The Cat Mummy Book

Verity's old tabby cat, Mabel, might not be quite as lively as she used to be, and yes, she smells a bit, and doesn't always make it to the litter tray on time, but she really really loves her. More importantly, Mabel once belonged to Verity's mum --not that Verity actually ever knew her mum because she died. She really doesn't mind too much about not having a mum, apart from when she goes to visit her grave, which makes her think about being in the ground with a head full of worms. So when she finds Mabel dead in the wardrobe, it seems to Verity that it would be much better to take a few lessons from the Ancient Egyptians: rather than bury the poor old thing she decides to mummify her so they can be together forever. But, what with the problems involved in finding the basic mummification materials, and the fact that Gran would probably fuss about hygiene if she knew anything about it, things don't quite go as planned... The simply sensational Jacqueline Wilson strikes hard and fast with this superb story of a feisty little girl coping with the death of a much-loved pet. But, as usual, the wiley Wilson doesn't just leave it there: instead she goes on to deliver a graceful, poignant and barely perceptible exploration of the close-to-the surface emotions of a family who have never truly recovered from the long-ago death of a loved-one. The Cat Mummy is simple, to the point, and a cracking story, but with the added bonus of Wilson's fantastic ability to bring serious issues to the fore without detracting from her characters and the deeply personal stories they have to tell. Another gem of a book from a national treasure of an author, The Cat Mummy is a must-read. Age 7 and over.--Susan HarrisonRead More