Cynthia Voigt crafts a novel about discovery, perspective, and the meaning of home - all through the eyes of an affable and worried little mouse. Fredle is an earnest young fellow suddenly cast out of his cozy home behind the kitchen cabinets - into the outside. It's a new world of color and texture and grass and sky. But with all that comes snakes and rain and lawnmowers and raccoons and a different sort of mouse (field mice, they're called) not entirely trustworthy. Do the dangers outweigh the thrill of discovery? Fredle's quest to get back inside soon becomes a wild adventure of predators and allies, of color and sound, of discovery and nostalgia. And, as Fredle himself will come to understand, of freedom.
©2011 Cynthia Voigt (P)2011 Random House Audio
"Delightful adventure with a tail"
I admire his courage and sense of adventure. In fear he was rational. When learning, he listened, used his knowledge and shared his knowledge. He accepted other creatures for who they were without hate.
Fredle was my favorite for his willingness to defy the status quo and seek knowledge on an adventure. He listened and learned. Then he shared and inspired others to get curious.
Ms. Carter captured the feeling of Fredle and the other characters. Her pacing was conversational and believable complete with appropriate pauses?
It made me listen and want to pick up where I left off again and again.
This may be a Newbery contender.