Those of you have read some of my previous book reviews will have noticed that I like Robert Westall and that I am also going through a faze of reading children's books (often centring around the Second World War period). Blitzcat is another of these wonderful books that I really enjoyed re-reading. I had first read it not long after reading The Machine Gunners and was really pleased to see we had a new copy in the library (following its re-release in 2002) ~ it had first been published in 1989 (all details can be found at http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/books/n3/n17860. htm?authorid=4082 so I won't repeat all that).

~~~The Author.

Robert Westall was born in 1929 in North Shields, in the North East of England. He has degrees from Durham University and the University of London and he then became an art teacher at Sir John Deane's College in Northwich in Cheshire. He has also been an antique dealer before settling on writing as his full-time career. The Machine Gunners was his first novel (written in 1975) and it got him the Carnegie Medal. Robert Westall often used his childhood in Tynemouth (although Blitzcat sees the main action appearing in Coventry) as a setting for his books and he was able to draw on his vivid memories to tell his stories. Sadly he died in 1993, but his books live on.

~~~The Awards.

Blitzcat won the Winner of the Smarties Award for children's fiction back in 1989.

~~~The Story.

Blitzcat (like a good number of Westall's books) is set during the Second World War. The main "character" of the story is a cat and her journey to find her owner ~ the backdrop is the terror and danger of Britain during the Blitz. Westall used the premise that cats have an innate ability to find their owners and are often able to navigate over long distances with determination and courage ~this is known as psi-trailing. The cat is called Lord Gort and the owner she is seeking (Geoffrey
Wensley) is in the RAF.

When War breaks out Geoffrey is sent overseas and his family are evacuated (they live in Dover and the threat of bombing was high). Lord Gort disappears and it is assumed that she is trying to get back to her home in Dover ~ the reality is that she is actually trying to find Geoffrey. What follows is an interesting adventure which sees Lord Gort travelling around the country encountering (and having an effect on) a number of different people. In true Littlest Hobo style (if you remember watching that on TV) she encounters strangers, helps or comforts them in some way and then movs on with her unwavering desire to find her master. Lord Gort seems to be able to sense danger and is able to react instinctively to those around her.

It really is a good story and I was hooked from start to finish ~ it's different too and very well written.

~~~What I thought.

Blitzcat is an unusual and compelling story of Britain in World War Two, told in an interesting and vivid way. I found that telling the story from the viewpoint of a cat gave it a unique perspective and really kept my attention. Westall's narrative is descriptive and very evocative ~ I think my favourite part centres around the bombing of Coventry; Lord Gort leads a terrified group of people and animals through the gates of the City to safety. I love the way that as they are travelling out of Coventry they are joined by others who are united by their faith in the strong little cat.

Westall's description of the blazing Coventry Cathedral, engulfed in a fire "which raged to break out like a caged tiger, shooting out great paws of sparks through its bars" is trully excellent and really recreates the atmoshpere.

Blitzcat deals with the unpleasant issues of the War as well as showing the courage of those who lived through it ~ Westall makes no secret of the fact that people get injured and die during the bombings. He deals
with these aspects sympathetically (even down to the deaths of animals during the bombing of Coventry) but it he doesn't gloss over them or glamorise War.

What I found particularly well done was the different ways that people treated and reacted to Lord Gort as they came across her. Some people thought she would be lucky, while others thought that she would be an omen for bad luck ~ oh yes, did I forget to mention that Lord Gort is a BLACK CAT? I often got quite caught up in the story and found myself forgetting that Lord Gort was a cat ~ she is courageous, strong willed and incredibly loyal to her owner. Westall really engages your sympathy for the lovely black cat and as she travelled I began to admire her strength of will more and more.

Westall's use of imagery and his own personal experiences of life during the War make it a believable and very realistic account of this historical period. It would make excellent reading for children studying the Second World War at school by providing excellent background information, as well as being a thoroughly good adventure story! It would make a good discussion topic and I would think it would a good story for children to read and discuss at home too.

I would recommend Blitzcat as a great story for older children and teenagers ~ my friend's daughter read it recently and she is only ten years old, but I would think anybody younger than that may struggle with some of the descriptive passages. Some of the words used (and also some of the ideas raised) may need explaining to some children, but, as long as there is an adult not too far away to clarify some points, there shouldn't be any problems. Blitzcat fired my imagination and really made me empathise with those struggling to cope through the brutality and hardship of war.

A damn good adventure story for children adults and cats alike!


~~~Product information.

Product Details:
Paperback 240 pages
(8 February, 2002)
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books;
ISBN: 033039861X

It is currently retailing on amazon.co.uk for £4.79 and can also be bought with The Machine Gunners for £9.98. The hardcover version was unavailable, but it can be bought as an Audio book.