LAND OF THE LAST WILDCAT
Reading Zone - ‘Land of the Last Wildcat explores the important and difficult issue of how ethical it is for humans to study and exploit nature. Woven throughout, though, are themes of family and friendship which infuses the narrative with warmth and contributes to a satisfyingly poignant ending. A lovely debut novel from an author to watch.’
Books for Topics - ‘Sit masterfully weaves the emotions and relationships of each of the characters in an animal tale that explores folklore and conservation work, while keeping up the pace of the adventure and painting a picture of each scene in the story, taking the reader on a real journey of exploration.’
This book is available on these booklists:
Year 5 Booklist: 50 Recommended Reads
Recommended Reads for Year 5: New Additions for 2025
Best Books This Month – May 2025
Ones to Watch – New Children’s Books Summer 2025
School Reading List - ‘Land of the Wildcat by weaves an environmental message through an adventure story that also covers challenging subjects such as the loss of a parent, workplace bullying, and the struggles associated with single parenthood..The end of the book is full of hope and offers a glimpse of how the events so far will continue to influence the lives of Puffin, her friends, and her family.
The Telegraph - ‘Looking for a proper adventure story for your children? Try this. Sit is a highly suspenseful storyteller, who unravels a dense plot in less than 300 pages, and plunges her heroine into the sort of white-knuckle capers reminiscent of the lost worlds of Biggles and Boy’s Own.’
Booktrust - ‘An exciting magical mystery and adventure unfolds with twists and turns all the way. There’s real bravery here, and at its heart this book has an ecological message: a story of how people and nature can live in harmony to the benefit of all.’
Miss Cleveland is Reading - ‘An exhilarating debut that combines heart-pounding adventure with a touching exploration of family, friendship, and the importance of preserving our natural world.’
Booka Bookshop - Children’s Choice for May - ‘I found every chapter intriguing and fun. It is a wonderful book for animal lovers and fans of adventure stories. I loved learning about Puffin’s story and about the Kuri, even though they don’t exist in the real world… Or do they?’
Vivian Teo Reviews - ‘Land of the Last Wildcat offers not just an exciting journey, but also a touching exploration of family bonds and friendship.’
The Federation of Children’s Book Groups (FCBG) - ‘If you told me, thirty odd years ago, when dressed as a koala doing acrobatics under the baking Australian sun, that the experience would culminate in my writing a children’s middle-grade book with underlying themes of conservation and environmental responsibility – I would have told you that the sun had gone to your head, not mine’ - Land of the Last Wildcat- Guest Blog.
THE LUCKY HOUSE DETECTIVE AGENCY
Love Reading for Kids - ‘A warm and witty celebration of community, friendship and family, that centres the British-Chinese immigrant experience alongside a diverse cast of supporting characters.’ [June Debuts of the Month]
My Shelves are Full - ‘An absolutely cracking mystery with a cast of characters who will warm your heart and get you curious about everything around you.’
The Letterbox Library - ‘First in a new, cosy crime, middle grade series by Lui Sit (writing as Scarlett Li) which positions a British-Chinese immigrant family at its heart and then surrounds them with a full cast of lively secondary characters. Centre stage are Felix and Isaac, so very different in character but bonded in their love of mystery and by their love for each other. The push and pull of their friendship is written with both lightness and subtlety.’
Educa8wirral - ‘This is a humorous and enjoyable middle grade read coming in at 171 pages and aimed at readers aged 7 plus who can easily follow the three main characters and their adventures. Scarlett Li, a pseudonym for Lui Sit, uses her lived experience of hanging out in Chinese kitchens in her childhood to infuse the writing with the tastes and smells of freshly cooked dumplings, rice noodle rolls and barbecue pork. Your mouth will be watering. Felix’s mum is portrayed with great heart as a Chinese opera fan who cooks with love and affection for the community. The friendship between Felix and Isaac, who are opposites in character, overcomes setbacks to strengthen their alliance leading me to believe there will be more outings and business for their self-titled detective agency in the future!’