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erine's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
This would be a fantastic book to pick apart. In class, in a book discussion, wherever you might be able to look at each image, look at each page turn, and dig in.
I found the following articles helpful after reading:
This article from the publisher that gets into some of the motivations of this story.
https://enchantedlion.com/unruly#1
This review from the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/22/books/review/the-true-story-of-a-mouse-who-never-asked-for-it-ana-cristina-herreros-violeta-lopiz.html
Regardless, it was an experience reading it, not least because there were several times that the pictures and the text seemed COMPLETELY divorced, which is really unusual even in the oddest picture book. But in the end I was left with the feeling that picking up the mess and making something beautiful remains a possibility even in a world where everything feels like a mess. And that was nice.
I found the following articles helpful after reading:
This article from the publisher that gets into some of the motivations of this story.
https://enchantedlion.com/unruly#1
This review from the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/22/books/review/the-true-story-of-a-mouse-who-never-asked-for-it-ana-cristina-herreros-violeta-lopiz.html
Regardless, it was an experience reading it, not least because there were several times that the pictures and the text seemed COMPLETELY divorced, which is really unusual even in the oddest picture book. But in the end I was left with the feeling that picking up the mess and making something beautiful remains a possibility even in a world where everything feels like a mess. And that was nice.
mrsjhasbooks's review
4.0
This powerful storybook captures the light-heartedness and richness of a classic picture book while grappling with real terrors faced by real people without overt finger pointing and lessons to be learned. The hope-filled, wordless coda is beautiful, and older readers (see grade 9 on up) will appreciate making meaning from this tale.
marywahlmeierbracciano's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This is a haunting feminist tale for older readers, deceivingly lighthearted until it's too late. It is a folktale reimagined, with striking minimalist illustrations that carry the wordless ending. A little mouse builds herself a house, and passersby can't believe she's a homeowner and not a wife—will she marry them? She turns them down one by one until finally a kitten strikes her fancy. But kittens always grow up.
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