The Outlaw Varjak Paw (Varjak Paw #2)

The second adventure in the life of the extraordinary Mesopotamian Blue, Varjak Paw: kung fu for cats!

Having saved the city cats from a fate worse than death, Varjak Paw finds himself the elected and popular leader of a new gang – a gang that supports freedom and kindness for all. But will the pressure take its toll on this brave yet sometimes naive cat?

Soon the city erupts in an all-out gang war as the evil Sally Bones attempts to control the lives of all cats. Horrified and outnumbered, Varjak and the others must fight for their freedom or die trying; can Jalal's Way really be the best way?

This is another thrilling adventure, eagerly awaited by all Varjak fans, both young and old.

About the Author and the Illustrator

S.F. Said's first book, Varjak Paw, won the Nestlé Smarties Prize for Children's Literature. The sequel, The Outlaw Varjak Paw, won the 2007 BBC Blue Peter Book of the Year. 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 has illustrated and designed many ground-breaking books and graphic novels including Varjak Paw (S.F. 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.

Reviews

"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

Dimensions: 13.5 x 2.1 x 18.6 cm