by Avi
First published 2020
Golden mouse Ragweed rides a freight train out of Amperville, eager for adventure. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Lotar, a young raccoon separated from his mother. Ragweed reluctantly agrees to help the persistent raccoon, a decision that leads him deep into Dimwood Forest. Ready to continue his solo adventure, Ragweed hears desperate cries echoing through the trees. He discovers a deer mouse named Poppy trapped in a cage, frightened and alone. As Ragweed works to free her, and Poppy finds ways to help him in return, an unlikely friendship takes root. Meanwhile, Lotar continues to complicate their plans with his bumbling interference. This origin story reveals how two very different mice first crossed paths and formed the bond that would define their future adventures together in Dimwood Forest.
Genres: fiction, animals, friendship, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Amperville, Dimwood Forest
272 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins