Robin Price

My seven-year-old's selection from the school library. He read it to me, and the speed we got through it, it felt like we started in about 1974. The author has quite a nice style of writing, but I'm not sure what age range the book is really aimed at. By the time a child knows enough about ancient Roman/Egyptian/Greek history he or she is probably too old to be into books where all the characters are cats. I could be wrong there - my seven year old reckoned he really enjoyed it, but most of show more the puns sailed way over his head. Mine too in some cases. He did like the bit where the characters got turned into snake-poo, though. Wonder why that doesn't surprise me show less

Exciting adventures, featuring the feline rule of ancient Rome (and surrounding regions) and some fairly dreadful puns. Spartapuss is now an elderly, overweight and fairly wealthy cat, returning to Rome by ship when he learns that his son is in jail... on Hades Row. The book is narrated in diary form by both Spartapuss and his son, whose only crime was to fall in love with an unlikely female (Haireena) and then challenge the emperor. After some adventures, both Spartapuss and his son find show more themselves, separately, on their way to Fleagypt...

Ideal for children of about eight and up who read fluently and have at least some knowledge of Ancient Egypt. show less

History, with a twist... Ancient Rome is populated not with humans but with cats. Spartapuss, a fairly superior slave, narrates the story diary-style. Groanworthy puns abound, and although it took some getting into it was quite fun. Intended for children of about 8-12 who read confidently, and who know enough about Ancient Rome to appreciate it.

London Deep is half-novella, half-graphic novel. Unlike some illustrated novels, the graphic illustrations (which are edgy and cool) in London Deep are integral to the story. Rather than enhancing the story, they are part of the story - if you skip them, you will miss out on a scene in the novel.This is intriguing as a way to draw in reluctant readers, without going to an all-picture format like a graphic novel. There are plenty of words in this book, and they tell most of the story. This show more was a cute story, with colorful characters and a rich future-world. Jemima Mallard, daughter of the Chief Inspector of the Adult Police, has a day that goes from bad (her houseboat sinks) to worse (losing precious tanks of air) to sunk (captured by the Youth Police, and then underwater terrorists). I'm still not quite sure how the YPD and APD came into existence, but perhaps that will be explained in the sequel Father Thames. The action is fast-paced, but the violence kept to a minimum, making London Deep an excellent read for reluctant readers ages 8 . There's not a reading level designation on the book yet, but I would place it somewhere around RL4-5. show less