"An animal adventure with a dystopian edge."
This standalone feline adventure will have huge appeal to animal lovers, and it makes a refreshing change that cats rather than dogs are centre stage.
Historically, cats have been subject to persecution, for example when they were associated with witches and blamed for the Black Death and in our time, they were under threat during the Covid pandemic. In the climate changed future, birdlife has declined and again cats are blamed.
The story is entirely told from the cat’s perspective, with the cat in question told by his mama that he is descended from the Egyptian God Bastet and that his destiny is to change the world. Yet he is the last of the litter to find a home and is then christened Pusskin by his new owner Lottie, but the cats he meets, rapidly learn not to be misled by the less than princely name. He soon has his humans exactly where he wants them and begins to rule the other cats in the cul- de-sac where they live.
The cat perspective as a hunter is very clearly put, sometimes disturbingly so, but it is a strength that these are not anthropomorphised animals. When the government curfew restrictions fail to have the desired effect and other deadly actions are being enforced, Pusskin leads the local cats in a bold escape. An elderly cat with The Sight tells them they must head for Cat Island where they could live safely. (An afterword explains the real life inspiration for this island.)
Their epic journey, aided by the heartbroken Lottie and other cat supporters is thrilling, but faced with the reality of what they find on the island , Pusskin must fight to live up to his mama’s prediction. His story certainly makes for a thoroughly engrossing and very satisfying read.
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I really enjoyed the adventure in this book! This book is great for people who love history, adventure and a touch of thrill. If you enjoy books by Michael Morpurgo or Holly Webb, this is a great new story for you!
Pusskin lives a blissful, comfortable life with his loving, caring owner Lottie. Everything is perfect, pleasant and entertaining, until… the curiosity hits the world. Suddenly birds go missing, affecting the planet until everywhere is in chaos. People are getting desperate. They want the birds back. Eventually, cats are blamed for this chaos, wild cats are hunted down and domestic ones are killed at the age of ten. Finally, Pusskin and his friends make a life changing decision, to ever escape the curiosity, they must go into hiding at the island of cats, a place free from humans and the troubles of the fear at hand. But can they make it? Meanwhile Lottie is missing her beloved Pusskin, longing for him to come home. But can he ever do it while the curiosity is still at large? Will Lottie just have to let him go?... Read Full Review
The Last Journey is one of the most intriguing books I have read.
It has been well thought through and took a good time to read. My favourite part of the story was at the end, where Pixie went feral on the Queen because she stole her children. Another thing I found funny, was that one of the cats went up to pixie when she was having a child and said, “sorry the curiosity killed the cat”. I found that funny because the curiosity was actually killing the cat. I also thought that it was quite sad that the cats were getting killed on the street. I think this would be a good book for children between the ages of 8 to 12, for reading skills. I thought it was quite easy to read.... Read Full Review
A thoughtful, fast-paced animal adventure exploring climate change, extinction and empathy. Told through a cat’s eyes, it balances tension and hope while encouraging children to reflect on nature and bravery.
The Last Journey is a thoughtful and imaginative story, told from the perspective of a house cat named Pusskin (similar to I Am Rebel and Pax at times) which I think is a great angle for a children's book.
Set in a near-future world where environmental collapse has led to the scapegoating of domestic cats, the story follows Pusskin’s daring escape from government-led culling. With echoes of real-world crises, the book delivers a timely environmental message wrapped in an animal adventure.
This book offers a good balance of tension and reflection. It raises important themes - climate change, extinction, animal welfare and the consequences of fear-based policies - in a way that’s accessible for readers aged 9+.... Read Full Review
