An empowering epic adventure with a focus on heartfelt animal friendships
The Last Journey by Stacy Gregg (Simon & Schuster)
I’ll say it up front – I’m a cat person. Cats have lived with me most of my life. Note: I didn’t say I’ve owned a cat… because, as any cat lover knows, cats graciously choose to live with us. That said, I’m not usually a fan of novels told from an animal’s perspective (although I love picture books with animal protagonists). Perhaps it’s because the point of view can limit emotional depth or complexity. But Stacy Gregg’s masterful storytelling pulled me in from the very first chapter.
When Pusskin is born, his mother – who is a seer – prophesies he’ll do great things. He’s the chosen one. But after being the last kitten picked by a family, Pusskin has his doubts. Soon, he discovers he was chosen for a reason. His new owner, eleven-year-old Lottie, loves him deeply, and the bond between them is heartwarming.
Then comes disaster. The government decrees that wild cats – and later, all cats over nine – must be exterminated for allegedly killing too many birds. To protect the cats in his cul-de-sac, Pusskin leaves his loving home and sets out to lead them to safety. His brave journey captures media attention and prompts the public to question whether cats were truly to blame. What has really been killing the birds? Will the cats survive the journey? And will Pusskin and Lottie ever be reunited?
The idea for the story came to Stacy Gregg while she was temporarily living in a cul-de-sac, observing her cat Alexander Pusskin interacting with the local feline community. “I thought about the secret lives these cats led – their quarrels and bromances, their playfights and turf wars,” she says. At the time, she was also reflecting on what it means to lose everything, and how upheaval can reveal hidden strength as new, unexpected journeys begin.
Parts of the book reminded me of Animal Farm, especially when city-farm animals hold Pusskin and his tribe hostage, and later when the queen cat on Cat Island exercises power over the others. Gregg deftly explores how leadership, no matter who holds it, doesn’t always serve the greater good.
You can’t help but fall in love with Pusskin and his feline neighbours. Each one leaves a mark including Monster, once a bully, then becomes a fierce protector. The story is full of heart and will spark important conversations for young readers: How do we protect native birds and still care for domestic cats? It’s a question that conservationists in New Zealand are currently grappling with. Hopefully, real-life solutions won’t mirror the drastic measures of the fictional government.
Bird lovers may wince at scenes where the cats hunt to survive, and young readers might wonder what happens next – will Cat Island become overcrowded? Could it be a safe haven or a new threat? These lingering questions make for excellent discussion.
With powerful themes of friendship, extinction, ecological balance, and ethical leadership, The Last Journey is sure to win over young readers. Fortunately, it’s the first in a new series. But be warned – it’s a tearjerker. Have tissues handy.
Stacy Gregg is best known for her bestselling Pony Club Secrets series, beginning with Mystic and the Midnight Ride (2007). She’s since written numerous middle-grade novels, including Nine Lives, which won the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award in 2024. She’s a nine-time finalist in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and a three-time winner of TV’s What Now Children’s Choice Award. Today, she’s HarperCollins NZ’s third-bestselling author—behind David Walliams and Dr. Seuss.
ISBN: 978-1-3985-3864-1
AU RRP $17.99 / NZ $20.99
Reviewed by Maria Gill
