Obi, Gerbil on the Loose

November 1, 2008
Gr 3-5-Obi is content with her simple life in a cageor apartment, as she likes to think of itcared for by her human owner, Rachel. Then one day, Rachel's family leaves for vacation. Tad, a neighbor, comes to feed their many pets, but he seems to have forgotten that the gerbil exists. Obi doesn't know how long the Armstrongs will be gone, and she's starving. Thus begins her quest for freedom, food, and to find out if Rachel really cared enough to leave Tad a note to feed her. Along the way, Obi hilariously confronts three sadistic cats, a harebrained parrot, a menacing tarantula and snake, and a paranoid squirrel who thinks Obi is a jailed criminal. The house also holds a surprisea wise old mouse who has been keeping an eye on Obi through all of her escapades. He offers to help her, but at the expense of her loyalty to Rachel. Throughout each new challenge, readers feel Obi's terror, joy, and surprise, which are all written with a sense of fun. The chapters are peppered with black-and-white illustrations and are very short, which adds appeal for younger and reluctant readers. This is a laugh-out-loud story."Jane Cronkhite, San Jose Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2008
Obi, a young gerbil named for the Jedi knight in Star Wars, lives a cushy existence with the Armstrongs until they go on vacation, leaving a neighbor boy to feed all the pets. Unfortunately, Tad doesnt know about Obi(headphones prevent him from hearing her frantic yelps), so he doesnt feed her. Hungry Obi finally breaks out of her cage, beginning an adventure that takes her to the attic (where she meets an elderly mouse who shows her secret passageways and escape routes); the kitchen (home to three particularly nasty cats); anda bedroom, where she finds a boa constrictor and a tarantula. Themes of self-reliance and loyalty are woven into the story as Obi learns to assert herself, take care of her needs, andreassure herselfthat her owner, Rachel, did not forget about her care. Small, black line drawings add drama and emotion to a book thatwill be popular with young pet lovers; the ending hints at more Obi stories to come.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)