Review... The Umbrella Mouse by Anna Fargher

Prepare to be fully flung into the dramatic world of Second World War espionage... but not as we know it! Forget men and women of mystery – in the wonderful world of The Umbrella Mouse heroes also come in feathery and furry forms. Anna Fargher has created an exciting and believable world where animals become a crucial cog in helping the war effort as they deliver messages of import, nibble through enemy telegraph lines and save lives.  

Any good story needs a good hero who we have in spades in the form of the eponymous umbrella mouse herself, Pip. In a tragic and terrifying series of events Pip is ejected from her cosy home at James Smith & Sons Umbrella Shop (which, thrillingly, is a real shop in London). She is left with no choice but to set out on a dangerous adventure where her beloved family umbrella must never leave her side. Along the way Pip encounters heroes and villains in equal measure as she is enrolled into 'Noah's Ark', a secret animal army resisting the rise of the Nazis. The story strap line ‘You don’t have to be big to be brave’ fits our hero like a glove as Pip demonstrates admirable guts and determination in extraordinary times.  

The Umbrella Mouse is an utterly immersive read. Pip’s perilous journey across war torn Europe had me on the edge of my seat; the descriptions of the Noah’s Ark headquarters, compromising of Huntley and Palmers Breakfast biscuit tins and a bread bin was a delight to imagine. Merging fiction with references to real events such as D-Day and Blitzkreig add an important note of authenticity to the tale which makes it even more engaging. Important messages about trust, resilience and friendship paired with Sam Usher’s charming illustrations it is impossible for readers not to fall head over heels into the delightful and dangerous world Anna Fargher has created. The cliffhanger finale left me dying to find out more – and I was delighted to discover that there will be a sequel, The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue, published this year - finally some good news for 2020! I look forward to joining brave Pip and her excellent companions on their next adventure.