The Outlaw Varjak Paw

Said, S. F. The Outlaw Varjak Paw. Oxford ; New York : David Fickling Books, 2006.

Plot: While Varjak Paw's battle to free the city from the infamous vanishing proves successful, not all ends happily. Sally Bones, a thin, white cat, continues to stretch her power, preventing all other cats from hunting or gathering food for anyone but her and her followers. Varjak's attempts to fight her ends in disaster, since she knows the legendary "Way" of martial arts even better than he does. Yet, when the white cat declares war on cats with no hope of opposing her, Varjak must find the strength to face her, even without the power of the Way. If he cannot conquer her, every cat in the city will perish.

Genre: Fantasy, Animals

Reading Level: Grades 4-7; however, many of the fights contain bloody and violent descriptions, so caution sensitive readers.

Similar Titles: Varjak Paw, The Underneath, Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth

Personal Thoughts: I found the book extremely interesting and well written, which may appear surprising considering my scathing review of the Warriors series. In the spirit of fairness, I will go over the contrast between the two series:

1. Limited number of characters: While Said's book does include several cats, it does not contain the sheer number of felines in the Warriors series. Each cat's character becomes well described through their interactions with each other, rather than a passing reference in a psuedo-glossery at the book's beginning.

2. Drama based on action: When something dramatic happens, such as the kidnapping of a kitten or the failed battle, it affects the story. The kidnapping leads to the doomed fight, which leads to the loss of the protagonist's mysterious power. Additionally, both situations enhance the characterization of the protagonist as a disadvantaged hero and the antagonist as a genuine threat.

3. No attempt to misinform: The book is, essentially, a martial arts story with cats. It makes no reference to real fighting styles or cat behavior. Said uses the work a a purely fictional story without false facts to lend illegitimate validity.

4. Direction: As mentioned in both the drama and misinformation comments, actions feed into characterization in a world with limited reference to the real one. The novel offers a pure, over-the-top story and does not attempt to do otherwise.

5. Enough information: While the novel does not explain everything, such as how Sally Bones discovered the "Way" or what the "Way" exactly is, it does provide enough information. The way is meant to be mysterious, just like Sally Bones. Eliminating descriptions adds to the strange nature of Varjak's world. However, enough information finds mention, allowing readers to be mystified without being frustrated.

6. Show, don't tell: The book is an adventure novel and key points, such as battles, dreams, and kidnapping find ample, if violent, description.

Overall, the novel succeeds because it relies on action more than description, creating a fast-paced, fascinating world.

The novel is a sequel to Varjak Paw, which inspired a play, opera, and upcoming movie.