Sterling North lives a carefree existence in his small Wisconsin town as World War I draws to a close. His days revolve around his unusual companion, a pet raccoon named Rascal, who brings both joy and mischief into his world. Together they explore the countryside, fish in local streams, and create the kind of adventures that define childhood summers. But as Sterling grows older and Rascal matures, their bond faces an inevitable test. The wild instincts that make Rascal such a captivating companion also pull him toward a life Sterling cannot share. The boy must wrestle with the painful reality that loving something sometimes means letting it go. This tender story captures the bittersweet nature of growing up, where the freedom of youth gradually gives way to the responsibilities of adulthood, and where the deepest friendships can require the hardest sacrifices.
Genres: fiction, animals, family-life, 20th-century, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: found-family, growing-up
Setting: Wisconsin
Period: World War I
Hardcover · Peter Smith Pub Inc