Author Maria Ritter dedicates this Bildungsroman to family
and pets, with the foreword, written by M.D. Calvin A. Colarusso, telling of
the writer’s “controversial” choice to make the protagonist a rat, despite
their ostracized status across the world. Ritter herself prefaces the novel
telling of real-life inspiration for the story, with rats taking residence
outside her home. The main story opens with the eponymous main character, a rat
initially known as Wil but later Wilhelm, announcing to his California family
that he wishes to leave his nest to travel the world.
Among Wil’s first friends on his journey is the Chinese rat Ying Yan, with whom he celebrates the Chinese New Year, specifically the arrival of the Year of the Rat, following which is a tour of the Great Wall of China. However, Wil finds himself trapped in a cage by Swedish researchers, who take him and others to their homeland in Europe. Wil is christened as a “service rat” and is taught to identify the smells associated with various diseases, which the Swedish scientists hope can assist with medical research, one further use being a cure for baldness first rested on other lab rats.
A sizeable chunk of the story occurs in Wilhelm’s next destination of Germany, where he first visits a cathedral in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, other encounters in the country including attendance of an opera, a visit to distant cousins, and Oktoberfest in Munich. Following this is a trip southward to Italy, where he and other “ostracized” animals have an audience with the Pope in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and nature. Wilhelm’s coming-of-age story ends with his return journey to San Diego via airplane, with a friend brought along, as well.
Overall, this is an enjoyable story, likely aimed at younger readers due to its animal characters, although some adults might find some enjoyment as well, namely those active in the furry fandom. Ritter does regularly pepper her writing with foreign terminology, although she luckily defines them at the end of each chapter, with the subsections generally being short, making the book readable in small bursts, the author doing a good job in not dragging out the story for too long. Granted, that the rat characters could last as long as they do without significant retribution from the humans is a bit unrealistic, but those who can look past this will find Wilhelm’s tale a good yarn.
Among Wil’s first friends on his journey is the Chinese rat Ying Yan, with whom he celebrates the Chinese New Year, specifically the arrival of the Year of the Rat, following which is a tour of the Great Wall of China. However, Wil finds himself trapped in a cage by Swedish researchers, who take him and others to their homeland in Europe. Wil is christened as a “service rat” and is taught to identify the smells associated with various diseases, which the Swedish scientists hope can assist with medical research, one further use being a cure for baldness first rested on other lab rats.
A sizeable chunk of the story occurs in Wilhelm’s next destination of Germany, where he first visits a cathedral in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, other encounters in the country including attendance of an opera, a visit to distant cousins, and Oktoberfest in Munich. Following this is a trip southward to Italy, where he and other “ostracized” animals have an audience with the Pope in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and nature. Wilhelm’s coming-of-age story ends with his return journey to San Diego via airplane, with a friend brought along, as well.
Overall, this is an enjoyable story, likely aimed at younger readers due to its animal characters, although some adults might find some enjoyment as well, namely those active in the furry fandom. Ritter does regularly pepper her writing with foreign terminology, although she luckily defines them at the end of each chapter, with the subsections generally being short, making the book readable in small bursts, the author doing a good job in not dragging out the story for too long. Granted, that the rat characters could last as long as they do without significant retribution from the humans is a bit unrealistic, but those who can look past this will find Wilhelm’s tale a good yarn.
Book Title: The Adventures of Wilhelm: A Rat’s Tale by Maria Ritter
Illustrator: Teri Rider
Category: Middle-grade Fiction, 210 pages
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Publisher: PartnerPress
Release date: August 2018
Tour dates: March 11 to 29, 2019
Content Rating: G (This is a clean children's book with no expletives, violence, sex or drugs.)
Book Description:
Young Wilhelm leaves home and travels the world. He not only discovers the value of different cultures and the importance of family and friendship, but he also overcomes obstacles with courage and cleverness. He returns home with deep respect for all creatures on this earth and a new sense of rat identity and purpose.
To follow the tour and read reviews, please visit Maria Ritter's page on iRead Book Tours.
Maria Ritter is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in La Jolla, California. She is the author of Return to Dresden (2004), an autobiographical reflection on her childhood in Germany during and after World War II. It is a healing memoir that confronts national guilt for the Nazi past and weaves the broken pieces of loss and grief into a healing tapestry.
Connect with the author: Website
Buy the Book:
About the Author:
Maria Ritter is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in La Jolla, California. She is the author of Return to Dresden (2004), an autobiographical reflection on her childhood in Germany during and after World War II. It is a healing memoir that confronts national guilt for the Nazi past and weaves the broken pieces of loss and grief into a healing tapestry.
Connect with the author: Website
Enter the Giveaway!
Ends April 5, 2019
No comments:
Post a Comment