A Tomcat Called Sabrina

Lynne Hughes teaches communication arts at the University of Calgary.

This humorous view of life on one of B.C.’s Gulf Islands is neither as
pastoral nor as simple as one might expect from such a setting.

Coney’s novel chronicles the trials and tribulations of Hannah
Piggot, a young widow who is often overwhelmed by the difficulty of
running the sheep farm left to her after her husband’s death. She
resides with her cat, Sabrina, who received his name only because Hannah
could not ascertain his sex. He valiantly tries to prove his masculinity
as Hannah struggles to survive.

Hannah and Sabrina are not alone: coexisting with them are societies of
animals that Coney anthropomorphizes through names and dialogue. The
worlds of raccoons and beavers are portrayed vividly and cleverly, as
the reader learns of the complex hierarchies and various personalities
of the nonhuman environment.

The strengths of the novel include Coney’s ability to look at life
from each character’s perspective, his understated humor, and Les
Harper’s charming illustrations. One weakness is the story’s
inability to sustain interest; caring about the characters is not easy
at times. Taken as a lighthearted little tale, however, A Tomcat Called
Sabrina provides some enjoyment.