Most kids' books about cats are cute. They’ve got whiskers, saucers of milk, and maybe a lost ball of yarn. But Varjak Paw by S.F. Said isn't that kind of book. It’s a gritty, philosophical, and surprisingly intense story that feels more like The Matrix or Batman Begins than The Aristocats.
If you grew up in the early 2000s, you probably remember Dave McKean’s jagged, ink-splattered illustrations. They were creepy. They were beautiful. They perfectly captured the vibe of a Mesopotamian Blue kitten who has spent his whole life trapped inside a stuffy house, only to be thrown into a world of gangs, "Vanishings," and ancient martial arts.
Varjak isn't a hero at the start. He's a failure. In the hierarchy of his high-society family, he’s the disappointment because his eyes are the "wrong" color. While his brothers are arrogant and pampered, Varjak is a dreamer. But dreams don't save you when the "Gentleman" shows up with two strange, silent black cats that don't even smell like living things.
That’s where the story actually begins.
The Seven Skills and the Way of Jalal
One of the coolest things about Varjak Paw by S.F. Said is the mythology. It’s not just a survival story; it’s a martial arts epic. Varjak is visited in his dreams by his ancestor, Jalal, who teaches him "The Way." These Seven Skills are what turn a tiny kitten into a formidable warrior.
- Openness: Clearing the mind to receive the world.
- Awareness: Sensing everything around you.
- Hunting: Not just for food, but for purpose.
- Shadow-walking: Moving without being seen.
- Moving Mind: The ability to stay calm in the heat of battle.
- Slowing Time: My personal favorite—it's basically "Bullet Time" for cats.
- Trusting Yourself: The hardest skill of all.
Honestly, reading this as an adult, you realize Said wasn't just writing about cats fighting. He was writing about mindfulness. He was writing about the Zen philosophy of being present. When Varjak learns to "Slow Time," it’s a metaphor for peak performance and focus. It’s rare to find a middle-grade novel that respects its audience enough to bake deep philosophical concepts into the plot without sounding preachy.
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Why the Atmosphere of Varjak Paw Works
The city in the book is terrifying. It’s rainy, dark, and full of "dogs"—which Varjak has never seen and thinks are giant monsters. S.F. Said uses sensory details in a way that makes the urban landscape feel alive. You can smell the wet pavement and the oily fur of the street cats.
Then there are the Vanishings.
For a huge chunk of the book, there’s this looming mystery of why cats are disappearing. It adds a layer of genuine suspense. When you finally figure out what's happening—and I won't spoil the exact mechanics for the three people who haven't read it—it’s genuinely dark. It touches on themes of industry, coldness, and the loss of soul.
Dave McKean’s art is the secret sauce here. If you know his work from The Sandman or Arkham Asylum, you know he doesn't do "simple." His illustrations in Varjak Paw by S.F. Said are scratchy and chaotic. They make the Gentleman look like a shadow and the mechanical cats look like nightmares. Without McKean, the book would still be great, but with him, it’s a masterpiece of children's gothic literature.
The Social Commentary You Might Have Missed
Looking back, the book handles some pretty heavy themes. Varjak is an outsider in his own family. He's bullied by his brother, Julius, and ignored by his grandfather, the Elder Paw. The family’s refusal to leave the house—even when danger is literally walking through the front door—is a stinging critique of elitism and willful ignorance. They’d rather stay in their "perfect" cage and die than admit the world has changed.
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Varjak, on the other hand, chooses the "outside."
He meets Holly, a jagged-eared street cat, and Tam, a hungry stray. These characters provide the emotional heart of the book. They show Varjak that bloodlines don't matter as much as loyalty. It’s a classic "found family" trope, but it works because the stakes are so high. They aren't just friends; they are allies in a war for survival.
It’s Not Just for Kids
S.F. Said has often mentioned in interviews that he spent years refining the draft. You can tell. There isn't a wasted word. The pacing is breakneck, but it slows down for those dream sequences with Jalal that feel like ancient myths.
The book won the Smarties Book Prize Gold Award for a reason. It doesn't talk down to readers. It assumes kids can handle some darkness and some big ideas. It’s about the transition from childhood innocence to the harsh reality of the world, and the discipline required to navigate it.
The Legacy of the Mesopotamian Blue
Since its release, Varjak Paw by S.F. Said has become a staple in UK classrooms and for good reason. It’s a perfect "bridge" book. It bridges the gap between simple animal stories and more complex, thematic literature. It also spawned a sequel, The Outlaw Varjak Paw, which is arguably even darker and more action-packed, dealing with a massive cat-war in the city.
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The book remains relevant because the "Way of Jalal" is timeless. In a world that’s increasingly loud and distracting, the idea of "Openness" and "Moving Mind" resonates. We’re all trying to find our way through the city, dodging "dogs" and trying not to get caught up in the "Vanishings" of modern life.
How to Get the Most Out of Re-reading Varjak Paw
If you're picking this up again after a decade, or introducing it to a younger reader, here’s how to dive deep:
- Look at the edges: McKean’s illustrations often contain hidden details that mirror Varjak’s mental state. Notice how the lines get sharper as he masters the Skills.
- Listen to the rhythm: Read the Jalal sequences aloud. S.F. Said wrote them with a specific, poetic cadence that differs from the gritty reality of the city chapters.
- Compare the "Gentleman" to real-world threats: The Gentleman is a personification of cold, unfeeling power. Discussing what he represents can lead to some pretty interesting conversations about authority and apathy.
- Track the Skills: See if you can spot Varjak using a Skill before he even realizes he's doing it. The foreshadowing is subtle but definitely there.
To truly appreciate the craft, compare it to other animal fiction like Warriors or Watership Down. While Warriors focuses on clan politics and Watership Down on epic survival, Varjak Paw by S.F. Said is a more intimate, internal journey. It’s a character study that just happens to have whiskers.
The ending doesn't wrap everything up in a neat little bow, but it gives Varjak something better than safety: it gives him agency. He isn't a victim of his circumstances anymore. He’s a Master. And in the world S.F. Said created, that’s the only thing that keeps you alive.
If you haven't read it in a while, find a copy. Look for the original cover. Let yourself get lost in the shadows of the city again. You’ll find that the "Way" still holds up, even years later.
To explore the world of the book further, start by mapping out the Seven Skills and identifying how each one applies to real-world challenges like focus and resilience. For educators or parents, using the book to discuss the difference between "inherited status" (the Paws' pedigree) and "earned skill" (Varjak's training) provides a powerful starting point for deeper character analysis. Finally, check out S.F. Said's other works, like Phoenix or Tyger, to see how he continues to blend high-concept philosophy with gripping adventure.