About Kiwi in Cat City (2011)
For children aged 9+, teens and adults…
One dark night, Amy cannot sleep and she looks out of the window into the garden to see her cat, Kiwi, transfixed by the moon, which is glowing brightly like a cat’s claw. Waking her brother, James, Amy suggests they follow Kiwi to see where she goes… whether it involves a hunt for mice or something else. Little do they know that, with a flick of her tail, Kiwi is going to magically change them into kittens and lead them on the adventure of their lives to a land they never knew existed in their wildest dreams. In the blue-lit world of Cat City, the budding detectives help Inspector Furrball to solve the mystery of the missing catizens and find out what happened to Madame Purrfect.
This book is the first in the Kiwi Series. So far, there are six books.
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Review: Kiwi in Cat City
The first in Vickie Johnstone’s Kiwi series, Kiwi in Cat City tells the story of Amy and James who observe their cat Kiwi in the garden one night at the start of a nocturnal wander around the neighbourhood. Curious to know where Kiwi is going, the two children follow their cat only for her to disappear in a puff of colourful smoke. The two children are taken aback when Kiwi returns and not only speaks to them but magically turns them into kittens. The trio then transport themselves to Cat City, inhabited by catizens (love it!), where they find themselves working with the law following a series of catnappings, or kidnappings if you prefer.
Kiwi in Cat City has the audience appeal of a film such as Shrek. Although the book may seem to be for younger readers, there is also plenty on offer here for teenagers and adults too. Aside from nostalgic visits to the Asterix comics, it’s not often I will read children’s books but I was happy to experience the world of Kiwi and what a world it is. The blue-lit Cat City is beautifully crafted with the catizens having their own businesses and not being as lazy as you might expect given what we know about our furry friends in the real world. Law enforcement is more humane with the weapons deployed too. This isn’t a violent place but the law is taken very seriously. Our trio of friends assist Inspector Furball who is investigating a series of kitty disappearances in the city with no ransom demands or anything. Amongst the missing is the highly respected Madame Purrfect.
Kiwi in Cat City is a delightfully imaginative and simple read that should appeal to a wide audience, especially all you kitty lovers out there. Intended for ages 9+, teens and adults this is a quick and enjoyable story with Cat City being well worth a visit if you’re planning a holiday any time soon. Everything from shops and lights, to roads and cars has been carefully thought through and given that special kitty polish. Cat City may have many features you would expect in our world but it’s definitely a cat paradise. No humans here, folks. My only issue with the book was the ending seemed a little abrupt but with five more books in the Kiwi series available it’s hard to be disappointed for long.
Kiwi in Cat City is a wonderful opening to this series. The start of Amy and James’ adventure, mirroring the curiosity of Alice heading into Wonderland, is a nice touch. There are some great characters and settings and it’s safe to say that Johnstone is kitty crazy, which isn’t a bad thing.
Verdict: 4/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Kiwi in Cat City – Vickie Johnstone | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
