Cat's Cradle

Cat Royal Adventures #6

by Julia Golding

Following the multi award-winning The Diamond of Drury Lane, here we present the sixth volume from our famous feisty heroine Cat Royal...Cat's Cradle, in which Cat Royal spins a tale about the search for her family, weaving in friends and foes, old and new. Her journey takes her from riotous London to a revolutionary cotton mill on the River Clyde in Scotland, and a mysterious newcomer is introduced...So take your seats, ladies and gentlemen: the Industrial Age has arrived.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Mystery, Adventure, Childrens, Fiction

388 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2009

About the author

My journey to becoming an author has been a roundabout one, taking in many other careers. I grew up on the edge of Epping Forest and was that dreamy kind of child who was always writing stories. After reading English at Cambridge, I decided to find out as much as I could about the wider world so joined the Foreign Office and served in Poland. My work as a diplomat took me from the high point of town twinning in the Tatra Mountains to the low of inspecting the bottom of a Silesian coal mine.

On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones - a cause about which I still feel very passionate.

Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees.

My first novel, 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone's in 2007 as one of their 'Twenty-five authors for the future'. In the US, 'Secret of the Sirens' won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.

My latest series, which starts with Mel Foster and the Demon Butler, about an intrepid Victorian orphan who lives in a household of monsters, won Bronze in the Primary Teacher awards in 2015. The next part, Mel Foster and the Time Machine, has set the time-dial to arrive in 2016.

Reviews

[Ali Book World · Rating 4 out of 5]

خلاصه جلد ششم و ریویوویی برای کل مجموعه:

خلاصه جلد شش: بعد از تمام فراز و نشیب هایی که در پنج کتاب قبلی در مورد کت خوندیم، بالاخره به یک آرامش نسبی رسید اما کت همیشه یتیم بوده و از خانواده‌ش خبر نداشته و نمیدونه چه کسانی بودند!!!... در همین حین خبری از جانب اسکاتلند به او میرسد که در نهایت کت تصمیم میگیرد به شمال برود تا شاید سرنخی از خانواده‌ی واقعیِ خود پیدا کند.

ریویووی کل مجموعه:
فکر می‌کنم حدود شش سالی میشه که من می‌خواستم این مجموعه رو بخونم و هر دفعه به یک دلیل از خوندنش منصرف می شدم ولی دیگه به هر حال تصمیم گرفتم که عزمم رو جذب کنم و این مجموعه‌ی شش جلدی رو به آخر برسونم. و بالاخره تمام شد...

"ماجراهای کت رویال" یک مجموعه‌ی کلاسیک محسوب میشه که روایت داستان در شهر لندن و در سال ۱۷۹۰ میگذره. هر جلد از کتاب وقایع و داستان‌هایی مجزا دارن اما کاملا به همدیگه پیوسته هستند، یعنی حتما باید پشت سرهم بخونید تا همه چیز رو متوجه بشید.

خب، واقعا ناراحتم که چرا زودتر این مجموعه رو نخوندم. خیلی خیلی زیاد دوستش داشتم. حس نوستالژی خیلی خوبی داشت. داستان کسل کننده‌ای نبود و راحت و زود هم تمام شد. سه کتاب اول رو خیلی دوست داشتم اما کتابهای پنجم و چهارم با اینکه قلم قوی‌تری داشتن اما نمیدونم چرا نتونستم مثل سه کتاب اول دوستشون داشته باشم. جلد ششم (آخر) یجورایی حال و هوای کتاب اول رو تداعی میکرد و میشد حس کرد که بالاخره همه چیز برمیگرده به اونجایی که باید باشه.

در کل مجموعه‌ی قشنگی بود و در هر سنی که باشید میتونید ازش لذت ببرید، چون توش همه چی هست. دوست داشتن، نفرت، هیجان، ماجراجویی، ناراحتی، تنهایی، دوستی، گذر زمان و و و... پایانش هم طوری بود که یک لحظه پیش خودم فکر کردم "چجور کَت و دوستاش از کتاب اول به اینجا رسیدن؟"😍

اگر که این مجموعه رو خوندید چه بهتر
ولی
اگر هنوز سراغش نرفتید، حتما بخونیدش چون حس و حال خیلی خوبی داره...!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cat made it back to England only to quickly head off to Scotland to find out the truth about where she came from. While she'd been gone, Mr. Sheridan had received a letter from a Scottish woman claiming to know about Cat's background. Not sure whether to believe it or not, Cat and her new friend, Bridget, head off to Scotland to determine the truth of the matter. While there, she finds an aunt, cousins, and a half-brother. She learns the truth of why her mother left her on the steps of the Theater Royal as a small child.

Things that made me sad: Cat basically flat out tells Syd that she will never think of him romantically. (But, I still hold out a little hope because Anne flat out told Gilbert that she only thought of him as a friend and yet she eventually figured out she loved him).

Things that made me happy: If Cat really won't ever fall for Syd, maybe he and Bridget will fall in love. That could work for me too.

A little hint of flirty teasing between Frank and Cat. Frank is my second choice love interest for Cat.

No Billy/Cat. He's a thief and a murderer. He owns slaves. I just can't wrap my head around him reforming enough to make that relationship OK in my mind.

Overall, an improvement over the last two books.

[Xolindsayxx18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book just shipped in from England. After reading it was defintely worth the extra 20 dollars shipping. The story was typical Cat, with a layer of seriousness added on because of the dealings with her family. I loved the book, though it was a quick read. The only fault I can find is that there was no romance. Cat is getting older now and I was hoping she would start a relationship with someone. She makes it clear Syd is out of the picture in that department, but I am hoping Frank and Billy as my next choice. Overall good read!

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO FRUSTURATING! I finally get this book in my hands and it didn't disappoint. This did not seem like a final book. I'm trying hard to believe that this is NOT the final book. I can't really review and give valuable information, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The ending made me run around and laugh and slightly cry. Oh, family is more than blood! Frank and Cat all the way!!!

Please Julia, make another one!

[Sara MostaghaC · Rating 3 out of 5]

.کلا خواندن جلد آخر یک مجموعه خیلی بد است. آن هم مجوعه ای که دوستش داشته باشی
دیشب که داشتم به دفتر ثبت تاریخ اتمام کتاب هام ( :)) ) نگاه می کردم دیدم حدود چهار سال پیش اولین جلد این مجموعه را خواندم...اوووف...چقدر گذشته!!!!

این جلد را به اندازه ی بقیه دوست نداشتم به دو دلیل مهم. یکی این که شخصیت های اصلی مجموعه در این جلد نقششان کمرنگ شده بود و دو این که "زادگاه کت" جلد آخر است.
از دلیل اول هم بگذرم، از دومی کوتاه نمی آیم.

کاش بعضی چیز ها تمام نمی شدند...

[Negin · Rating 5 out of 5]

...

[Samantha (A Dream of Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sixth book in the series about Cat Royal, self-professed orphan, adventurer and actress. I haven't actually read any of the preceding books but it didn't take me long to get acquainted with the all the characters. There was also a handy who's who guide in the front which I consulted a couple of times and was a big help. The only thing I would have liked to have known (and I assume this is mentioned at the start of the series) is how old Cat actually is. I couldn't quite work this out - the cover girl looks about 13 which is much younger than I pictured Cat being, as she often seems to be off on an adventure of her own and I would have thought she was closer to 16 or 17.

'Cat's Cradle' is set in London in 1792, as Cat arrives home from her escapades in the Caribbean. No sooner have her feet touched solid ground than she's off again, this time to Scotland, to try to uncover long-buried family secrets. The story follows her attempts to discover the identity of her mother and to determine if she actually does have a family after all - an orphan no more.

This was an enjoyable story with an engaging and unconventional heroine, who's feisty and doesn't conform to what's expected of a conventional young lady. She speaks her mind and isn't afraid to stick to her guns even when those around her might question her actions. This is refreshing and is part of what makes Cat such a brilliant main character. She can often be found with her close friend Syd and his London gang, but in this installment she is trying to keep some distance between herself and Syd who harbours romantic feelings towards her.

There's some interesting new characters as well, such as Bridget, an Irish girl who she meets and takes under her wing and who joins her on her journey to Scotland.

I love historical fiction and liked the way in which Julia Golding wonderfully evokes the sights and sounds first of eighteenth century London and then Scotland, through both the landscapes and the dialects of the characters. I felt like I was transported back in time to join Cat on her adventure!

The Cat Royal books are hugely popular with a young teen audience but I think would also appeal to anyone that likes beautifully written historical fiction that's engaging and entertaining, as well as touching on more serious issues such as social equality. I'm now going to go and read the first five books in the series to see where Cat's story began!

[Gina Schwartz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series went downhill fast for me. I know that it is really children's literature but sometimes I like to check in with children's and young adult literature to see what the younger generation is reading these days. However if this is what they are reading then sorry times are ahead.

I will start by saying that I like Cat very much as a heroine I like her pluckiness, she is brave and already ready with a witty answer. She is always willing to help others even if it means putting herself in danger and her adventures are wild. The situations that the author puts her in however are so preposterous that they left me completely exasperated. In each novel so far she comes within a hairsbreath of being executed for one minor crime or another and barely escapes because of her quick wits - it becomes very tiring.

If I were to read these again I would stop at Den of Thieves and never get on to the last two novels as these are just an expansion on the earlier themes in different locales.

[Anna Bergmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our young heroine has lived through danger in the backstreets of London, she's visited a post-revolutionary Paris, she's sailed across the Atlantic on a warship, she's met pirates and uprising slaves, she's been adopted by indians, and in this the sixth (and last?) installment she takes up a job in a Scottish cotton mill!
No... No, you're quite right. This book doesn't start off the day with a champagne breakfast. It's more of a bowl of porridge really. It's probably good for you and all that (Julia Golding tries hard to give us a proper and nourishing history lesson), but just hang in there. Eventually she leaves both child labor and deadly flus behind, and goes off galavanting with thieves and highwaymen (all wi' unco northern accents), and with a smile on your face you realize she's back on an adventurous track again.
Ain't this the sassenach and ramstam lassock we've all grown to like so much!

[Nafiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this long awaited installment in the Cat Royal series had hijinks and adventures in the usual fashion, I felt it lacked the usual tension generated by romantic tension between Cat and whoever is chosen as her current paramour. That aside, it was a rollicking ride across the moors, finding relatives and making new friends. The series is supposed to conclude in nine books and we are on six so here’s hoping that the next three show some progression where Cat and her growing is concerned.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud so many times reading this...I'd forgotten how outrageous Cat Royal could be! Loved it!

[- · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf at 63%.

i’m lowkey upset that there isn’t a seventh book that’s set in the future or something because i really want to see a frank/cat relationship 😭😭

i know she’ll never love syd, she sees pedro as a brother, jf is all the way in paris and i would literally sob and drop to my knees if the author made billy/cat a real relationship. he’s literally a SLAVE OWNER who trjed to KILL HER multiple times ⁉️i genuinely love frank/cat and the fact that his dad married a commoner too? i would pay big bucks for a novella to see a frank/cat relationship 😍

this book was super boring. plot meh. characters yawnfest. the only good part was the first half but honestly… can we talk about the fact that cat is such a girl’s girl ? she’s so real. also idc abt bridgit/syd that sounds boring 😭 pedro/jenny and frank/cat outsold.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this is the final book in the Cat Royal series, I came to find out if my ship would sink or swim. And... I think ALL the ships are sunk? Did any remain? Maybe some future with Boil? Ew. I ship her with Frank but the sibling energy coming off those two was hard to ignore. I figured I would at least get to see Syd tied down to a nice Irish girl, but even that is less inconclusive.

This doesn't FEEL like the final book the series. I sure hope we get more. Glad I read it. I'd give this series to my niece.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish we had gotten more Billy in this book, but I guess the author wanted to go in a different direction. I can see why, since Cat maintains that she isn't looking for a relationship, and she is rather young, but it was still slightly disappointing. All in all, though, it is a solid 4-star series for me.

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice series ender, but I was sad to see that so many of our favorite characters only had very small roles or no role at all in this book, which also didn't take place at Drury Lane - I guess I just wanted it to be more nostalgic...

[Jessica Bode · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favourite of the Cat series. I understood wanting her to have a nice ending, but I felt like something was missing. Cat comes across as quite arrogant and overconfident compared to previous books and everything seems to happen a little too easily which takes away the realism.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sorry that this is the last of the series. I would enjoy reading about how she reaches adulthood.

[stuck_in_a_booksuzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A prefect way to end ( but I want a story of what happens to her after)

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just sad that there's no more of Cat Royal's story left to read.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

'I don't think I'll be getting married.'

This is the end of the Cat Royal books. I'm in two minds about this one. Basically, there are two negative main points that I would like to address:
1) While Cat has always been accompanied by her old friends and acquaintances, that's not the case in this book. Perhaps it is, as the cover says, an adventure she must fulfill on her own, but it's still a shitty move if you ask me. Billy is only present for a very short time, and while Frank and Syd are present both at the beginning and the end of the book, it still feels as if something's missing. (Charlie's short return was good, though.) It feels as if there several plot points concerning the secondary characters remain unaddressed (such as Billy). Bridgit as a new character was nice, but she can't just replace everyone else.
2) Cat has always prided herself on being independent and not needing anyone to help her or be with her. She has never shown any interest at all in her family, but in this book she does a one-eighty and it seems off compared to the other five books. I'm not an orphan, of course, so I'm hardly a good judge as I don't know what my reaction would be if I were standing in her place, but it always seemed to me as if Cat is content with that place. That does not seem as good character development if you ask me.
However, there are good elements as well of course. Especially looking over the course of the entire series, it's clear that Cat has come a long way. All the books are set in about two years (maybe two and a half?) and Cat has grown a lot. From a scruffy Theatre Royal Orphan who was London street smart, she has slowly turned into a worldly young woman who is very much world wise. Is her behaviour and knowledge fully realistic? I doubt it - but that's not the reason this series exists either. No matter how you'd look at it, Cat's intelligence, understanding of the world, and being critical and logical have grown a lot. She started out as just a child who was having some fun in Covent Garden, but then changed into someone who has clearly gone through and seen a lot, and it all culminates in the fact that Cat very much grasps that she and her way of living are unorthodox. And she doesn't let other's opinions stop her or change her mind, and it's clear that that won't ever be the case.
So, well, congratulations, Julia Golding.
7.7/10
Average rating for the series: 7.95/10

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh - I had forgotten how much I love these books!!! Although most plots seem somewhat unlikely in reality terms, they make for good stories and yes I know they are aimed at younger readers, but hey, that doesn't mean I can't enjoy them! Golding makes Cat such a likeable character, an independant (mostly), smart, brave and compasionate girl, even her teasing manner adds to her aimiable character. Her personality creates a character I am sure lots of girls would want to be like - I know I would, to an extent. But no Cat and Syd???? Why no Cat and Syd??? I have been anticipating their getting together right from the beginning. I admit I was disappointed to discover that Cat had no romantic feelings for Syd, who is also endeared to the reader through his shy affections for Cat and consequent protectiveness! Is it just me who thought it's cute how he calls Cat 'kitten'??? Oh well so much for that - the story was nevertheless great (it proved an interesting read with all the Scottish accents) and I like the fact Cat has a brother who eventually comes to be fond of her - I do hope another book will be following! For a rather quick entertaining read I really recommend this series - don't dismiss it just because it's mainly aimed at young teens!!!

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really fun book in this series. This one's a little different; this time, Cat heads up to Scotland with a new friend to try and find out about her mother, who abandoned her as a young child at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. Of course, being Cat, she ends up in some big trouble along the way! I'm definitely interested in seeing what happens in the next book, as I imagine it'll have to involve Bridget's seven a-hole brothers, as well as Cat's matchmaking skills. It's kind of nice to have some fun new characters along for the ride though, especially now that Pedro and Johnny and Isabel have all exited stage right! I'm not sure how many books Golding is planning, or if she's writing them all off the cuff, but I'm enjoying this series immensely and hope there's no end in sight!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The long-awaited book has arrived! Finally, fans of Cat Royal can read about Cat's family and where she comes from. In this book, which begins with the tensions between Syd's gang and new Irish workers in London, takes Cat to Scotland after recieving a mysterious letter that hints at her origins. In a small mill town in Scotland, Cat might find the answers to the question of where she came from and, even more important, who she belongs to. The reason I didn't give this book five stars is because the ending was a bit of a deus ex machina- the cavalry came in and saved her, which was disappointing for a character that has proved herself more than able to get herself out of all sorts of scrapes. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone!

[Jen-Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so sad that I've finished this old childhood series finally. I've loved every single page of this book, it brought back of the feelings that I felt with the previous ones. What I loved most about this book was the dialogue. It was so well written and highly entertaining and easy to understand.

Cat Royal is one of the most amazing female characters I've ever read. She is a huge inspiration and I think young girls will really look up to her.

I feel so empty and full. I can't believe Cat's journey is over. The series has made me so emotional. I want more but there isn't. I kinda wanna cry a bit.

I hope you fall in love with Cat just as much as I have.

[Majd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat is just as funny, moving and mischievous as ever. This book reminded me why I love the Cat Royal series so much (although I think I'm supposed to be too old for it): it never fails to improve my mood and crack me up. Cat's Cradle had me dreading to turn each page because it only got me closer to the end; and finishing it would only mean a long, horrible wait for the next book. Among the previous Cat Royal books, I had found it hard to choose my favourite. I think it's safe to say I no longer have this problem, thanks to Cat's Cradle.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Either the series is getting worse or I'm getting tired of the characters. I've discovered over the years that it is very difficult for an author to maintain their momentum over the span of a series. With a few notable exceptions (I'm looking at you, J.k.!), I think most authors would be wise to stick to a trilogy. That seems to be the magic number that most good authors can achieve without burning out the reader.

[Kell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series of young adult novels has touched on some serious subjects, from slavery to revolution to piracy and fighting for a cause, but this one didn’t really have a “big” theme – just the more personal one of finding one’s family. That said, it was still a warming and endearing story and an enjoyable read, and I look forward to completing the series with the novella which is only available as an e-book.

[Lemurkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I whole-heartedly enjoy this story, and the adventures and misadventures that Cat Royal gets herself into. This one takes her into Scotland, seeking her heritage and not only has her working a run-of-the-mill job, but also includes cattle theives, tresspassing and general mayhem. Another fast-paced, interesting adventure with a good touch of humour and a very appealing narrator.

[Elizabeth Madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard for me to get my head wrapped around the fact that this is the last book in the series. It didn't really feel like an ending, but nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read. Cat Royal is as adventurous as ever, and I just love this cast of characters so much. I'm sad to see them go, but also excited to re-read the entire series. Well done.

[Natalie Modugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, all of the Cat Royal books are awesome, but this book is my favorite! Cat is the best! In the book, she is as clever, funny, and adventurous as ever!
So, Cat comes back home from her overseas voyage. Her old patron, Mr. Sheridan, has exciting news for her! Yay for Cat! She might have family in Scotland! This lady