by Richard Peck
First published 2011
Helena lives comfortably with her three younger siblings inside the walls of the Cranston mansion. The mice have built a good life alongside their human family, never wanting for food or shelter. When the Cranstons announce plans to sail to England so their daughter can find a suitable husband, Helena faces a difficult choice. She could stay safe at home, or she could keep the mouse family together by following the humans across the ocean. Helena chooses loyalty. She leads her siblings aboard the ship as stowaways, launching them all into the adventure of their lives. The voyage brings dangers they never imagined and introduces them to a world of English nobility that includes both humans and mice. As Queen Victoria prepares to celebrate her diamond jubilee, Helena must navigate social customs and unexpected perils to protect her family and secure their future in this strange new world.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, historical-romance, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: England, Cranston
Period: 19th-century, Diamond Jubilee
238 pages · Hardcover · Dial Penguin for Young Readers