Cat Royal, Book 1: The Diamond of Drury Lane

Exciting evocation of 18th century London as experienced by a spirited orphan girl. The details of Drury Lane Theatre, the division between the rich and poor, and the bustle of the city are all brought to life.

A fun mystery! This is the first book of the Cat Royal mysteries by this author, and I can't wait for more! The book was a little long and tiring to first read and the first 100 pages or so were quite a bore, but after delving into the story more, the book finally came alive. It was a fun read and

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very fast and enjoyable.

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What stuck with me: The book starts off with a page of blurbs from William Pitt, James Boswell, Benjamin Franklin, and the Lord Chamberlain. How can you resist when Admiral Nelson says that he's made the book required reading for every midshipman, or Mary Wollstonecraft endorses it with "Write on,

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sister!"?

I also loved all the asides to the Reader, very much in the style of eighteenth-century novels.

This is a great book for someone who would probably enjoy the Sally Lockhart books in a few years, but is too young for them now. (Or, for that matter, anyone who's already memorized those, and would like Mr. Pullman to write more. :-)

Makes me want to read: The Enola Holmes books - I've heard good things about those.

Makes me want to reread: Master Rosalind, by Patricia Beatty, another story of a girl in the theater with touches of political intrigue.

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Orphan Cat Royal has grown up in the Theater Royal on Drury Lane. She has been lucky to have a roof over her head in 1790s London, but has learned to be tough to brave the gangs of Covent Garden. A diamond, rumored to be hidden in the theater, forces Cat to protect her home from potential thieves.

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This fast paced adventure promises to be the first in a series.

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A lively historical adventure set in 1790's London. "Cat" Royal is an orphan taken in by Mr. Sheridan at the Drury Lane Theater. When she misunderstands Sheridan's statement that he is hiding a "diamond" at the theater, it sets in motion a chain of events involving a possible traitor, rival London

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street gangs and a young lord and lady.

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A wonderful and re-freshing story! Set at a nice pace, this colourful tale of Cat Royal is sur to entrance her audience!

The rip-roaring adventures of a plucky orphan girl living under Richard Sheridan's wing in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the late 1890s. Much-hyped by children's book critics but, really, nothing special. I suppose if I had 12-year-olds I would rather they read this than a lot of other things,

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but I don't feel robbed that it wasn't part of my childhood.

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This novel was a satisfying read from beginning to end. Cat is witty, clever, and warm-hearted. She has both street smarts and innocence. The novel portrays 1790’s London in vivid, gritty detail. The language sounds historic without being overly complex or difficult to read. Golding portrays the

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limitations Cat faces, being a girl in this society, while allowing Cat’s wit and spirit to overcome those barriers. This is a great book for students who like historical novels or theater. While the narrator is female, there is enough action to keep boys interested as well.

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Cat has grown up in the Drury Lane Theatre and is a constant backstage presence. When she is caught overhearing the owner talking about a diamond concealed in the theatre for safekeeping, she promises to do her best to protect it. Her plans are somewhat frustrated by gang violence, the intrusion of

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a new entertainer, and staff changes. Cat is an intriguing character, as are her sidekicks in this romp. However, the mystery will be easily unraveled by most age-appropriate readers. The portrayal of an African slave boy entertainer seems shallow, as, obviously, do the other characters. But it's still an amusing romp.

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The word that best describes this little romp in eighteenth century England is cute. It was very cute. It isn’t historically accurate, and I don’t think the author was attempting for the characters to act as such. The story was preposterous, but definitely a bit of fun. This is the first book

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in a series that I would have adored as a child, and I honestly don’t see anything wrong with them, as they are a riot. Cat Royal gets into a bit of trouble, always with the best of intentions, she fights for the injustice she sees, stands up for what she believes in, and has some true friends. Even if it isn’t historically accurate, I like this version much better. She has spunk.

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Good middle-reader book, set in the theatre district of 18th century London.
~Stephanie

I really enjoyed this. It might not be a masterpiece but it was good fun, with lots of action, and times when Cat and her friends have to use their ingenuity to get out of a bad situation. The characters were pretty well-drawn and likeable (the ones we're supposed to like) and overall I thought it

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was a very good story. I look forward to reading later instalments in the series.

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