Thirteen year old Billy has just moved to the English country village of Little Chumberry when he makes friends with the clever Snowy, a talking cat that only he can hear. Snowy soon makes Billy aware that there’s more going on in this little village than meets the eye. An evil scientist has been kidnapping and experimenting on local animals, and there are strange happenings in the tunnels beneath Adventure Safari, a nearby zoo and theme park. It’s up to Billy and Snowy to get to the bottom of the mystery, with help from a fox named Razor and a friendly local girl named Carmen. But their search for answers is fraught with danger, especially for Snowy.
Fur-Face was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and almost made me wish I had some kids to share it with. The story offers plenty of laughs, suspense, action, and even an occasional tear. Young Billy is a likeable and believable protagonist, and his feline buddy Snowy is absolutely chock-full of personality. The villains are downright menacing, and the cast of characters is rounded out by a quirky bunch of supporting actors both human and otherwise. Kids of all ages will enjoy this funny, charming, and highly original adventure. I can only hope that there’s a sequel in the works!
