The second adventure in the life of the extraordinary Mesopotamian Blue, Varjak Paw- kung fu for cats!
SF Said (Author)
SF Said's first book, Varjak Paw, won the Nestle Smarties Prize for
Children's Literature. The sequel,The Outlaw Varjak Paw, won the
BBC Blue Peter Book Of The Year. Phoenix is his third book. He has
written widely about literature, films and the arts for The
Guardian and The Daily Telegraph; and works regularly with CLPE,
promoting reading and literacy in schools.
For more information on SF and his books, please visit
www.sfsaid.com
Dave McKean (Illustrator)
Dave McKean has illustrated and designed many ground-breaking books
and graphic novels including Varjak Paw (SF Said), The Magic of
Reality (Richard Dawkins), The Savage (David Almond) and The
Graveyard Book (Neil Gaiman). He wrote and illustrated Pictures
That Tick and the multi-award winning Cages. He has created
hundreds of CD and comic covers and directed five short and three
feature films.
Original and amazingly engrossing . . . it is much enhanced by its
high-quality production and the beautiful illustrations by Dave
McKean
*Daily Telegraph*
To today's overprotected children, Varjak Paw is the perfect emblem
of the joys and dangers of freedom. Beautifully illustrated by Dave
McKeen and written in spine-tingling prose, the novels have a
suspenseful edginess that children instantly respond to
*The Times*
A wonderfully original creation: a fearless feline with a gift for
whizzy martial arts . . . grippingly vivid . . . Dave McKean's
scratchy, lean drawings perfectly capture Said's dark narrative
*Evening Standard*
It's refreshing to enter a world of cats. And not just any old
cats, but the rich collection of heroes and villains in the world
of Varjak Paw . . . The Outlaw Varjak Paw is another swift,
compelling tale. And Varjak is an appealing and believable hero
*The New York Times*
The bleakness of the story is magnified by Dave McKean's brilliant
illustrations. The combination of his blood-spattered paintings and
Said's staccato descriptions lends the fight scenes an almost
balletic quality . . . The world inhabited by these emaciated cats
becomes engrossing, while the emotional ambiguities offer plenty
for adults to think about
*Time Out*
Great new characters and some cracking fight scenes.
Unputdownable
*Newsround online*
Said writes with an elegance and clarity that will appeal to
readers keen to get their teeth into more substantial fare
*Sunday Herald*
This is a book with true crossover appeal. Buy it for the kids,
then enjoy it yourself - even the stylish cover won't give you away
. . . with simple but stunning illustrations from Neil Gaiman
collaborator Dave McKean, Said tells his story in spare, elegant
prose that maintains its tension without playing on all too obvious
sentimental tricks. Dark and wonderful
*Zero Magazine*
The first Varjak Paw book was brilliant and the follow up is just
as good . . . once again features the fantastic drawings of Dave
McKean . . . a real Christmas treat for readers aged eight to
12
*Newmarket Journal*
Said's latest creation is not one to be forgotten easily. This rich
and colourful portrayal of a cat's struggle for power effortlessly
combines shimmering imagery and visual delicacies, alongside a
compelling tale of loyalty, darkness and the truth behind what is
right and what is wrong . . . The powerful combination of mystical
artwork and stylish narration will have every parent fighting over
whose turn it is to read to the kids next
*Daily Echo*
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