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Monday 28 October 2024

Review: Sabina and the Cats of Rome

Sabina and the Cats of Rome is an action-packed adventure perfect for to younger readers.

A feisty young heroine up to any challenge, leads an imaginative cast of characters.

Sabina lives in Rome in a house with magical surroundings. 

She doesn’t realize how magical until the day she meets the talking cat.

The cat is the only daughter of the King of Cats of Rome. 

They can communicate because all royal cats learn to speak human.

The cat, who Sabina names Cleo after Queen Cleopatra, asks Sabina to help her find the wizard who can remove a spell cast by King Rat on her father, who is now very ill.

Sabina is so bored she jumps at the chance of an adventure and of course, agrees.

Off she goes on the greatest undertaking of her young life, in the company of her two dogs, Major and Minor.

It is not as easy to find the wizard as the two travellers imagined.

She has King Rat and his minions, a snake charmer, and lots of people that refuse to help her find him, to contend with lots pf happenings going on in the background.

In a place like the Circus Maximus, how will the two find old Darius, the wizard?

Will he be willing to help, or not?

Sabina’s new friendship with Cleo is tested as time runs out and King Rat is still refusing to comply. Can they convince him in time to save Cleo’s father’s life?

Excellent black and white illustrations fill the book, adding visual reinforcement of the text while enriching the story.

Title: Sabina and the Cats of Rome
Author: Sophie Masson
Illustrator: Laura Wood
Publisher: Christmas Press, $ 15.99
Publication Date: 1 October 2024
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780645378894
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Fiction Younger