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A very unusual pursuit

Catherine Jinks - Author

An adventure set among London’s dark places, where Birdie’s work as bait for monsters draws her into a mystery involving missing pickpockets, folklore and a more dangerous villain.

More about this book

Monsters have been infesting London's dark places for centuries, eating every child who gets too close. That's why ten-year-old Birdie McAdam works for Alfred Bunce, the bogler. With her beautiful voice and dainty looks, Birdie is the bait that draws bogles from their lairs so that Alfred can kill them. One life-changing day, Alfred and Birdie are approached by two very different women. Sarah Pickles runs a local gang of pickpockets, three of whom have disappeared. Edith Eames is an educated lady who's studying the mythical beasts of English folklore. Both of them threaten the only life Birdie's ever known. But Birdie soon realises she needs Miss Eames's help to save her master, defeat Sarah Pickles, and vanquish an altogether nastier villain. Catherine Jinks, one of Australia's most inventive writers, has created a fast-paced and enthralling adventure story with edge-of-your-seat excitement and chills.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Work· ExplainedIndependence· ExplainedEarning a living· Explained

Consider

Fear and suspenseViolence and harmFrightening scenes

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

workindependenceearning a livingmonstersdangersuspense

FictionNovel

Themes in Context

Birdie’s work and independence

Birdie works as bait for Alfred Bunce, and the story’s concerns include work ethics and the importance of a girl being able to make a living for herself.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The premise places a girl’s work and independence within an adventure about a life she has always known being challenged.

Talk about: What choices about work and independence does Birdie make, and how does she understand them?

Suspenseful monster adventure

Birdie draws bogles from hiding places so Alfred can kill them; the premise says the monsters eat children who get too close, and the adventure is described as suspenseful.Provisional reading

Talk about: How does the story build suspense around Birdie’s encounters with bogles?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The story centres on a resourceful girl whose established way of life is challenged, with work, independence and making a living identified as part of its concerns.

What Deserves Attention

Monsters are said to eat children who get too close, and Birdie serves as bait while Alfred kills them. The story also involves missing young pickpockets and suspenseful danger.

A Conversation Worth Having

How does Birdie weigh loyalty to Alfred against the changes brought by the two women, and what does she want her future to look like?

Reading Approach

If the monster danger feels intense, read a passage together and pause to check how Birdie is coping. The questions of work and independence also lend themselves to a conversation after reading.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Birdie’s work and independence: The ending and the precise resolution of Birdie’s choices are not established.
Suspenseful monster adventure: The detail and intensity of the scenes are not established.

A Very Unusual Pursuit: City of Orphans - Catherine Jinks - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: Birdie’s work and independence; Suspenseful monster adventure

Catherine Jinks » A Very Unusual Pursuit