In this first book of The Song of the Winns trilogy, mouse siblings try to rescue their missing brother and become perilously embroiled in political intrigue involving ginger mice.
Since their parents disappeared four years ago, mouse triplets Alex, Alice and Alistair have lived with their aunt and uncle in southern Shetlock, where Alistair’s ginger fur marks him as different, “like no other mouse he had ever seen.” One night Alistair mysteriously vanishes and reappears atop a ginger mouse named Tibby Rose in Souris, a country north of Shetlock. Determined to return to Shetlock, Alistair and Tibby discover their ginger fur brands them as dangerous spies from Gerander, a border country inhabited by ginger mice and home to FIG, a secret resistance organization intent on restoring Gerander’s independence. While Alistair and Tibby flee south on a raft and eventually join a pirate crew, Alex and Alice search for Alistair and are pursued and captured. Fast-moving action alternates between Alistair and Tibby’s capers and those of Alex and Alice. Armed with knowledge of their Gerander roots, the four anthropomorphic heroes prepare to join FIG and face future danger with panache. Pen-and-ink spot art highlights chapter details.
These latest mouse heroes promise more ripping, gripping mystery and adventure. (map) (Fantasy. 8-12)
