Caro lives at the Cherry Hill Orphanage, where she is a quiet role model for other kids, and a favorite of orphanage director Mrs. George. Mary Mouse, living behind the orphanage walls, is her community’s art thief (the art being postage stamps). On one of her forays into Mrs. George’s office to steal stamps, Mary is almost caught by the cat until Caro intervenes, and a bond develops between mouse and girl. It soon becomes clear to Mary Mouse that Mrs. George is running an illegal adoption ring. Caro is beginning to grow suspicious, too, but finds it hard to believe Mrs. George would do something wrong. Her best friend, Jimmy, thinks otherwise. When the new baby Caro had been helping care for suddenly disappears, Mary and rogue mouse Andrew try to help gather evidence while Caro and Jimmy do the same. An animal fantasy full of humor and heroics also has a slight edge that makes it more suited to an older audience than the cover might suggest, at least as a read-aloud. And while Martha Freeman’s characters can be labeled “good” and “bad,” they are drawn with refreshing complexity. (Ages 8–10)

Mary mouse is a skilled thief of useful human items. At the Cherry Street Children's Home, the entire mouse community admires her . . .until a mission goes wrong and an exterminator is called. Suddenly Mary is in grave danger of being exiled. Ten-year-old Caro McKay also resides at Cherry Street. Helpful, likable, and smart, she is a model orphan . . .until her curiosity gets her into trouble. When mouse and orphan meet, they cannot fully communicate with each other, yet they feel an understanding. They will each discover that this unusual friendship is absolutely vital as they try to hold on to the lives they know. Set in 1949 and taking inspiration from E. B. White's Stuart Little, this heartwarming and exciting novel reads like a classic.