Fil and Harry
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I am delighted that my talking cat junior novel Fil and Harry was published by Christmas Press in 2021. Look for it in the kids' section of all good bookstores!
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On The Compulsive Reader, poet, author and critic Magdalena Ball writes,
'As with all of Blackford’s work, Fil and Harry manages the perfect balance between fast moving suspense, engaging characterisation, and gentle accessible humour. … this book would make a terrific gift for any young reader looking for an engaging story and challenging but not too challenging step up in their reading. Fil and Harry is a delightful book, uplifting and warm without being cheesy.'
In Books+Publishing, Lian Hingee of Readings writes,
'… the only person who seems to have Fil’s back is her beloved cat Harry, who reveals that he can talk (and who, satisfyingly, is exactly as snarky as you would expect a cat to be). With Harry by her side, Fil discovers the confidence and courage she needs to believe in herself and stand up to bullies. Fil & Harry is a gentle novel with short, accessible chapters and some excellent vocabulary-building words for emerging readers to discover. It’s perfect for readers aged seven and up.'
In Magpies, Mia Macrossan writes,
'Readers will feel for Fil in her dilemmas and enjoy the interplay between her and her cat. This story of family, friendship and cats should appeal to young readers who like a comfortable read and a happy ending, the whole helped along by charming illustrations in black and white line.'
In Buzz Words, Danielle Viera writes,
Award-winning author Jenny Blackford has delivered a delightful junior fiction novel suitable for kids aged seven to ten. The friendship headaches that Fil suffers from are common in this age group, so youngsters will immediately feel empathy for the troubled protagonist. And who doesn’t love the idea of owning a talking cat? Sassy and proactive, Harry is the perfect foil for Fil’s more passive personality.
On ReadPlus, Wendy Jeffry writes
'We feel for Fil; we worry about her problems. We think we know where she is going wrong with her friendship choices. We love the way her family rally around her. There is a tangle in the story which any young child would recognise. Harry the magical cat has a solution and the ending is very satisfying. The pencil sketches scattered throughout the story are soft and comforting. Stars and cat paw prints accompany the text.
This is a delightful little book. As a school librarian I will be looking out for more from Jenny Blackford and Christmas Press. Little stories like Fil and Harry are lovely for our children to read themselves or have read aloud in the school library, classroom or of course by family.
Themes: Friendship, Family, Talking cats.'
And Jonathan Shaw writes, https://shawjonathan.com/2021/04/19/jenny-blackfords-fil-and-harry/
Fil has to negotiate the perilous world of primary school relationships, deal with an oblivious older brother, resist an over-zealous quasi-stepmother named Elspeth, and cope with life in general. Then her cat Harry starts talking to her. He not only talks, but he lends a sympathetic ear (not something I would expect of a cat, but I suppose I’m more of a dog person). And then he intervenes in ways that are definitely catlike – accidentally on purpose making life hard for those who deserve it and seemingly effortlessly make things go better for the afflicted.
'As with all of Blackford’s work, Fil and Harry manages the perfect balance between fast moving suspense, engaging characterisation, and gentle accessible humour. … this book would make a terrific gift for any young reader looking for an engaging story and challenging but not too challenging step up in their reading. Fil and Harry is a delightful book, uplifting and warm without being cheesy.'
In Books+Publishing, Lian Hingee of Readings writes,
'… the only person who seems to have Fil’s back is her beloved cat Harry, who reveals that he can talk (and who, satisfyingly, is exactly as snarky as you would expect a cat to be). With Harry by her side, Fil discovers the confidence and courage she needs to believe in herself and stand up to bullies. Fil & Harry is a gentle novel with short, accessible chapters and some excellent vocabulary-building words for emerging readers to discover. It’s perfect for readers aged seven and up.'
In Magpies, Mia Macrossan writes,
'Readers will feel for Fil in her dilemmas and enjoy the interplay between her and her cat. This story of family, friendship and cats should appeal to young readers who like a comfortable read and a happy ending, the whole helped along by charming illustrations in black and white line.'
In Buzz Words, Danielle Viera writes,
Award-winning author Jenny Blackford has delivered a delightful junior fiction novel suitable for kids aged seven to ten. The friendship headaches that Fil suffers from are common in this age group, so youngsters will immediately feel empathy for the troubled protagonist. And who doesn’t love the idea of owning a talking cat? Sassy and proactive, Harry is the perfect foil for Fil’s more passive personality.
On ReadPlus, Wendy Jeffry writes
'We feel for Fil; we worry about her problems. We think we know where she is going wrong with her friendship choices. We love the way her family rally around her. There is a tangle in the story which any young child would recognise. Harry the magical cat has a solution and the ending is very satisfying. The pencil sketches scattered throughout the story are soft and comforting. Stars and cat paw prints accompany the text.
This is a delightful little book. As a school librarian I will be looking out for more from Jenny Blackford and Christmas Press. Little stories like Fil and Harry are lovely for our children to read themselves or have read aloud in the school library, classroom or of course by family.
Themes: Friendship, Family, Talking cats.'
And Jonathan Shaw writes, https://shawjonathan.com/2021/04/19/jenny-blackfords-fil-and-harry/
Fil has to negotiate the perilous world of primary school relationships, deal with an oblivious older brother, resist an over-zealous quasi-stepmother named Elspeth, and cope with life in general. Then her cat Harry starts talking to her. He not only talks, but he lends a sympathetic ear (not something I would expect of a cat, but I suppose I’m more of a dog person). And then he intervenes in ways that are definitely catlike – accidentally on purpose making life hard for those who deserve it and seemingly effortlessly make things go better for the afflicted.