Malkin Moonlight by Emma Cox
Ill. by Rohan Eason. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408870846
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Emma Cox's Malkin Moonlight won the
2015 New Children's Author Prize for the National Literacy Trust.
Cox delves deeply into the cat's world, and she creates a believable
society, where cats can communicate, read, marry and support each
other. Similar to Watership Down and Guardians of the
Ga'Hoole, we follow the path of a young kitten as he grows
into cathood, learns life lessons and ventures far from home.
Black cat, Malkin Moonlight is the narrator of this carefully
crafted tale, his story begins with a narrow escape from an unkind
owner. As a kitten, Malkin talks to the Moon who recognises his
special traits and marks him with a beautiful white collar. The
Moon's advice guides his path, and influences the life choices he
makes. He is a kind, brave feline who will make sacrifices for his
friends and use his skills to be a peacemaker.
Malkin's friendship with a beautiful domestic kitten Roux is
mutually rewarding, she teaches him to read and he encourages her to
venture further from her home, to experience the feel of sand on her
paws and the salty sea spray. Malkin's sixth sense assists him in
protecting a swan's eggs from a hungry vole and leads him to rescue
the father swan trapped in netting.
On the night of the Blue Moon Malkin and Roux are married, but
happiness turns to sadness when Roux's owners sell their home and
pub and move across town. A month later, the cats meet again on the
seawall and Horatio the seagull guides them to their new home the
Recycling Centre. Here amidst the sections of Newspapers and
Aluminium and Tin Cans, they settle in to life with the friendly
cats that sleep on the mattresses, read the papers and play amongst
the recycled goods.
On the other side of the wall in the toxic wasteland live the
Putrescibles, evil cats with scarred bodies who eke out their
existence in a dirty disgusting environment. They fight the cats of
the Recycling Plant carrying on a deep-seated feud. Malkin's rescue
of a Putrescible kitten, Calica is the turning point. As the
wasteland is cleaned up and the rubbish removed, Malkin brings both
groups of cats together to live in the safety of the Recycling
Plant.
Emma Cox explores a range of themes including caring for the
environment, sustaining animal life, the impact of pollutants on the
land and waterways. Malkin Moonlight celebrates the power of love,
being courageous, facing your fears and living life to the fullest.
Rohan Eason's line drawings add drama and liveliness to the story.
This is a wonderfully written text, full of descriptive imagery and
well-developed characters perfect for a Middle Primary class novel.
Rhyllis Bignell.