LoveReading4Kids Says
Winner of the Waterstone's Book Award 2010. Galaxy Children's Book Award shortlist 2010. Shortlisted for the prestigious Sheffield Children's Book Award 2011.
An entertaining behind-the-scenes look at family life in all its intricacies as it revolves around pet ownership and the drama that surrounds it. Nine year old Anna tells how she and her younger brother Tom win the battle to be allowed to own a hamster each, survive the ups and downs of ownership and then, when the great hamster massacre takes places, set about finding the culprit! Anna’s view of her world will amuse all.
The following titles were shortlisted for The Waterstone’s Children’s Book Award 2010 – Crowfield Curse, Desperate Measures, Flyaway, The Girl who could Fly, Love Aubrey, Meteorite Strike, Seven Sorcerers and The Toymaker
LoveReading4Kids
Find This Book In
The Great Hamster Massacre Synopsis
A very natural and honest version of life's events from the perspective of a young girl - from her suspicions about her neighbours, to her rocky friendship with the girl next door; from the sudden death of her beloved granny to her relentless quest for a pet hamster, only to then find it mysteriously slaughtered - which kickstarts a local investigation of 'suspects'. This is the first in a proposed series of short novels featuring the same characters and setting - with the themes of pets and detective work holding them together.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781847385956 |
| Publication date: |
7th January 2010 |
| Author: |
Katie Davies |
| Illustrator: |
Hannah Shaw |
| Publisher: |
Simon & Schuster Children's an imprint of Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
178 pages |
| Suitable For: |
|
About Katie Davies
Katie Davies studied English and Drama at university, where she wrote her first play, which was put on at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She has worked for a literary agent, as a special needs assistant, and has written articles for The Spectator and The Idler, as well as comedy sketches for Radio 4 show, 'One'. She is married to the actor and comedian Alan Davies, with whom she has a baby daughter, and they live in London.
The Great Cat Conspiracy is third in a series of bittersweet, hilariously funny, domestic tales of life from the perspective of Anna - a young girl with a suspicious mind. It follows the 2010 Winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize The Great Hamster Massacre and The Great Rabbit Rescue.
Davies based The Great Hamster Massacre on her childhood memories of her own pet hamsters coming to a bloody end, and the death of her grandfather. She said: "I remember being morbidly fascinated by death when I was seven or eight years old, and I wanted to explore how children deal with death in this story through the death of the nana."
She added: "Although these are big issues, when you are writing through the perspective of a young child, they don’t always understand what is really happening and it’s that which gives you opportunities for comedy."
Author photo © Adam Scourfield
More About Katie Davies
