‘The story of plucky orphaned kitten Simon, rescued from the docks of Hong Kong in 1948 to join the crew of HMS Amethyst, cannot fail to warm the cockles of even the coldest heart…Barrett-Lee brilliantly reimagines the trials and tribulations of life on board through the eyes of her feline protagonist…painstakingly researched, this is more than a heart-warming animal story: it is also an inspiration and an informative tale. This is great historical fiction – and a must for any cat lover’
– The Lady
‘During the 1949 Yangtse Incident, HMS Amethyst lost 22 crew and was trapped for three months before escaping. Also on board was a kitten adopted in Hong Kong by an Amethyst sailor. This is Able Seacat Simon’s nail-biting story’
– My Weekly
‘Heartwarming’
– Lucky Break