Product Description
As gripping as ‘The Diamond of Drury Lane’, this fabulous second volume from multi award-winning author Julia Golding sees Cat Royal storm a gentleman’s club, jump aboard a slave ship and enter the heart of the shadiest part of London – blindfolded! In an attempt to save Pedro from his former slave master, Cat makes some enemies and finds she has the police on her tail…Cat is driven to flee the theatre and ends up going into hiding – in a boy’s school. Then Cat’s nemesis Billy Shepherd turns up…Prepare to be gripped from page one.
Review
”Pacy…A most engaging read’ Books for Keeps; ‘An eminently satisfying and delightful read’ Sunday Tribune; ‘Hugely enjoyable romp of a tale’ School Librarian; ‘A colourful, action-packed story’ Publishing News – On Cat among the Pigeons: ‘A highly enjoyable story full of adventure, likeable character and sharp, witty dialogue’ Anti-slavery magazine. – On Den of Thieves: ‘Rip-roaring saga…thoroughly entertaining…lively and absorbing’ The Times Educational Supplement; ‘This is rollicking historical fiction at its best, a great read’ Sunday Express’
Hang on for the wild ride of Cat Royal’s second adventure, after The Diamond of Drury Lane (2008). The redheaded firebrand sees her friend Pedro scale the heights as Ariel in Mr. Sheridan’s production of The Tempest, only to find that his evil former master insists Pedro is still his slave. In trying to protect Pedro, Cat finds she must leave Drury Lane and hide herself – at her friend Lord Francis’s school. The somewhat-stale trope of a girl in boys’ clothing gets a few charming grace notes as Cat survives a beating and finds out how much easier (and harder) boys have it. The eerily scary Billy Boil continues to slither in and out of Cat’s life, and she makes him a promise she will no doubt regret keeping. As the story rockets along, Cat makes both new enemies and new and stalwart friends. Some historical figures drift through these pages, the pace is quick and engaging and the colorful evocation of 1790s London will keep readers plunging on and awaiting the next installment. (glossary) (Historical fiction. 10-14) (Kirkus Reviews)