May 11, 2015
When an inquisitive red squirrel named Nutley summons the nerve to offer the "Paw of Friendship" to a group of nearby gray squirrels, they respond by tossing him off a cliff. Fearing for his life after the Grays subsequently kill his parents, Nutley escapes to a landfill, Trash Mountain, where he settles in among the rats and gulls. "It was said that the very earth of Trash Mountain was sullied and malodorous, which is another way of saying it stank," writes Yolen (Stone Angel) in one of several context-bringing sections titled "This You Should Know," which appear between chapters. A story of identity and survival develops into one of friendship, courage, and teamwork, culminating in a tense showdown between the Grays and the landfill residents. Yolen balances the story's more upsetting moments with humor (a good bit of it is delivered by Larie, a rude but loyal gull Nutley befriends), while Monroe's (Monkey with a Tool Belt) b&w illustrationsâa mix of heavily inked scenes and wiry spot artâcapture Nutley's affability and determination to survive. Ages 8â15.
January 15, 2015
When young Nutley's parents are attacked and killed by the violent members of an invading "inferior race" living nearby, Nutley must leave his babyhood home and learn to make it on his own. Nutley is a red squirrel, while the assailants are gray squirrels-brutish, feisty and larger than red squirrels. His escape leads him to refuge in the town dump, where he encounters rats and sea gulls and negotiates several brushes with death while hanging on to his innate kindness. Violence and death, and the threat of both, are constants in the form of aggressive gray squirrels, nighttime predators and the swift-moving People Carriers (which roll over and crunch a gray squirrel or two at one point). Nutley longs to be Dangerous, as he characterizes the gray squirrels, yet at nearly every turn, another quality is demanded of him-something that one of his new friends calls courage. Conversational, nature-oriented sections titled "This you should know" address readers before each chapter. Monroe's black-and-white drawings help to make this small world familiar, while Yolen charmingly creates a believable interior life for Nutley, complete with squirrel appetites and the worries of a youngster just a bit unready for survival. Though there's a suggestion the story is meant as fable, Nutley's adventure stands alone as a satisfying animal fantasy. (Fiction. 8-11)
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January 1, 2015
Gr 3-6-Nutley, a young red squirrel, lives with his doting parents on a small English farm. He longs to explore the outside world: ask questions, explore, perhaps even be as Dangerous as the gray squirrels who have overrun the farm and pose a threat to the reds. Their threat is realized when grays attack and kill Nutley's parents. He is forced to seek refuge in the neighboring landfill where Larie, a seagull, and Naw, a rat help Nutley realize he has more courage than he thinks and that kindness and friendship are more important than being Dangerous. Yolen's clear voice is a benevolent presence, strongly felt in "This You Should Know" paragraphs, which open each chapter. They offer scientific facts about red and gray squirrels along with whimsical speculations which encourage readers to look for meaning behind the facts. Middle grade readers will relate to Nutley's chafing against well-intentioned parental restrictions and his eagerness to discover the complexities of the world. The deceptively simple story, enhanced by rich vocabulary and elegant prose, encourages deeper thought: "There is more meaning here if you would have it be so." Larie and Naw are endearing supporting characters and Yolen has fun naming Naw's rat-children, from "Nawshus" to "Nawmal" and "Nawty." Rustic, finely detailed black-and-white illustrations by Monroe reinforce the novel's environmental subplot; endpapers map helps readers visualize Nutley's world. A quiet gem from a master storyteller.-Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY
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