The Warriors series meets Redwall in this first book in an epic animal adventure series set in the subway tunnels of Brooklyn and for “fans of Erin Hunter, Brian Jaques, and Kathryn Lasky” (School Library Journal).
Hopper is just an ordinary pet shop mouse before he escapes. Soon he finds himself below the bustling streets of Brooklyn, deep within the untamed tangles of transit tunnels, and in Atlantia, a glorious utopian rat civilization.
But all is not what it seems. Though Hopper is treated as a royal guest, he misses his siblings that he lost in the escape attempt. That, and Atlantia is constantly threatened by the rebels who wish to bring the city to its knees. And there are cats everywhere in Atlantia, cats that leave the citizens unharmed… and no one can seem to answer why.
Soon, Hopper is caught in the crosshairs of a colossal battle, one that crosses generations and species. As the clashes rage, Hopper learns terrible, extraordinary secrets: Deadly secrets about Atlantia. Painful secrets about his friends.
And one powerful secret about his destiny…
Learn more at Mouseheart.com!
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful.
Intense, Imaginative - But Violent Story ...
By delicateflower152
"Mouseheart" is an intense, imaginative story encompassing totalitarian societies, relocation camps, and rebellion. Parents who expect Lisa Fiedler's novel, recommended for ages 8 - 12 years old, to exude charm and humor may be disappointed in this book's theme and content. However, those seeking novels that can provide lessons based on history and more complex, erudite writing than is often found in books for the targeted age group may like this novel. Fiedler's description of learning to read as being given the key to a secret code is lovely; the majority of "Mouseheart" is, however, not as light or inspirational.Hopper, a mouse for sale in a pet shop, his sister Pinkie and little brother Pup escape when the store owner opens their cage. Separated from one another on the streets of Brooklyn, Hopper finds himself in subterranean environs. Rescued by the rat Prince Zucker, Hopper is taken to the city Atlantia. There, Zucker introduces Hopper to the Emperor Titus who is Zucker's father. Hopper is puzzled by graffiti telling citizens to beware of "Mus"; this becomes an integral part of the story as the book progresses. Hopper begins to succumb to the life in Atlantia and to believe Emperor Titus is a benevolent ruler seeking to relocate mice and other small rodents from refugee camps to new homes. Only as the action progresses, does Hopper begin to realize he has not seen the truth or recognized the reality of what is happening."Mouseheart" is filled with images of violence and bloodshed. Beginning in the prologue where the cat Cyclone becomes Cyclops due to his eye being pierced by an iron bar through the final chapter in which Zucker learns his mother was "dispatched" with the latest group of colonists, "Mouseheart" is dark and filled with disturbing images. Similarities to pre-World War II Europe, Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler, and the Nazi "purification" mentality are evident. The Resistance movement is present, as well. Spiritual allusions to both the "prophet" La Rocha and "the Chosen One" are also components of the story.Characters are not especially charming or appealing. None were so memorable that the reader felt any emotion toward or sympathy for them.Parents may want to read "Mouseheart" prior to giving it to children in the targeted age group. Children who are more sensitive or emotional may find this book disquieting. It is definitely not a bedtime read-aloud book for younger children who are able to have "chapter books" read to them. While I liked Lisa Fiedler's intelligent writing and style, "Mouseheart" did not appeal to me. The four star rating is based on Fiedler's skill as a writer and not on the story.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
A little too graphically violent for my kids
By Just Trying to Help
Mouseheart is a well written book with a storyline that younger readers will likely enjoy more than older readers.Unfortunately, I was a bit turned off from the very beginning when one of the cats hits a fence and "blood gushes from his eye socket". Despite this garish wound, the mouse prince is still able to parley with the cat and secure future ability to come and go as he pleases. I think that the blood gushing part could have been left out entirely, if anything, it should have made parley impossible.Fortunately, the book divulges this darker side right from the beginning, and I commend the author for doing so and not leaving it until the middle or the end.This book is filled with this sort of drama. I haven't read the "redwall" books which this is supposed to be similar to, but my daughter does read the Warriors manga series. I found this book to be more violent than what she's reading now.No doubt this will make a great animated movie, and in this case, I think the movie will probably be better than the book.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.Awfully scary for younger readers. Not something I would read again
By Lizz A. Belle
When I was a younger kid, I was reading books beyond my age group. I am a huge fan of clever rodent stories, as I have mentioned in other reviews, namely Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. I am always searching for something that gives me the curiosity and wonder I felt when reading that book, which is why I picked up Mouseheart in the first place.That being said, this book is very violent. As another person has mentioned, the scene where the cat guard Cyclone becomes Cyclops had me rather disturbed. I realize that in the animal world, it is every rat or mouse for themselves but this story seemed to thrive on making the reader uncomfortable. When we learn the real purpose for Atlantia's refugee camps, which you can figure out before the big reveal, it is rather bothersome.I also found Hopper to be a disappointing hero. He seems to understand all these things far beyond the pet shop, yet expresses gross naiveté for most of the story when it comes to things that really matter.The story is about a mouse (Hopper) who escapes the pet shop and leaves his tiny brother behind. After getting swept into the sewer and separated from his sister, he meets Zucker, a prince who is dissatisfied with his royal father's ways. Zucker and Hopper become friends and Hopper gets treated like royalty by Zucker's father the emperor for nefarious reasons. Mixed in with this are the dreaded "Mus" alleged savage beasts (actually, they are just mice) and you have the rat crusaders who are against the emperor and viewed as traitors tossed into the fray as well. There is much fighting and bloodshed between all these groups as well as the felines with whom the emperor has aligned himself.Overall I just thought the story read like something Tolstoy or some other Russian author would dream up, a dark and dreary world where the emperor is actually a dictator and there is no hope or bright spot to be found.Knowing what I know about this book, I don't think anyone under the age of 10 should read it and if you have an imaginative child, don't read it before bed or nightmares of rat uprisings and slaughter may wake them in the middle of the night,.The fact that the author made me feel so dismal is to me very effective writing and that is why I gave this book three stars.
