Simon Ships Out
How one brave, stray cat became a worldwide hero
Simon Ships Out by Jacky Donovan. Uniquely quirky look at HMS Amethyst true story told thru humorous voice of Able Seacat Simon the ship's cat. Simon Ships Out: How one brave, stray cat became a worldwide hero is a warm hearted and humorous look at a horrific war incident which most people today are unaware of. Able Seacat Simon was, at the time of the Yangtze Incident, a worldwide hero and photos of Able Seacat Simon appeared in the worldwide media, on television, Pathe News and even eventually Able Seacat Simon's obituary was posted in Time Magazine.
Simon Ships Out: How one brave, stray cat became a worldwide hero is narrated by Able Seacat Simon himself and is a witty, heartwarming tale of an exceptionally brave and wonderful cat.
Able Seacat Simon was, and still is, the only cat ever to have won the PDSA Dickin Medal, awarded to animals for bravery in war situations. It has currently been won by 65 animals - horses, dogs and pigeons - but Able Seacat Simon remains the only cat to have been honoured with it. His memoir Simon Ships Out: How one brave, stray cat became a worldwide hero is enticingly told and published in time for a significant anniversary of the Yangtze Incident in which Able Seacat Simon was involved.
The Simon Ships Out: How one brave, stray cat became a worldwide hero by Jacky Donovan is available in both kindle and paperback format. It is suitable for adults and children. Simon Ships Out: How one brave, stray cat became a worldwide hero makes a perfect present for catlovers and animal lovers. It will entertain anybody who enjoys an exciting, adventurous, humorous and emotional tale of one exceptional cat's ability to be a hero and a source of great compassion to the crew of HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident.
I hope you enjoy Able Seacat Simon's story and recommend it to all cat lovers and animal lovers.
What readers are saying about me
Intricately woven blend between fiction & fact
I love cats so this was a must for me. The cover sets the tone for the rest of the book - a clever mixture of reallife and fiction blended seemlessly together. Cleverly crafted so it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. It comes across as light hearted, easy reading fiction yet beneath it is an epic piece of British history that I doubt many people today are aware of. Jacky captured the mannerisms and sometimes strange behaviour of cats brilliantly as she put herself in Simon's shoes, or rather paws, and told the story entirely from his point of view. It made for a truly entertaining read and the interaction between Peggy the ships dog and Simon was well thought out and brilliantly executed. Real development of Simon's character as the book progressed and, under all the gentle humour and adventures that Simon and Peggy are involved in alongside the crew, lay deeper messages of love, commitment, loyalty and what positivity can do for both people and animals. A terrific book showing how strong and vital the bond between humans and animals can be and what a loss both sides feel when they are no longer together. Totally different to Jacky's previous book - which I loved - but the same humour and careful crafting of the storyline come through. Beautifully written, flowing text and excellently edited. An absolute tearjerker in places too! Highly recommend to anyone who likes animals.
An epic true story
This is an epic true story of a ship's cat, very moving and sensitively told from the cat's viewpoint. Like all good books, it's not just a story but a message to all of us. A message that clearly says ' if you thought life was going to be easy, forget it, roll up your sleeves and do what needs to be done, not just once but many , many times.' Simon the cat does this, and manages to be nice to everyone he meets along the way. He faces danger ,illness and grief, definitely not the sort of life you would hope to give a beloved cat. Yet this cat comes through it all so bravely. He's an inspiration. An action packed read, rich in detail, harrowing in places, heart-warming in others, and with a beautiful ending.
