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Summary
Summary
From the author of Fish, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, this is the true story of the journey of John Hawkins and his dog, Mouse, from way up north to way down south.
Author Notes
L. S. Matthews has written poetry and short stories since she was a child. Today she writes full-time in England, where she lives with her husband and their two children. Her first book for young readers, Fish , was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a Publishers Weekly Flying Start, and was a Borders Original Voices book. The author lives in England.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-Like Matthews's Fish (Delacorte, 2004), this is a tale about a journey of discovery and the importance of holding onto the things that matter in troubled times. John Hawkins, the narrator, and his brother, Tom, have a dog that can communicate with them psychically. When Tom becomes ill, the doctor says that the pup must go, but the boys know that Mouse is essential to Tom's recovery. To keep the canine from being sent to the pound, John and Mouse set out on a journey to find a temporary home for the dog with an uncle they haven't seen in years. Along the way, they encounter an ineffectual New Age healer and her family, a scientist who performs experiments on stolen animals, and a persecuted Roma family who help them reach their goal. Although John and Mouse encounter some disturbing situations, the childlike tone and magical elements of the narrative keep it age appropriate. Mouse is an engaging character whose wry observations of the foibles of human beings contrast with John's na?vet?, and readers will be rooting for the pair to succeed in their quest. Highly enjoyable.-Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
As in Matthews's remarkable debut, Fish, this novel again focuses on the lengths to which a child will go to save a beloved pet. John Hawkins is so close to his older brother, Tom, that the two dream each other's dreams. They also can silently communicate with their beloved dog, Mouse. When Tom contracts a serious (unnamed) illness, their widowed mother tells them that it's not safe to have the dog in the house, and plans to take her to the pound. So the brothers secretly hatch a plan: John and Mouse will travel by train from their northern England town to the southern coast, home to the boys' paternal uncle (whom they've never met) and ask him to keep Mouse until Tom is well. Fans of Matthews's first book will enjoy the humor that the author introduces here, from both boy and dog. John's courage and compassion drive much of the plot: on their journey, he saves a toddler from a near drowning and rescues some ponies from a fatal science experiment. The people he meets in each situation help him and Mouse further toward their destination. Some readers may be troubled by the significance of the dream-sharing, and also of Uncle David's ability to communicate with Mouse. But the bond between the brothers and their dog is as convincing as Tiger's devotion to the title fish in Matthews's first book, and readers will eagerly await the next novel from this talented author. Ages 10-up. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
When his brother's illness dictates that the family dog, Mouse, must go, John decides to go with her, taking the duo on a journey from northern England to the south. The telepathic connection between boy and dog never becomes convincing, but the happy ending is well-earned by the enlightening trek through the landscape and other people's lives. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Because of his brother's critical illness, John Hawkins's mother says the family dog must go. Knowing that Mouse is necessary to his brother's recovery, John takes her from the north end of the country to the south, where he hopes an uncle he has barely met will keep her temporarily. On the way he has adventures, exaggerated in later news stories to include saving a baby, a pack of wild horses and an entire gypsy caravan. Here, John tells his story straight, in a convincing colloquial voice. Hopeful, helpful John is an engaging nine or ten year old. The English setting is incidental to the adventure of his journey, which is very nearly as suspenseful as the reporting would have suggested, and far more interesting because of the telepathic connection between the dog and the boys. Underlying the appealing plot are some serious issues: a family's grief, "natural" healing, scientific experimentation on animals, prejudice against gypsies and dealing with differences. Episodic enough to be read aloud, this should have wide appeal. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
As young John Hawkins tells it, you may have heard his story: on a journey from the north of England to the south, John and his dog, Mouse, save a drowning child, rescue several ponies marked for death by a money-grubbing scientist, and make sure a gypsy family is safe from a mob. But John feels no one has gotten his story quite right, so he's telling it himself, beginning when his older brother, Tom, is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Then comes more disheartening news: Tom's susceptibility to infection means no pets are allowed. But Mouse is no ordinary dog. Mouse, Tom, John share a special bond: they can read each other's thoughts, and together they come up with a plan. John will head to the home of the boys' uncle, and leave Mouse there until Tom recovers. Yes, there are problems with the plan. They haven't been in touch with Uncle David for years, and there's not enough money for a train ticket. But that doesn't stop the intrepid travelers. This is a little gem--part adventure and part heartfelt family story, dusted with magic realism. True, the premise is a little weak, but after that initial head-scratcher, the story sails forward in picaresque fashion, told in John's resolute voice. Everything is a bit unexpected here, except for the satisfying end. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2006 Booklist