This is a hard book to rate being a product of the New Era. Kay Harper is an orphan with a horrible governess who also practices witchcraft but with two otherwise caring caretakers. Kay idolizes his grandfather who was blamed for stealing or losing a pirate clerical treasure
Talking cats, owls, rats & otters. Or could the things they show him in his treasure-hunting dreams be real or just dreams?
There is animal death but offhand to the plot.