The Last Journey

The newest book in Stacy Gregg’s repertoire, The Last Journey is a perfect story for not just cat lovers, but any animal lover. With a strong theme, a thrilling plot and amazing description of the world of a cat, The Last Journey should be on everyone’s wish list.

The story follows Pusskin, who lives a normal and happy life in a cul-de-sac with his adoring owner, Lottie. But that was before the birds started disappearing and the blame fell on cats; before the Curiosity came and started exterminating the cat population. Now Pusskin and his feline friends have to embark on an incredible journey to Cat Island, the last sanctuary for cats. Will they succeed? And what dangers could they face on the island?

My favourite part of The Last Journey is the first chapter, where Pusskin’s Mama is telling Pusskin of his history. I love how Stacy Gregg goes through the history of a cat, making it sound thoroughly real and believable. There’s also a thread of Egyptian mythology throughout the book, for those who enjoy myths and legends. I also love the cover, which has to be one of the prettiest covers out of all Stacy Gregg’s books, in my opinion. The beautiful sunset matches with the golden lettering, and of course, Pusskin, front and centre, with the two cats on either side of him.

I also think the POV (Point of View) is really cool. I love reading books with animal perspectives, which are usually rare, and this is one of the best I’ve ever read. Lots of books with an animal perspective might, either knowingly or unknowingly, anthropomorphise, which means they give human qualities to animals. However, The Last Journey keeps all the characteristics of cats, which can have lots of mixed morals. It also feels realistic, like if we got a peek into a cat’s thoughts and history, it would look a lot like the lives of the cats in The Last Journey.

The strongest theme of The Last Journey is standing up for yourself and your rights. The main reason that Pusskin and his friends leave the cul-de-sac is safety, but it's also due to defiance, an act of standing up for their right to live, and not simply just accepting their fates, but trying to change them. Even if we don’t have to fight for our lives (hopefully), we sometimes have to fight against things that we find unfair and defend our rights. Whether we’re a student standing up to a bully, or a politician fighting against an unfair law, the reasoning is still the same.

Although Stacy Gregg specialises in horse books, and The Last Journey is about a cat, I think she’s outdone herself. No matter the animal, the message is the same: stand up for yourself and what you think is right, even if others try to persuade you otherwise. It’s a message everyone needs in their life.

- Sophia is 12 and lives in Wellington.