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Marlowe is a mouse on the run, tearing through a large house while being pursued by a cat. Marlowe finds refuge in young Cole’s room. A toy dollhouse provides Marlowe the shelter from harm he needs until Cole discovers him. Cole is awestruck upon meeting the mouse, who is sporting doll clothes on their first meeting. Cole attempts to communicate with the rodent and finds that Marlowe can respond with non-verbal cues. Cole quickly develops a kinship with the mouse and wants to keep him safe from harm. With the passage of time, Cole views Marlowe as more of a friend than a pet and confides in the special creature. Cole’s family is under great financial strain and in need of a quick fix. Intriguingly, Marlowe may hold the key to a possible solution.
The unlikely friendship struck between an adolescent boy and a mouse shapes the trajectory of this enchanting tale. The story is primarily told through the eyes of Marlowe, the diminutive animal searching for random morsels of food only to locate something greater. The large world viewed by Marlowe is contrasted by the world as seen through the eyes of Cole. Cole’s world revolves around his family and the precariousness of their financial well-being. The presence of something he can interact with and care for gives him purpose. The bond shared between the pair provides the warmth and heart that will charm as well as buoy the spirits of many readers. This is a breezy but undeniably impactful read that illustrates how friends can emanate from the most unlikely of places.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review