School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-After their adventures at sea, cat brothers Anton and Cecil have returned to their port home. Anton is more worldly after his experiences but still cautious, and would be happy to stay put forever, while Cecil longs for more adventures. They receive a message that Hieronymus, a mouse to whom Anton owes his life, has been captured and is in need of rescue. The brothers set out to find him, though this time their passage is not by ship but by train, called "landships," "rolling death," and "growlers" depending on who the cats talk to. Their trip will take them far from the sea and the port environment they are familiar with and introduce them to life on the prairie and new animals, many of whom help the brothers-though others would like to make a meal of them. Following cryptic clues, Anton and Cecil will need all their resourcefulness to find and save Hieronymus. As with the first book, descriptive language puts readers right with the brothers as they escape a ravenous owl, use a stampede of bison to their advantage, and enlist the aid of prairie dogs to escape a pack of coyotes. The siblings are separated for a time, and the different perspectives in the narrative effectively highlight the personalities and tastes of each cat. As this part of their story ends, there are hints that in the next installment the brothers will take to the air. VERDICT A satisfying adventure for fans of animal fantasy tales.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
In their second adventure, the Edwardian-era feline brothers set out from Nova Scotia to rescue a highly respected mouse, Hieronymus. True to the characterizations the Martins developed in the series opener, Anton is the more cautious and analytical of the two, while Cecil thrills at any whiff of adventure. A friendly horse, some protective prairie dogs, and a lynx are among the animals they meet as they follow hints, which require the cats to travel not only by short-haul ship but also by railroad. Peppy, humorous dialogue and the charms of various animals' viewpoints keep this satisfyingly fast paced and engaging.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2015 Booklist