My Cat is Called Odin – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Norse mythology, retelling, responsibilities, family.
Children’s book title: My Cat is Called Odin.
Children’s author: Francesco Bedini.
Children’s illustrator: Stefano Tambellini.
Children’s translator: Sarah Copeland Benjamin.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Five Quills.
ISBN: 9781912923519.
Recommended for children aged: 8-14.
First published: Paperback November 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: introducing Norse mythology to a younger audience with main protagonists who are easy to relate to.
Trigger warning: the shadow wolves kill quite a few cats in this story.
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Our review:
Aldo, even he would admit, is a bit of a scaredy cat! He’s afraid of all sorts of things, which is unfortunate, as his recently adopted cat, Odin, has chosen him to save the world. His little sister, Petra, is determined not to be left out, so he has to take her along.
As the days pass and the danger increases, Aldo and his friends try to make sense of what Odin – who appears to have a telepathic link with all of them – wants their help with. When the portal to the underworld is breached and Petra is taken, Aldo forges ahead to try to rescue her before Odin is ready. Has he ruined everything, or will he still have the opportunity to fulfil his destiny?
Our verdict:
This is an excellent story translated from the 2023 Italian original, where it is described as part of a trilogy. Aldo, Petra, Ollie and Ian are all relatable characters, and although they have been chosen to save the world, they still have time for more ordinary activities. Petra and Aldo are on holiday from school when their adventures begin, and their mum encourages them to spend time together. Once Odin appears, the mythological part of the story takes over, but it is slightly different from the accepted version, which makes the outcome less obvious than it would be for readers familiar with the original legend.
The deaths of numerous cats in this story were the only issue I had, although reviews of the earlier Italian version do not mention it as a problem. I do, however, feel it should be noted, particularly for younger readers within the recommended age range. The story builds nicely to its climax and concludes in a satisfying way, but there is a subtle cliffhanger, which is to be expected in the first book of a trilogy.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Mythology and legend have been passed down in many civilisations worldwide. If you were writing Aldo’s story again, what would you change?
- Aldo admits he’s scared of most things. Do you think he surprises himself by everything he does after Odin arrives on his doorstep?
- The author doesn’t use an actual location other than “Peak, a village up in the hills”. Does this matter? When you read this, where did you imagine it could be?
- The local paper described the problems at Peak’s fair as a short circuit (or power cut). Do you think everyone who was there would agree? What headline would you have used?
- There are two more stories in this trilogy. What do you think will happen next?
Many thanks to Five Quills for the review copy.
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