Beautiful children's coming of age story told from the pov of a cat. A few very sad moments but for the most part funny and light.

 This was an impulse purchase because I flicked through and liked the illustrations while a friend was looking for a different book in the kids' section in Waterstones. I don't know exactly what I expected, but it wasn't this - and I mean that in a good way!

The story is of a purebred kitten, Varjak Paw, who starts to suspect things are a bit off upon the arrival of the Gentleman and his two strange cats to the house his family have lived in for generations. Being the family scapegoat, however, he is brushed off by all but his grandfather. His grandfather gives him all he has - a vague hint of their ancestor's knowledge - as a starting point and gives him an opportunity to escape and find help.

Poor Varjak has a lot to deal with in the real world ("the Outside") and reconnects with his heritage over the course of his dreams, makes friends despite the dangerous environment, and proves himself wrong on many fronts.

The story gets surprisingly dark.

It struck me as a very good (for the intended age group, at least) allegory for the rise of fascism. The Gentleman, who plies Varjak's family with luxuries while reducing their freedom in a way they accept as reasonable, is killing and stuffing street cats, which the family refuse to fight against, under the impression that they're different and will be kept safe - which, as Holly, a street cat who befriends Varjak points out, won't be the case forever, because even a "special" cat is still a cat in the eyes of the Gentleman.

Although it is a children's book, and so fairly simple, it's engaging, fun, and a good amount of creepy. I'll definitely be reading the sequel. 

This is a coming of age tale about a kitten who learns the value of friendship, loyalty and family. It is quite dark for a kids book and there is a lot of violence and peril.