In the novel Catch Us If You Can by Cathrine MacPhail, the character I think interesting is Rory, the main character

in this novel. Rory is very patient especially in taking care of his Granda who suffers from memory lapses. This can be seen when Rory asks Granda where he put his homework. He notices a bulge in his rucksack. It is a bag of rubbish in his rucksack. Granda has absent-mindedly thrown away his homework and kept the rubbish instead. The next day in class, Mrs Foley asks Rory about his homework and Rory tells Mrs Foley the truth, that he has lost his homework. Mrs Foley asks him to stay back at lunchtime to do his homework but Rory cannot stay as he has to rush home to prepare Grand as lunch. Rory knows that Granda does not do it deliberately and he does not scold or blame Granda. Rory is also very determined. He shows this when he plans the Great Escape for three days after Darren suggests hiding in his mothers caravan. He gives Rory the spare key to the caravan. Rory carefully carries out his plan. He packs his and Grandas things. He visits Granda after school, as usual. He wedges open the emergency exit. Later that night, he visits Granda and prepares Granda by dressing him up and then tells him that he is getting out of the home. Rory takes Granda away from there while Val is having coffee with the nurses. Both of them successfully sneak out through the emergency exit and out to a quiet train station where they are not noticed. They arrived at the train final stop and go uphill in a fine drizzle and then up a long winding path that leads to the caravan site. Another good thing about Rory is, he is a loving boy. After the fire at the flat, Rory is sent to Castle Street and Granda to Rachnadar. Rory is not happy. Granda does not like to stay there and he is upset and cries. Rory sees Granda sitting on his bed and crying at Rachnadar. It breaks his heart . Granda and Rory cannot live without each other. Rory decides to run away with Granda. Although Rory is still a boy, he has many good qualities many boys of his age do not possess. Because of this, I think Rory is a very interesting character.

CATCH US IF YOU CAN

Literature Novel TIPS AND GUIDE IMPORTANT EVENTS You must remember a few important events in the novel. This is because you need to support your answer with evidence and examples . These examples and evidence are the events. For example, the question; write about what you have learnt. If you write that you learnt you should

love elders and family members, you have to support it by giving evidence. Here, the evidence can be when Rory is separated from Granda, which is one of the events in this novel. HERE ARE 3 IMPORTANT EVENTS. 1. Granda throws Rorys homework One day, Granda absent-mindedly throws away Rorys homework and keeps rubbish in Rorys bag. Rory is not angry. He knows Granda does not do it on purpose. What does this event tell us? Rory a patient boy loves his Granda so much that he understands his Grandas condition. Theme love, family relationship, Lesson learnt we must love the elders and be patient with them 2. The Separation, Rory is sent to Castle Street and Granda to Rachnadar After the fire at the flat, Rory is sent to Castle Street and Granda to Rachnadar. Rory is not happy. Granda does not like to stay there and he is upset and cries. Rory sees Granda sitting on his bed and crying at Rachnadar. It breaks his heart . Granda and Rory cannot live without each other. Rory decides to run away with Granda What does this event tell us? Rory loving, responsible, cannot live without Granda Theme love, family relationship Lesson learnt we should love our family and be responsible 3.The Great Escape Rory plans the Great Escape. Darren suggests hiding in his mothers caravan. Rory carefully carries out his plan. He packs his and Grandas things. He visits Granda after school, as usual. He wedges open the emergency exit. Later that night, he sneaks into Rachnadar and takes Granda away from there. What does this event tell us? Rory a brave boy, a person of action, loving, responsible, cannot live without Granda Theme challenges of growing up and coping with responsibility Lesson learnt we should be brave to face challenges in life and do what we think is right
Granda Granda was Rorys grandfather. His name was Mister McIntosh. Granda took care of Rory after the death of his mother as his father had left them As Granda got old, it was Rory who took care of him loves life and people; loved to joke and thought ladies found him charming lived in the past in the sense - he liked to talk about old film stars and old songs was badly hurt twice in the novel but each time managed to bounce back because of his love for living No doubt Granda would live to a really ripe old age

Devoted to this grandson, granda trusted Rory and was completely dependent on him He went along with Rorys plan to escape Rory made sure he took his medicines. Rory handled their finances not granda Granda appreciated what Rory did for him

Granda did not want to be separated from Rory he did not want to be admitted to the old folks home

Granda sickly was and forgetful saw the doctor regularly. he often did not put out his pipe properly and would put it in his pocket; often his pipe caught fire he forgot that he had a chip pan on the stove and his flat caught fire

Granda could surprise readers - he punched a thug, stole a car, and could run very fast so as not to get caught

Rory Rory, a young schoolboy, was the hero of the story Intelligent, sure of himself, responsible, mature for his age and a survivor Protective of his grandfather and later, his half-sisters

Did not want to be separated from his grandfather or live in a childrens home. Did not want his grandfather to live in an old folks home as he knew granda hated that Sacrificed a lot of his childhood in taking care of his grandfather, such as making sure granda took his medication, kept hospital appointments, had something to eat for lunch, etc.

Even though people around Rory were worried that he had too much on his hands taking care of granda, Rory managed it admirably Able to make good decisions in difficult situations and to see things through even though what he did may not be the right thing

However, being a child, his decisions were often impulsive Showed determination and courage even in desperate situations (such as the times when the grandfather was seriously ill, or when both of them were admitted to state homes

When on the run, Rory grew up very fast as he came in contact with various people who showed various aspects of human nature Had an open mind as he forgave his father readily, yet, he understood why his grandfather was bitter and unforgiving towards his father. He also forgave Norma who gave him away Made friends easily, e.g. Darren, Tyrone and Nicola and the boys at Castle Street. Rory represented youth and the future which was full of hope. Granda represented the past and its glories.

Val Jessup

A young and eager social worker who was responsible for Rorys welfare and had Rorys interest at heart Made decisions according to the requirements of her job which hurt Rory even though her intentions were good It was Val who arranged for Rory to live at the childrens home in Castle Street Was very concerned that granda was receiving his full pension benefits.

Mrs Foley

Rorys teacher who knew of his problems with granda as he often did not give in his homework She suspected that Rory was taking care of granda and not the other way round She was very concerned about Rory and might have become his foster mother

Darren Rorys best friend in school Darren was Rorys confidante and he trusted him completely

It was Darren who helped Rory run away by letting him stay in his mothers caravan in th country Darren was farsighted as he could see that Mrs Foley was interested in fostering Rory Darren was wise about people, although not so good in his studies.

Jeff McIntosh He was Darrens father who had moved away and out of Rorys life and whom Rory had not met Jeff had changed a lot since he left home. He now had a family and had become a responsible family man Jeff McIntosh was quite willing to look after his father and son after he found out about them.

Sammy, Ruby and Tyrone They were the members of the family that hid Rory and granda from the police when their whereabouts at the caravan site was discovered They were caring and community minded, and had close-knit families and loved food and life in general They offered friendship, security, a sense of family and good meals for Rory and granda

Rab and his friends

Rab operated a petrol station He helped Rory when on the run by taking him into his house and arranging for him to travel to Liverpool to meet Rorys father Rab seemed to have quite a few friends on whom he could rely for help when he needed help

Norma and Nicola They were a well-off family living in the Lake District. Nicola was Normas daughter

Nicola was completely committed to helping Rory get away Norma had her own ideas as to what was good for Rory and reported him to the police.Norma betrayed Rory, but things worked out in the end and Rory forgave her