The Stowaways

by Meghan Marentette, Dean Griffiths (Illustrator)

Overview

Unlike the other Weedle mice, The Stowaways love to go on adventures - even when it means getting close to humans! But when Rory and his Gran plan to rescue Grampa Stowaway, whom everyone else thinks is dead, the adventure may be far more dangerous than he has bargained for.

The Stowaways aren't like the other Weedle mice. They are inventive and curious, they go on adventures, and they are much too clever for their own good. In fact, everyone knows that Grampa Stowaway was killed in a trap on one of his adventures. So, who would want to associate with a family like that?

There's something else about the Stowaways. They keep secrets. Rory has made friends with a bird, their natural enemy; and his twin brother Morgan dreams of sailing away. But Gran has the biggest secret of all - and Rory has discovered what it is.

If Rory and Gran act on their suspicions, will they be heading for disaster? Or will it be the greatest Stowaway adventure of all?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781772780772
Publisher:	Pajama Press Inc.
Publication date:	10/07/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	236
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

As a child, Meghan Marentette loved building miniature worlds for her toys. Later, as a costume designer for film and television, she was assigned to make tiny costumes for stop-motion animation puppets. It was during this job that Meghan conceived of the miniature world of The Stowaways, which was a finalist for the Ann Connor Brimer Award, the Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy, and and the CLA Book of the Year for Children Award. Meghan lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Dean Griffiths is a popular picture book artist with more than 25 titles to his name. His many awards include the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Book Prize for Maggie Can’t Wait and the Chocolate Lily Award for Ballerinas Don’t Wear Glasses. His most recent book, Bad Pirate, won the Rainforest of Reading Award. Dean lives in Duncan, British Columbia, with his daughter.

Table of Contents

1 A Legend to Uphold

10 Forbidden Friends

18 Detention

29 Release

43 Eekum

56 Fables and Foes

68 The Frolic

80 A Secret Revealed

90 Decisions

104 Dividing Interests

119 Seekum

133 The Dormouse

145 The Mouse in the Machine

161 Awakenings

117 Home and Away

192 Bittersweet Reunions

211 Hurricane Glasfryn

228 Destination Unknown

Editorial Reviews

Marentette has created a lovely world that combines animals and fantasy with humans and reality in an original and lively story. Her writing style is elegant yet conversational.

Resource Links

Debut author Meghan Marentette has crafted a charming adventure tale with a plucky protagonist.

Atlantic Books Today

Not since Stuart Little has the heart of a valiant mouse beat quite so fiercely as that of Rory Stowaway in Meghan Marentette's first novel, The Stowaways. It meets and exceeds all the expectations of a good mouse story, with a well-constructed and self-sufficient mouse world, a teeny-tiny hero set against impossible odds, and an adventure brimming with mystery that scampers from chapter to chapter.

National Reading Campaign

Like Arrietty of The Borrowers or Stuart Little, Rory Stowaway is a pocket-sized hero set against rather large odds . . . The Stowaways is an engaging story which would also be a wonderful read-aloud book for younger children at home or in the classroom. The book's endearing characters, exciting plot and the central themes of family and growing up would be fertile ground for classroom discussion.

Canadian Children's Book News

Praise for The Stowaways

2014 Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy shortlist

2014 CLA Book of the Year for Children Award shortlist

2014 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature shortlist

2013 OLA Best Bets honourable mention

2014 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection

2013 Resource Links “The Year’s Best” selection

"Themes of courage, family, friendship, and accepting differences permeate the story. Intermittent and well-placed black-and-white illustrations lend a vintage feel to the overall design of the book. A fine debut that deserves a place alongside Cynthia Voight's Young Fredle (Knopf) and Richard Peck's Secrets at Sea (Dial, both 2011)."—School Library Journal

"In her first novel, Marentette shows promise as a storyteller, creating distinctive characters, building tension, and grounding the fantasy with realistic settings and details...this appealing book will quickly find its audience, fans of mouse adventure tales from George Selden's The Cricket in Times Square (1960) to Robert C. O'Brien's Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971) to Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux (2003)."—Booklist

"In the tradition of memorable mouse heroes, the Stowaways deliver page-turning, cliffhanging, heartwarming, first-rate adventure."—Kirkus Reviews

"Not since Stuart Little has the heart of a valiant mouse beat quite so fiercely as that of Rory Stowaway in Meghan Marentette's first novel, The Stowaways. It meets and exceeds all the expectations of a good mouse story, with a well-constructed and self-sufficient mouse world, a teeny-tiny hero set against impossible odds, and an adventure brimming with mystery that scampers from chapter to chapter."—The National Reading Campaign

"Marentette has created a lovely world that combines animals and fantasy with humans and reality in an original and lively story. Her writing style is elegant yet conversational."—Resource Links

"...charmingly illustrated by Dean Griffiths...exciting, interesting, and really good fun. I hesitate to compare it to The Wind in the Willows, but it is in the same league; so read and enjoy...Highly Recommended"—CM Magazine

"Like Arrietty of The Borrowers or Stuart Little, Rory Stowaway is a pocket-sized hero set against rather large odds...The Stowaways is an engaging story which would also be a wonderful read-aloud book for younger children at home or in the classroom. The book's endearing characters, exciting plot and the central themes of family and growing up would be fertile ground for classroom discussion."—Canadian Children's Book News

"Debut author Meghan Marentette has crafted a charming adventure tale with a plucky protagonist."—Atlantic Books Today

From the Publisher

. . . charmingly illustrated by Dean Griffiths . . . exciting, interesting, and really good fun. I hesitate to compare it to The Wind in the Willows, but it is in the same league; so read and enjoy. . . **Highly Recommended**

CM Magazine

In her first novel, Marentette shows promise as a storyteller, creating distinctive characters, building tension, and grounding the fantasy with realistic settings and details . . . this appealing book will quickly find its audience, fans of mouse adventure tales from George Selden's The Cricket in Times Square (1960) to Robert C. O'Brien's Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971) to Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux (2003).

ALA Booklist

03/01/2014
Gr 2–5—Rory Stowaway comes from a long line of adventuring mice. He does not understand why his own papa is so against going out into the world beyond their cozy little home on Biggle's farm. It's true that his Grampa disappeared on one of his journeys, but even Gran thinks Papa has gone too far in squashing the family's exploring ways. Rory can't help but keep hoping that Grampa is alive, and when some clues come to light regarding his whereabouts, Rory and Gran jump at the chance to find him. The rescue takes them further afield than they imagine, and Rory's twin, Morgan, has to fight his own less-adventurous nature if he is going to see his brother and Gran again. Themes of courage, family, friendship, and accepting differences permeate the story. Intermittent and well-placed black-and-white illustrations lend a vintage feel to the overall design of the book. A fine debut that deserves a place alongside Cynthia Voight's Young Fredle (Knopf) and Richard Peck's Secrets at Sea (Dial, both 2011).—Stacy Dillon, LREI, New York City

School Library Journal

2014-01-29
An adventure-seeking mouse leaves the safety of home to search for his missing grandfather in the terrifying World Beyond, with perilous consequences. Rory Stowaway has grown up in the protected Weedle Mouse community, but he knows "his own life [is] meant for adventure." Unlike the Weedle mice who scorn them, the Stowaways have "always been known as great explorers." But ever since Grampa Stowaway disappeared on a caper into the World Beyond, Papa has refused to take Rory and his twin brother, Morgan, exploring, as Terrible Things could happen. However, their Gran's determined to search for Grampa, and Rory knows he must help her. With remarkable finesse and guts, they begin an incredible odyssey that carries them into a zoological museum and a scientific lab, where they are captured and barely escape through the mail. Meanwhile, Morgan initiates a search for his missing twin, and soon, the whole family's involved, but not before a flood threatens their lives and home. Although the World Beyond proves as dangerous as Papa predicted, the diminutive but feisty Stowaways are up to the challenge. Black-and-white pencil illustrations capture the Stowaways in action. In the tradition of memorable mouse heroes, the Stowaways deliver page-turning, cliffhanging, heartwarming, first-rate adventure. (map) (Animal fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews