The Whisperer
by Nick Butterworth
(HarperCollins, £10.99)

What is it all about?

The story takes its lead from Romeo and Juliet: two rival gangs of cats (one black and white, the other ginger) fight it out in a derelict area of a modern-day city.The story is told by a rat (the whisperer), whose world collapses when he discovers that a young couple from the rival sides are having a love affair.

Kid’s view

“My five-year-old son found the story too long and ‘boring’. Although he did ask me to read him the story to him more than once, the subtlety of the humour was lost on him and he was frightened of the rat.”

Parent’s view

The author’s ‘voice’ is trying a little too hard to be ‘street’ and the theme feels a little too Americanised (more West Side Story than Romeo and Juliet). Just as I was settling into the style, the ending brought me up a little too abruptly and I felt dissatisfied.”
Ali,Cosmo’s mum.

my child’s verdict

Beautifully and cleverly illustrated throughout, the story will appeal to eight year olds, who are becoming familiar with, and repelled by, the concept of love.

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