The Orphan and the Mouse

September 29, 2014
Freeman (the First Kids Mystery series) intertwines the stories of a mouse colony and the orphanage where it resides in 1949 Philadelphia in a pleasurably old-fashioned tale with two strong heroines: 11-year-old orphan Caro, who has a disfigured hand, and widowed mouse Mary, sentenced to stay behind when the colony decamps for fear of extermination. Mary and Caro's lives first intersect when Caro saves the mouse from the resident cat and continue to merge as the possibility of shady goings-on at the orphanage grows stronger. Is the seemingly virtuous headmistress involved in kidnapping and baby trafficking? It's occasionally difficult to keep track of the large number of adults, some operating on the wrong side of the law, but Freeman brings the various characters and threads together in a satisfying climax and resolution. E.B. White's Stuart Little is an inspiration to both mice and orphans; Aesop's fable about the mouse and the lion is also invoked when Caro points out to another orphan, "I'm saying I helped the mouse, and now it wants to help me." McPhail's b&w drawings create a suitably shadowy ambiance. Ages 8â12.

August 1, 2014
A kindhearted orphan girl and a clever mouse join forces to expose an illegal baby-selling operation in a Philadelphia orphanage. Since her mother's death in a fire that disfigured her own hand and arm, 11-year-old Caro McKay's lived at Cherry Street Home for Children, where she's known as a "responsible, sweet-tempered child" and a favorite of enigmatic headmistress Mrs. George. No one realizes there's a thriving mouse colony at Cherry Street Home until Mrs. George's cat, Gallico, catches Mary Mouse covertly trying to steal commemorative stamps the mice use as artwork. When Caro rescues Mary, they bond. Alerted to the presence of mice, Mrs. George threatens to call an exterminator, triggering the colony's mass exodus. Left behind, Mary's joined by Andrew, an adventurous mouse who can read. Inspired by their literary hero, Stuart Little, Mary and Andrew discover Mrs. George runs a baby-selling racket, while Caro's become suspicious about a missing baby. The staccato pace alternates between Mary and Andrew's daring exploits and Caro's harrowing efforts to thwart Mrs. George. Period detail about orphanages in 1949 adds historical depth, while atmospheric black-and-white illustrations highlight dramatic scenes. Along with Gallico, surely an homage to the author of The Abandoned, there are other children's-literature cameos readers will enjoy picking out. An original, rousing mouse adventure in the tradition of Stuart Little. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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September 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-In 1949 Philadelphia, the shrewd Mrs. Helen George operates The Cherry Street Home for orphans. Unbeknownst to her, a colony of mice also dwells within the orphanage's walls. One particular mouse, Mary, becomes friends with a little girl, Caro, and that friendship sets the stage for many events in the story. Caro, disfigured from burns suffered in a fire, is a natural leader, so Mrs. George cultivates her loyalty by giving her special privileges. Caro looks up to Mrs. George and willingly does whatever she wants her to do. When a new baby comes to the home, Caro doesn't think Mrs. George's story about the baby's abandonment makes sense. By the next day, Caro receives word that she is being adopted by someone whom she has never seen. Her friend Jimmy knows something doesn't add up. Mary Mouse has overheard Mrs. George's plan and acts to save Caro. With dashes of mystery, intrigue, and adventure, this tale of friendship is endearing. There are liberal references to Stuart Little throughout the story as the mice create their own humanlike existence and forge alliances with children. Recommended for fans of E. B. White.-Laura Fields Eason, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green, KY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2014
Grades 4-7 Inspired by E. B. White's classic Stuart Little, this throwback novel features skilled mouse art thief, Mary, whose chance interaction with orphan Caro spurs an unlikely turn of events. Intelligent, thoughtful Caro accepts her role as baby-minder in the orphanage and idolizes its head, Mrs. George, until the orphanage receives a new baby under suspicious circumstances. Mary and a loner mouse, Andrew, come to learn that the baby has been kidnapped from its mother as part of a devious moneymaking scheme in which Mrs. George plays a central role. It's up to the mice to expose the ruthless humans before it's too late. Alternating short chapters that switch perspectives between the mice and human characters, Freeman crafts an old-fashioned tale of good versus evil where everyone gets their just deserts. Though Freeman's writing doesn't quite have the zing of Kathi Appelt's The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp (2013), her similarly winning characterizations of the expansive cast of humans and animals alike shine through. McPhail's drawings are sprinkled among the text, enhancing the tale's timeless feel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)