This animal fantasy book is the second book in a series and is an endearing tale of a deer mouse named Poppy. This book has drama, romance, mystery, and action all rolled into one! The book begins with a Great-Horned owl, Mr. Ocax, as the overseer of the Dimwood Forest and all the animals in it...so he says. The mice are quite fearful of him, but believes he protects them. Poppy experiences many conflicts in the story, including standing up for herself against a bully, which I think is the main theme in the story. The characters in this book can help children relate to themselves and others around them. They can easily put themselves into the roles of the characters, either as the one who is bullied or the one who bullies. The characters' personalities are so strong, that you can't help but be drawn into the book, whether you find yourself cheering for one character and despising another. The author does a fantastic job in her descriptive writing. Her writing was so clear, that it made it very easy to visualize the events and the setting in my mind as I read the story. The chapters are short and have an easy flow, making the story read quickly. Even though this book is second in a series, you do not need to read the other books to understand what is going on. This book can easily be a stand alone book. I think this book is an excellent teaching tool for talking about bullying and what that might look like.
I chose this book because my school's media specialist recommended it. I liked it so much that I went back to get the other two books in the series as well. It was very hard to put down! I read it in one sitting! Both boys and girls can relate to this book.
Big Questions: Do you think Poppy had courage? Do you think you can have courage and be scared at the same time? Why or why not? What are some ways that you can overcome bullying? Why did the mice not see what the owl was doing as bullying?
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