© Pete Williamson (2012)
After the unexpected
and rather intriguing forewarning by the author, Barney arrives in chapter two
rather quietly. An instantly likable and relatable character, Barney is sadly
dealing with too many problems that are all trying to get their claws in at
once. A nasty school bully, a horrible headmistress and his Dad’s sudden
disappearance all weigh heavy on his shoulders. All on his birthday too. In the
days that follow, things just get worse for poor Barney. After some strange
goings on, Barney half-jokingly asks a peculiar cat whether he fancied swapping
places. After all Barney’s been through, you sympathetically nod and agree that
in his position, you would wish the same. At that moment, Barney experiences a spell
of dizziness and heads off home, not knowing that his transformation and
mysterious adventure is about to begin.
'Be careful what you wish for - Old saying, said by miserable people everywhere.' © Matt Haig (2012)
I loved the darkly
comic mood of the story, reminiscent for me of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. I
was gripped by its thrilling pace and wonderfully convoluted mystery that had
me guessing all the way through. Its surprises and revelations were thoroughly enjoyable,
with unexpected threads of the story weaving in when you thought it couldn't get
any more exciting. Despite all this action, its well rounded and memorable
characters are not neglected. Barney’s problems are handled with plenty of
heart and while all does not end as expected, the story concludes with a touching message that left me smiling as I finished the last page.
The black and white
illustrations throughout are charming and funny and I particularly enjoyed the
rather sinister portrayal of Miss Whipmire, the headmistress. I also loved the
added detail of the flip book effect of a running cat on the bottom of each
page.
© Pete Williamson (2012)
I believed that this
will be well-loved by all that read it for its exhilarating plot, superb villain
and touching message. It was an unexpected and satisfying find and I will enjoy
picking this one up again in the future.
Illustrations by Peter Williamson. Corgi (2012)
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