School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-6-The Cranston home is shared by a human and a mouse family in Richard Peck's witty novel (Dial, 2011) set in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Cranston decide that it is time to travel abroad to find a husband for their oldest daughter, Olive. This sets in motion an unforgettable journey for both families as Helena, the oldest mouse, decides to take her family along on the trip across the Atlantic, hidden inside a steamer trunk amongst the gloves and handkerchiefs. While onboard, the family of mice shares various adventures by making new friends, trying to avoid the ship's cat, and working together to intervene in the destiny of their human family. In turn, their own fates are made clear as well. This charming tale is enlivened by the engaging, expressive voice of Jayne Entwistle. A good choice for fans of Kate Di Camillo's The Tale of Despereaux, The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden, or The Borrowers by Mary Norton.-Lyn Gebhard, Sparta Public Library, NJ (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Newbery Medalist Peck's (A Year Down Yonder) dry wit and gentle jabs at social mannerisms appear in full force in this charming tale of a 19th-century mouse family traveling abroad. The story begins when house-mouse Helena and her younger siblings get wind that the human residents upstairs, the Cranstons, are planning to go to Europe to find a proper husband for elder daughter Olive. Not wanting to be left behind in an empty, crumb-free abode, the mice sneak onto the ship, despite their fear of water. "Time is always running out for us mice, and water often figures in," remarks Helena, whose delightfully genteel narration carries the novel. Once aboard, Helena and her siblings are surprised to find a "major infestation" of other mice traveling with their human housemates. While trying to avoid the ship's one-eyed "kill-crazy" cat, they scurry from one adventure to the next, rubbing elbows with aristocracy and finding unexpected romance. Readers-especially fans of Beatrix Potter-will revel in the detailed descriptions of mouse-sized joys, woes, and love connections, all beautifully depicted in Murphy's soft pencil illustrations. Ages 8-12. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.