Alfie and George

Rachel Wells's Alfie and George is a warm, grown-up family story for 11 year olds, told by a grey London cat who takes looking after his humans VERY seriously.

What happens

Alfie is a doorstep cat. He doesn't belong to just one house on Edgar Road. He has several families, and he keeps an eye on all of them.

The story starts somewhere he's never been. Alfie and his girlfriend Snowball are brought along on a family holiday in the country (cats don't usually go on holiday, as he's quick to point out). There's an open fire to curl up by and a whole world of animals he's only heard about.

He's not a fan. A hen is terrifying. A cow is a MONSTER. A barn full of pigs looks ready to eat them both. Then they get lost, a scruffy local tabby shows them home while flirting outrageously with Snowball, and Alfie falls bottom first into a cow pat. Who knew the countryside was so dangerous?

It's very funny being inside Alfie's head. He's vain about his svelte figure, he's sure he's the brains of every operation and he's completely devoted to Snowball.

But he's also listening. Alfie overhears things the humans don't think a cat can follow, and some of it is worrying. By the time everyone's back in London there's news that could part him from Snowball. Then a scrap of a kitten called George turns up with nowhere to live, and he needs Alfie more than anyone.

Worth knowing before you hand it over

This was written for grown-ups, and it reads that way. Over a glass of wine, Alfie's owner Claire talks about not being able to have another baby, about IVF and about adoption. There are mentions of her divorce, of drinking too much in the past and of depression.

None of it is graphic, and it's all seen through a cat's kind, slightly baffled eyes. A mature reader who loves animals and family stories will probably take it in their stride. A child who'd rather not wonder about grown-up worries might be happier waiting a while.

What to read next

If they're after another pet who's decided it's his job to hold a family together, I, Cosmo is told by an elderly golden retriever with very firm opinions about turtles.