Eleven-year-old Kateri just wants to fit in, but her red hair, freckles and rhyming name make her stand out like a sore thumb. She’s already grappling with a new home, a new school and a bully named Clive. Then her pet mouse Murphy goes AWOL at school, leaving chaos in his wake.

As her best friend back home replaces her with a newcomer, the timeline ticks on a school project and Clive pushes Kateri to the breaking point. Her new neighbours can’t stand rodents, her parents are strapped for cash, and her mom is over-protective. Can things possibly get any worse? Only time will tell….and time is running out!

Review: A delightful and insightful story for 8-12 year-olds. They say it takes a village…but young Kateri (rhymes with O'Leary) wishes it wasn’t one called Haven Harbour, far from her friends in the big city. In Shirley Martin’s playful hands, a diverse cast of characters and a sweetly mischievous plot are kept rolling with a runaway mouse leading the way to understanding and acceptance at last. Caroline Woodward, author of Singing Away the Dark, The Village of Many Hats and A West Coast Summer for children and other books for adults.