Kaspar the Titanic Cat

( 10 )

Overview

When kaspar the cat first arrived at London’s Savoy Hotel, it was Johnny Trott who carried him in. After all, Johnny was a bellboy and was responsible for all of Countess Kandinsky’s things— including Kaspar. But when tragedy befalls the Countess during her stay, Kaspar becomes more than Johnny’s responsibility: Kaspar is Johnny’s new cat, and his new best friend.

And when Kaspar and Johnny meet Lizziebeth, a spirited young heiress, they find themselves journeying across the ...

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Kaspar the Titanic Cat

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More About This Book

Overview

When kaspar the cat first arrived at London’s Savoy Hotel, it was Johnny Trott who carried him in. After all, Johnny was a bellboy and was responsible for all of Countess Kandinsky’s things— including Kaspar. But when tragedy befalls the Countess during her stay, Kaspar becomes more than Johnny’s responsibility: Kaspar is Johnny’s new cat, and his new best friend.

And when Kaspar and Johnny meet Lizziebeth, a spirited young heiress, they find themselves journeying across the Atlantic with Lizziebeth’s family on England’s newest and most magnificent ship, the Titanic. Because there is always adventure in the air with a cat like Kaspar around. After all, he’s Kaspar Kandinsky, Prince of Cats, a Londoner and a New Yorker and, as far as anyone knows, the only cat to survive the sinking of the Titanic. . . .

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Former British children’s laureate Morpurgo (War Horse) offers a sweet, touching historical novel (published in the U.K. in 2008) that balances sentimentality with humor and action. The orphaned 14-year-old narrator, Johnny Trott, a put-upon bellhop at a London hotel, becomes the caretaker of the titular cat after the sudden death of Kaspar’s owner, the opera singer Countess Kandinsky. As Johnny attempts to hide his new charge from the hotel’s malicious head housekeeper, Mrs. Blaise (nicknamed “Skullface”), he worries that Kaspar is pining for his late owner. Kaspar cheers up when he meets Lizziebeth, a girl who instantly takes to the cat. Morpurgo keeps the action moving swiftly, with new characters and concerns shoring up the fast friendship that forms between the two teenagers (and the cat they love). Readers might find the title misleading—only about a third of the story takes place on board the Titanic, although it certainly represents the tensest part of the novel—but the story is more than enjoyable enough to compensate, with Foreman’s delicately detailed spot art contributing to the book’s strong sense of atmosphere. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)
The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books
“Young readers stricken with Titanic fever will be more than happy to have yet another timely...take on the sinking.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Young readers stricken with Titanic fever will be more than happy to have yet another timely...take on the sinking."
Children's Literature - Peg Glisson
Young teen Johnny Trott is an orphaned bellboy at the posh Savoy Hotel in London in 1912. When opera star Countess Kandinsky arrives for a three-month stay, Johnny transports her luggage, and her yowling cat Kaspar, to her room; in so doing he begins to earn her trust, respect, and eventually affection. Her sudden death leaves him as caretaker of Kaspar, a fact he must hide from the hotel's head housekeeper, known as Skullface to hotel staff. Lizziebeth Stanton, a rich, young American staying at the Savoy, befriends Johnny and Kaspar; his rescue of her from a high perch leads to her family's friendship and concern for the boy. When it's time for the Stantons' return to America, Johnny takes their bags to the Titanic, where he lingers too long on deck and becomes a stowaway. Miraculously, Johnny manages to save Kaspar as the ship goes down and the four plus Kaspar are safely reunited and happily spend time together in NYC before the outbreak of World War I. About half of the book takes place before the Titanic sails and provides an interesting look at life in London in the early twentieth century. The fast-moving story is easy to read and Foreman's detailed black-and-white drawings add detail and emotion, effectively portraying lifestyle and events. There is an old-fashioned feel to this light historical novel. With so much attention to the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's fatal voyage, it is a fun and somewhat exciting look not only on board but also at the period. Reviewer: Peg Glisson
Kirkus Reviews
Readers might be tempted to check the copyright date on this old-fashioned rags-to-riches tale that manages to turn a major historical disaster into just another incident in the narrator's very full life. The overall tone is decidedly nostalgic as Johnny Trott, a poor orphan who once worked as a bellboy at the swanky Savoy Hotel in London, tells his story. From the arrival (and untimely demise) of a talented Russian singer and her titular cat Kaspar through Johnny's acquaintance with a mischievous young American girl, a stint as a stowaway on the Titanic, the well-known sinking of the great ship, life in the United States, the Great War and back (just for a visit) to the Savoy, Morpurgo crams in too much action with too little emotional depth. Stilted conversational styles reflect the formality of the day but serve to further distance readers. Kaspar, while realistically portrayed in his feline hauteur and self-absorption, has limited appeal and, like most of the other characters, seems to exist mainly to propel the plot. Foreman's black-and-white illustrations have a pleasing variation of texture, the likely result of having been first rendered in watercolor. From small vignettes to larger scenes, they effectively capture the styles of the day and accurately reflect the action, but they can't quite manage to enliven the text. Surprisingly (and disappointingly) dull. (Historical fiction. 9-12)
School Library Journal
Gr 2–5—Despite the title, this is really the story of a bell boy at the ritzy Savoy Hotel in London. Kaspar arrives with a wealthy Russian singer, and, after her tragic death, Johnny Trott takes care of him even though he is not allowed any pets in his room. Elizabeth Stanton, the young daughter of rich Americans, and her family are staying at the Savoy until they sail home. After accompanying the Stantons to the ship and giving Kaspar to Lizziebeth, Johnny makes a rash decision to stow away. He is rapidly discovered and put to work in the engine room stoking the big furnaces. When the iceberg is hit, Johnny goes to wake the Stantons and helps to rescue Kaspar and get him on a lifeboat. All three Stantons, Kaspar, and Johnny survive the disaster and Johnny is adopted by the family. There is nothing remarkable about this story to make it stand out from among the other offerings commemorating the famous disaster. The characters are likable, but almost caricatures; for instance, the matron in charge is called "Skullface" by the children because she is mean and angry. Foreman's black-and-white illustrations, many full page, help accentuate the narrative, and short sentences, adequate white space, and the medium-size text will aid readers who are transitioning to more challenging chapter books. However, the nostalgic, humdrum story may not captivate their interest.—Amy Commers, South St. Paul Public Library, MN
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780062006189
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 3/13/2012
  • Pages: 208
  • Sales rank: 139,496
  • Age range: 8 - 12 Years
  • Lexile: 870L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.60 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Meet the Author

Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved children’s book writers. He has written more than one hundred books and has won the Smarties Book Prize, the Whitbread Award, and the Blue Peter Book Award for Private Peaceful. Michael was writer-in-residence at the Savoy Hotel from January to April 2007, and previously he was Great Britain’s Children’s Laureate from 2003 to 2005, a role that took him across the country to inspire a love of reading in children.

Michael Foreman grew up in a small English fishing village and has loved the sea ever since. He has illustrated more than one hundred children’s books, and he has won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the Smarties Book Prize, and the Federation of Children’s Book Groups’ Red House Children’s Book Award. He has collaborated with Michael Morpurgo on several successful books, including The Amazing Story Of Adolphus Tips and Billy the Kid.

Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved children’s book writers. He has written more than one hundred books and has won the Smarties Book Prize, the Whitbread Award, and the Blue Peter Book Award for Private Peaceful. Michael was writer-in-residence at the Savoy Hotel from January to April 2007, and previously he was Great Britain’s Children’s Laureate from 2003 to 2005, a role that took him across the country to inspire a love of reading in children.

Michael Foreman grew up in a small English fishing village and has loved the sea ever since. He has illustrated more than one hundred children’s books, and he has won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the Smarties Book Prize, and the Federation of Children’s Book Groups’ Red House Children’s Book Award. He has collaborated with Michael Morpurgo on several successful books, including The Amazing Story Of Adolphus Tips and Billy the Kid.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 10 )
Rating Distribution

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(6)

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Sort by: Showing all of 10 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2012

    joe grossblatt

    Ingnore bad citisims.this is the best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 31, 2013

    A Review on "Kasper the Titanic Cat"

    I have just finished reading Kasper the Titanic Cat, and I have to say I'm impressed. This story chronicles the tale of fourteen year old Johnny Trott, and how he and his new cat Kasper find themselves traveling to America aboard the Titanic along with a little girl named Lizziebeth.
    The story begins when Countess Kandinsky arrives at the Savoy with her cat Kasper. The bellboy, Johnny Trott, befriends the Countess and her cat during her stay, and all seems well untill Countess Kandinsky dies in a terrible accident, leaving Johnny to care for Kasper. Despite everything Johnny and his friends do, Kasper falls ill, and slowly begins to decline. They've almost given up, until an American girl named Lizziebeth somehow manages to get Kasper to eat again. As you can imagine, a friendship forms between the girl and the bellboy (and Kasper too, of course). Eventually, Johnny Trott must say goodbye to his newfound friend, as she leaves to travel home on the Titanic. Suddenly, Johnny finds himself the Titanic—along with Kasper—as a stowaway aboard the ship.
    This story was a very interesting and fun book, and I'm sure I will read this again. However, there were a few things I didn't enjoy about this book.
    For starters, it was rather short. Johnny and Kasper's voyage aboard the Titanic is skimmed over in some parts, and not very descriptive in others. Most of the story took place at the Savoy, where Johnny worked as a Bellboy. And the ending is also very rushed, and I wished there had been more to it.
    Second, Kasper struck me as a very proud and bossy character—not as the loving kitty he was made out to be. Johnny also seemed to have a different personality then that of a fourteen year old, but mabye that is just because this book took place a while ago.
    Despite these minor flaws, I greatly enjoyed this book. I couldn't but it down untill I had finished. I would recomend Kasper the Titanic Cat to those who enjoy reading cat/animal adventure stories, adventures of the Titanic, or are looking for a good book to read. I hope this review was helpful.
    -LG

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2011

    Anyone know what this book is about

    Does anyone know what this book is about? I am titanic nerd and it doesn't say much for description.

    2 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 31, 2012

    Not posting about this book

    Do they have kensukes kingdom on here??????????? I WANT TONO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 10, 2012

    ?.

    How much is it?

    1 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 9, 2013

    B

    I read the sample it was boring so far


    <3 sevan super girls

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 6, 2013

    AMAZING book

    This was an amazing book its definetly worth the money i hope u get and like this book its not very sad if thats what you think because of "titanic" like if u agree or thought it was helpful oh and i would give it one million stars if i could

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 28, 2013

    Daisy

    I love brave cats

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 26, 2013

    Awesome

    Best book ever

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 26, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

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