realise what’s really going on, why the street cats are vanishing, I couldn’t help thinking that this was a pretty upsetting story for young readers.

When our hero eventually returns to his family home with the help of his new friends, he’s shocked to find that the Mesopotamian Blues want nothing to do with Holly because she’s not a pure bred cat of their own breed. Readers will quickly realise that this kitty racism and classism is not acceptable. Varjak Paw’s family know that evil is happening in their house but its happening to ‘other’ cats and so it’s not their concern. Bad things happen to the common cats, not to the pure pedigree cats like them. I was reminded of the multiple times throughout history when people have turned a blind eye to the abuse of others who belong to groups that are not their own. How many people decided not to concern themselves with history’s episodes of ‘ethnic cleansing’ just because it was safer to keep their heads down and not make a fuss about something that was happening to another group? I have no idea, of course, whether this is what SF Said intended to convey through his story, but it was the message that I took away.

I had never heard of S F Said but I checked out his background on Wikipedia learned that he was born in Beirut, spent time in Jordan and then grew up in a community of Iraqis in exile in London. Perhaps my assumptions about the persecution of outsiders and the acceptance of turning a blind eye to evil are rooted in his family history.

Younger readers can take this story at face value, whilst older can be prompted to think of more heavy issues around responsibility, turning a blind eye and respecting the ways of the past. I don’t have children so I can only review this from an adult point of view although I know this would have been a book I’d have loved when I was a child. For most of the time I was reading, I was thinking that if my little cat Bagheera could read, this is exactly the sort of kitty adventure story he’d want to read or have read to him. Not that he needs ANY training in how to kill or fight or how to be a cat but every little kitty needs a hero.

[Annalise Kraines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember being absolutely haunted by this book when I read it as a child, and it is still haunting to this day. There's something so grand and terrifying about this book. It has a deep mythos combined with the matter-of-fact language of a classic. I think some points of the plot could've been clearer, but that still lends itself well to the tones of fear and mystery in the story. There's real danger in Varjak's world, and let's be real the name Varjak Paw is so badass it sounds like the name of a hardened cat assassin

Also I think little repressed Annalise knew that the central message of trusting yourself would do her good:)

[Jade Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

My year 6s loved it and so did I 🤣

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this years ago and then decided to read it again as I found it while cleaning my shelves. It’s a wholesome story, though a tad bit confusing. Main character is a cat though, so I can’t complain.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Angst!!!

[Dana Salman · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister is doing a reading competition for her school and was given a bunch of books to read, and this was one of them. I try not to pass up a chance at reading free books, even if they're ones I wouldn't pick out of a bookshop, and thankfully Varjak Paw, though a children's book, turned out to be a great read - extremely easy and fast to get through without being boring at any point, it had lovable main characters and beautiful atmospheric illustrations (as expected of Dave McKean, whose work I was familiar with from Coraline [he was half the reason that book gave me nightmares]).

It did confuse me sometimes though - it was only until I literally turned the last page and closed the cover to see the preview of the second book on the back, which featured the blurb "The Kung-Fu Kitty is Back", that I realized that I should have been visualizing all the fight scenes in a martial arts sense rather than just, you know, cat fights. All through the book I'd had trouble imagining how cats could fight using such fancy moves in my mind. There was also the matter of the "toy cats" that play a role in the end; I'd initially thought of them as normal battery-powered talking cat toys, then taxidermied cats, but then it seemed more like they were some kind of mind-controlled robot/cat hybrids...? And finally, it felt to me like Varjak's successes were too easily handed to him; he basically became a warrior through deus ex machina dreams and was able to use new Skills almost as soon as he learned them, after only being shown them once or in some cases just having them explained to him. And in the first place, it's never really explained why he has these lucid dreams.

All this, along with the basic, tired plot of "main character is shunned by family because he is different and doesn't conform to what they think is normal but finds out he is different because he is special" stopped me just short of giving it four stars. Despite that, it was an undeniably fun read, and I'd have to say it would make a great movie, in a stylized and artistic sense or gritty and dark sense like Watership Down (not in a kiddy CG-animated cash grab sense, blegh).

[Aaron Campling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thrilling story follows Varjak Paw, a Mesopotamian Blue cat living in the house of Contessa on top of a hill. His family bully and ignore him, and his eyes are the 'colour of danger'. Varjak Paw is successfully portrayed as different to everybody else (something that some children may be able to relate to), and soon becomes increasingly desperate to see the world outside of the Contessa's house, something he has never done.

The Contessa soon becomes sick, and when a sinister man with two black cats comes onto the scene, Varjak is certain that the Contessa is dead. Varjak's desire to leave the house on the hill becomes reality when the Elder Paw, the head of the family, tells Varjak to journey to the outside and to bring back a dog to scare the man away. Eager to succeed, Varjak learns the way of Jalal, an ancient martial art passed down through his ancestors. S.F. Said's choice to mix cat behaviour with martial arts is really effective, whilst the beautiful illustrations by Dave McKean help bring the story to the next level.

In the story, Varjak also learns about sacrifice, prejudice and how to build relationships, making this book ideal for discussion about feelings. Although the story is simple, it is fast-paced and had me gripped from start to finish. It's a pleasantly creepy story, and the mood is pretty dark a lot of the time. The ideas are very original and S.F. Said adds suspense sufficiently. Said's beautiful use of metaphors and similes make this literate, challenging and engaging enough for children, and the unpredictable ending will make this book very memorable.

Although appealing to children, Varjak Paw has many qualities that a variety of ages would appreciate. With its dark nature, I feel that it would not be appropriate for very young children, however this is a fantastic choice for children that love a creepy adventure!

[Carole Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to two of my grandchildren, they enjoyed it enormously and voted it five stars. We had to read it on FaceTime, because of lockdown, and the boys loved the interaction - they phoned me in the evening after their bath, and I read to them. Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue cat, who lives in the Contessa’s house with his family of cats. However, she dies and a Gentleman and his two black cats come to the house and take over - Varjak knows instinctively that he is not to be trusted and escapes. He then makes his way into the town - he has never been out of the house before, and he is very frightened. When he sleeps though, he dreams that his ancestor Jalal is with him - and Jalal teaches him the seven skills he needs to survive. Varjak makes friends with two other outcast cats and not only does he have to fight to exist in a very hostile place, but he has to fight the Gentleman and his black cats in order to set his family free.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Το βιβλίο προορίζεται για μια πολύ στενή ηλικιακή ομάδα, αυτή των 8-14 ετών. Για την ομάδα αυτή είναι ενδιαφέρον, ευκολοδιάβαστο και με μηνύματα που παλεύουν να μην ισοπεδωθούν από τη σκληρή πραγματικότητα.
Στους υπόλοιπους δεν μπορεί να δώσει κάτι, πέραν του να περάσουν την ώρα τους όταν δεν υπάρχει κάτι καλύτερο να κάνουν.

Ένας συμπαθής, άβγαλτος γάτος ράτσας (μάθαμε και τη ράτσα Μπλε της Μεσοποταμίας) φεύγει από το σπίτι του για να γνωρίσει το Έξω. Σιγά σιγά και με τη βοήθεια πιο περπατημένων γάτων αλλά και ενός προγόνου - ήρωα καταφέρνει να ξεβγαλθεί στον κόσμο και να ηγηθεί μιας ομάδας περιπετειών που φαίνεται ότι θα ακολουθήσουν.
Όμορφο εξώφυλλο και εξίσου όμορφη και ενδιαφέρουσα εικονογράφηση.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is so much more than a story about a cat leaving its sheltered home life for the city in search of a dog to save his family. It works on many different levels to question life as an outcast; from your own family, from your own society and your own environment. The main character, Varjak Paw is given advice with almost mystical, Eastern powers to solve problems that he encounters on his journey; if he chooses to apply them, and these help him to become streetwise and learn more about the true values and meaning of friendship. The book concludes with a challenge to the reader to decide whether the way a character chooses to live their life should be based on family commitments, or personal choice.

[Sophie Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

My boyfriend suggested I read this while I was ill this week (I was reading Station Eleven, which is not a comforting book when you've got the flu!!) and it was a brilliant idea. A really lovely story with beautiful illustrations, which genuinely touched me.

[Penny Raspenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't begin to explain how awesome this book is.
Review to come

[Wendy Bamber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found a full class set of these buried in our resource room, trying it out with a young year 6 boy who doesn’t love trying new things and has been stuck on the lost cat, Holly Webb type book for a long time and found Atticus Claw not quite cutting it and starting the Warriors series a bit daunting. I’m hopeful this one will work better, with the tendency towards martial arts survival skills for a cat used to home comforts being thrust out into the world of stray cats. And I will look for the new one Tyger.

[Jamie Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for school as I am a teacher, but I really enjoyed it myself. I loved the idea of a cat learning martial arts and mastering each skill — I love that all of these skills were focused on Varjak having to believe in and work on himself. I also liked how Varjak first mistakes cars for dogs because he’s never been outside. The world-building felt clever, like something cats might genuinely talk about when we’re not around. I think my class will love the action scenes and look forward to seeing their reactions.

[Ananyaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOOD BOOK HIGHLY RECOMMEND MARTIAL ARTS CATS

[Charlotte Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book alot because Varjak was a underdog and then his family began to like him as he saved the family

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this on my “want to read” list and was practically jumping up and down when i saw it at the thrift!! Literally more inspiring than the Alchemist

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Really enjoyable and cute - nice morals and I really could get into it. The illustrations as well… stunninggg!