The Tale of a No-Name Squirrel

by Radhika R. Dhariwal

Solve riddles with Squirrel as he travels to the walled city of bees, the fireless tea plantation of mice, and treacherous desert full of tricksters in this beautifully written and creative debut adventure.

Squirrel never expected to be anything other than a the last animal slave in Bimmau. That is, until he is invited to a high profile wedding and takes a sip of the forbidden ceremonial wine, unlocking a mysterious riddle. The riddle reveals that there is a key which has the power to grant Squirrel his freedom (and a name!), but also could enslave anyone in Bimmau. Disastrous if it falls into the wrong hands! Squirrel and his friends find themselves in a race to find Brittle’s Key before the army of crows gets to him…and before the mysterious Colonel finds the key first.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Animals, Adventure, Childrens, Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Radhika Dhariwal grew up in India, Australia, South Africa, Hungary, the Philippines and the United States. She currently lives in Delhi, where she runs a bar called PCO. She loves puzzles (both doing them and creating them), and bread in all its golden, glorious forms. She has an undeniable soft spot for very badly behaved beagles. Radhika has a B.Sc in Psychology from Brown University and a MA in Psychology, with a focus on child development, from New York University.

Reviews

[Deepak Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

When i Started reading this book, I was not sure that it is Re-Branded version of "PetPost Secret"
I loved the illustration in this version and also the Cover. This gives it more childish feel that petpost secret.
Although I feel little cheated (They should have mentioned its the same story), But its OK. I am getting to read the story again with illustrations this time.

Pasting my review of Petpost below
---------------
I saw this book in the giveaway section and enrolled myself in. Then i literally forgot about it .
I got a mail that i had won this book,I was like, I have one more book to read.

Once I received the book , I went ahead and read the reviews and was pleasantly surprised by the good reviews.

I started the book hoping that it would be as good as the reviews and I would really like it. AND I DID REALLY LIKE IT.
Thanks to Radhika for sharing this book with me.

The Book is about a Squirrel who is a slave at Petpost and delivers Posts to people of Bammau. The adventure starts when squirrel receives an invitation for the wedding (Smitten and Cheska ). The most anticipated wedding in city.

He buys a suit and ends up in the wedding with lady blouse by her side. He meets Des (Depatches , loved the name ), a small dog. He drinks the Wedding wine and his life changes.
The wedding is attacked by the KOWAS(Available for hire Crow gang. Kowa is what we call crows is Hindi :))

An unlikely friend joins the pair , a Kowa named Azulfa.
The 3 embark on mission which takes them to the BEE kingdom , the Mice kingdom and a desert.

Meanwhile a Villain Colonel and his associate are after the trio to get the brittle key.

The Adventure moves nicely with each adventure showing new empires and people.

Its a lovely Lovely book with sweet characters. The cities and the kingdoms are described beautifully. I loved the names given to the characters and also specially Micetroes (Maestros) given to the leaders of the Mice Kingdom.

The Book Takes you to a sweet and lovely ride through the animal kingdom. The author is very innovative in giving names to dishes people eat the communities (PeddyPurr and Pawshine for cats, waggamut for Dogs ). Buzzex the fast message delivery owned by the bees was awesome name.

The squirrel is so loveable that you just feel a warmth for him.

My kid is just 2 now. But i will definitely keep this book for him and make him read it when he grows up.

I give this book 5/5 and recommend it to everyone.
DeVil D

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little boring. But still great.

[Lyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tale of a No-Name Squirrel, aimed at middle grade readers, is a fun adventure, to be sure. It took me a few chapters to get into the world, but once I did, I enjoyed the myriad layers to the story. Our hero, Squirrel, is the last slave in the kingdom of Bimmau, a land occupied by animals who talk and wear fancy clothes, but also stick together by species and rarely cross those bounds. At  a somewhat scandalous wedding between a cat and a dog (this, I admit was hard for me to wrap my head around at first), Squirrel sips a strange drink and hears his deceased mother's voice whispering a puzzle to him.
The plot is a straight up quest. Squirrel must work through a series of clues that will lead him to a special key that has the potential to free him from slavery and to reveal his true name. Squirrel and a rag-tag group of adventurers must stay one step ahead of enemy forces who also want the key, because although it has the power to free slaves, the key may also be used to enslave others. Of great fun for me, and my children who also read the book, was ability to play along with the puzzles. There are riddles to answer and codes to break, making this a good step up for kids who enjoy the Geronimo Stilton books, but are ready for a new challenge.
I wish I had done this as a read aloud with my kids, rather than them reading the book independently. My daughter didn't like the occasional swear word ("damn" if you're wondering), and some subtle flirting confused my son, but would have kept an adult's attention while reading.
I suspect a lot of the book's nuances were lost on them. Part way through, I had an epiphany - the various animal species functioned like a divided human society. Some of the characters were open-minded enough to see past the physical difference and appreciate what similarities existed even when the differences seemed insurmountable. The themes of home, family, identity, and nourishment recur in different places.
I really wish publisher Simon & Schuster had included a reading guide or discussion questions, because as parents, sometimes our brains hurt by bedtime and we need a little help, so here's a few thoughts from me. If reading aloud, the parent (and child if they read aloud too) could stop and ask questions about whether Squirrel and Des are good guests and if bees or mice are better hosts and why. There are a number of places where the adult could ask a child why a character behaves they way they do and raise issues of fairness. The Tale of a No-Name Squirrel is a terrific book for raising issues around empathy but also hierarchical societies. Because the animals bear resemblance to humans - and not just for the fine footwear - sharing this story can be a way to ease into some uncomfortable conversations about privilege, whether economic, social, or racial.
But if that's too esoteric, then focus on quest and puzzles.  I give this a 5/5 for a read aloud story, and a 4/5 for independent reading.
Oh - and the disclaimer - I received a complementary copy of The Tale of a No-Name Squirrel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
And another oh - the illustrations by Audrey Benjaminsen are charming and add character to the story.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

Look, I'm drawn to any book that has anything to do with squirrels. So obviously I had to pick this one up. This is an interesting fantasy book- kinda like The Wind in the Willows but with a scavenger hunt for a mystical map that holds the power to enslave or free others. There's a lot to unpack in this book- largely it's a hunt to find a map, decoding clues along the way, oh and also a discussion about class structures and inequalities in power. So there are some parts of the story that get a little heavy and philosophical, which seems out of place in middle grade (at least I think this is middle grade?). Not to say that kids can't manage these thoughts but the topics are sprinkled in to an otherwise lighthearted and fun quest story. I did enjoy the world building and the characters were interesting and well layered, I had a lot of fun with Squirrel and Des' friendship. The end wraps up a little too quickly for my taste (the climax basically covers one chapter...and then that's kinda it...) but it seems like it's being set up for a sequel. I had a fun time reading this but was a underwhelmed by certain elements throughout the story.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected a fun and entertaining story about a cute little squirrel. Although the story is unique and clever, I did not care for the violence. It was too much for me! I did like the many different characters and the good ending.

Very well-written with many vocabulary-building words for the reader.

I received this complimentary book from Goodreads.

[Kat Choolik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure this book would work for kids under 10. Had some upsetting themes in it. At the end I felt as though there would be another book to tell us more. It seemed the author got there, sort of wrapped things up, and left the building.

[Riya Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a plot driven story, all those stars are purely for the entertainment value.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Matt Haynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute middle grade read. Kids in love with animals will particularly love this book. I also loved the interactive element with the riddle at the end, and I appreciated all the food mentioned throughout the book even if it wasn't all necessarily food that humans would eat. There was things I didn't like about the book but I think they have more to do with the fact I am not the intended target audience for it over that there were actual problems with the plot/writing.

[Chris Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radhika Dhariwal's The Tale of the No-Name Squirrel took me back to my childhood days absorbed by Brian Jacques' epic Redwall series. The Tale of the No-Name Squirrel is much less daunting than Redwall, with a simpler point of view and a less complex, but no less imaginative, world. But in most other ways, the two share many similarities - animals playing the leading roles, good vs. evil, massive adventure, puzzles, and multiculturalism. The Tale of the No-Name Squirrel is an enjoyable story with a good heart, one that may have a stronger appeal with a younger crowd, but adults will find enough nice touches and surprises to make it worth their while as well.

The main character, Squirrel, has no name because he is a slave who serves the PetPost - the story's equivalent of the U.S. Postal Service. He is the last of his kind - the slave that is - as slavery has been banished, though unfortunately for Squirrel this banishment didn't apply retroactively. Squirrel is a slave so long as he has no name, but he isn't unhappy. He earns good wages and nobody is particularly unkind to him. Only when he realizes he can be treated as an equal and has a taste of what freedom is like does he feel differently. This happens when he is invited to the wedding of a prominent cat and dog - Smitten and Cheska. Yes, cats and dogs do have relations in this novel, though it's never mentioned if their offspring are cat-dogs.

At this wedding, Squirrel befriends one of the family members of the wedding party, a dog named Des. Des likes Squirrel so much he sneaks him out of sight to share some Wedded Wine with him, which only the married couple is supposed to drink. This Wedded Wine has an unexpected effect on Squirrel. He goes through an intense pain and recites aloud a poem, one that becomes ingrained in his memory. It's a clue. But before he can think on what has just happened, a clan of crows called the Kowas descend, and Squirrel and Des are rescued by a crow named Azulfa. They are reluctant to go with her, but her intentions seem good and they have no choice. Thus begins their journey.

There's an ingenuity to what happens to Squirrel, as he learns more and more about himself, and to the way the plot unfolds. The rest of the story becomes an adventure as Squirrel travels from place to place finding new clues to seek out a power much greater than he ever supposed he possessed. Along the way the three heroes visit a kingdom of bees, where a romance almost plays out between dog and bee (one of the novel's missed opportunities, I think, in not developing further) and the queen bee is so powerful she compels non-bee creatures to dance when she dances. The bee kingdom is where Dhariwal is at her most creative. I wish we could have spent more time there.

The heroes travel as well to a forbidden tomb, a rural land of field mice, and a desert city filled with thieves and murderers. In the meantime there are moments of mistrust and developed friendship. In the manner of many recent adventure stories, Squirrel, the hero, is one of the least interesting characters, but he does undergo some compelling changes over the course of the narrative. Many of the characters have a good heart, especially Squirrel and Des, though they come off a touch naive, making a character with sharper edges, such as Azulfa, a necessity. Perhaps the biggest issue is the lack of development for the main villain, a cat named Colonel (and later renamed). Colonel shows up in the novel's first pages, but barely turns up until the end. This dulls the menace he could have had were he included in the novel for a longer period of time.

Much of the plot of The Tale of the No-Name Squirrel is so lacking in meanness that when the violence does come it's quite a shock. The violence is not PG-13 violence (though, by today's standards, maybe it is), with blood and surprisingly vivid descriptions. This doesn't necessarily hurt the novel except to provide a challenge in determining its audience. Children may enjoy the adventure elements but parents might not be too comfortable by the descriptions of gore and violent acts. This violence, though, is rare, and adds a little bit of depth to this magical tale, which has some promise for what could be a fun series of books.

***I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

[T.J. Burns]

I received a copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not a great read for me, sadly. The disconnect between the topics and some rather dark scenes with the really juvenile writing style and over abundance of highly descriptive food scenes made this a miss.

Squirrel is the PetPost Slave. He's the last slave in Bimmau. He has no name. And no power. But when he is invited to a fancy wedding and illicitly drinks some ceremonial beverage he unlocks a riddle in his mind and sets off on a quest with his new dog friend Des and questionably loyal crow friend Azulf to find "Brittle's Key"; something which will allow it's holder to interpret "Brittle's Map"; a document with the power to grant Squirrel his freedom....or enslave anyone in Bimmau. They must solve many puzzles, navigate tricky encounters with enemies who also want the key, and evade the murderous Kowa crows in their scavenger hunt style mission in order to save the day; and maybe even secure the safety of all. If he could find out his name and obtain his freedom; that would be a great bonus...

What didn’t you like about the book? This was oddly disjointed in places and while readers who enjoy scavenger hunt riddle-based plots will thrill to read this; there are many places where the fun get bogged down in overly detailed descriptions of food eaten; scenes which place the story not in any sort of world where humans exist or ever did exist; though there is a line referencing a time of the Big Dogs and Cats. The recipes are described in intense detail and despite living in a world where seemingly every sort of creature can be a sentient, talking, intelligent being; there are dishes like Peppered Urchin, Caramelized Lizard's Gizzard, Squirrel has a recipe book full of "nuts and jams and sweets and hams" and at one point they all gobble up a lamb dish. Also a bit disconcerting is the roller coaster of overly juvenile language with the rather dark themes/scenes. The book opens with a rather gruesome cat on cat murder scene and there is quite a bit of classism with the Pedipurr Cats/Dogs look down on the rest and the main villain seeks to re-establish slavery. The scene towards the end is rather gross as well when the sides of his body split open and "wings" spill out because apparently he's a flying squirrel now? He does find out his name and there's a crossword puzzle towards the end that readers could fill out in order to find out his un-stated parents names too So the themes and some scenes get quite deep and dark but the text is aimed at rather young readers so this is one to offer to strong readers.

To whom would you recommend this book? This ends not so much on a cliffhanger but with definite indications that it is not the last in a new series so offer this to strong readers who enjoy Animals As Adventurers fantasies. Readers who love "do it along with the book" puzzles and riddles may be frustrated for the majority of the book as there are many "clues" for things unique to this world/story but the payoff would be that there's a crossword puzzle towards the end that readers could fill out with all the knowledge gained in reading the story.

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher provided me with a copy of this book to provide an honest review. No goody bags, sponsorship, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Jocelin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story of a no-name squirrel is about an unassuming little squirrel that is still in servitude in a mythical animal village. In essence this poor squirrel is a slave that works for the Pet Post; a service that delivers mail. One day this little squirrel is tasked with delivering wedding invitations to the event of the season. While at said wedding he drinks some walnut wine and has a vision that will change the course of his life. This vision could also change the way their society exists. The wedding is thrown into chaos because, of an attack by rogue crows. So little squirrel, along with a newly minted dog companion set out to find a lost artifact and save all of humanity (I mean, animal kind).

One of the reason that I read this book was because I really missed the Mistmantle Chronicles. It had the story of a squirrel setting off for adventure and it made me nostalgic. I should have just reread the Mistmantle Chronicles. Well, where to begin; this story was not very good. The beginning started off really dark for me; a murder takes place. Then from there the story just picks up speed and heads toward boredom. The story was not even the slightest bit interesting. It really didn’t make a lot of sense to me. There were a lot of things that were in this book that made me go: What is going on??!!! First, the wedding scene was reminiscent of what Dr. Peter Venkman said, “Dogs & Cats living together mass hysteria”. The event of the season was a dog and cat getting married(like whatever). A bee making overt advances to a dog. Then there was a scene where two cats almost got a little frisky in a small area in the library. I had to check the book because that scene read like one from an adult romance novel, seriously!!??? That scene was not lost on a critic from the Kirkus reviews.

This book, was a head scratcher and really sad. First of all, this book was NOT for 8-12 year olds. It was more towards the young adult age range. The story didn’t make sense, the point was finding a key to start/stop an enslavement Armageddon. The bad guy was dull and lacked true depth of vision with his evil plan. I guess he wanted dogs and other creatures to be in servitude to cats. Towards the end of the book you were eagerly waiting to be done to with it. The characters were flat, and uninteresting. Personally, I felt the story was slightly creepy and a little dark. It seemed like they were on a ridiculous scavenger hunt that took them everywhere and the point was, why? There were so many questions that this book never addressed; like why was squirrel the only slave? Why were there references to modern society like: Bugs Bunny, BuzzEX(a nod to FedEX) but, this world seemed like it took place without any electricity, let alone modern technology.

This book had a lot of inappropriate elements in it to be considered a book for “young readers”. I am very glad that I did not purchase this one.

[Juushika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squirrel has been a slave his entire life--but when he unearths a hidden memory, he begins a quest to free all slaves, forever. There was a point in reading Grahame's The Wind in the Willows when I had to stop ask myself: is this a man-sized toad with a full head of hair riding a horse? (I'm still only approximately certain that the answer is yes.) The Tale of a No-Name Squirrel is suffused with that same playful but immersion-breaking confusion, because these anthropomorphic animals are particularly ill-defined (the squirrel has blushing cheeks, a dog marries a cat) and a similar humor pervades the text, filling it with puns and strange bits of worldbuilding. This doesn't always mesh well with the darker elements, but it makes for lively pacing and consistent readability. Squirrel's tale is primarily a travelogue, and the overarching plot is hampered by flat supporting characters and an abundance of coincidence--but Squirrel's character growth is rewarding. This is a frivolous, exuberant novel; too silly for me, but readers who appreciate humor should have better luck.

My ARC had some incomplete and missing illustrations, but what I saw of the art is lovely--if not quite as silly as the text.

This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up liking this book both more and less than I expected. Sound conflicted? That's probably because conflicted is exactly how I felt about this book. Let me explain. The story was clever and appealing, but the violence was a little much even for me. I expected a cute little story about a squirrel, but certainly did not expect stomach-turning violence. This element (and some borderline language) makes it difficult for me to recommend to younger readers, who I think would enjoy the story the most. Older readers might find the story too simplistic and formulaic (I mean, even I saw most of the twists coming!), but they're the only ones who might be able to handle the violence level. Truthfully, until almost the end, I was leaning toward giving this book only 2 stars. But the end. No, it wasn't anything mind-blowing, but it had an understated power to it that required me to sit up and take notice. While I would have liked an answer key to the final puzzle (since I don't want to write in my copy of the book...), I still found the use of the puzzle a nice touch. So...yeah. I didn't like large chunks of it, but I really liked a few little jewels...and the plot was good enough to make it worth the read. So it gets 4 stars. I'm comfortable with that. :)

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway, but the thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

[Kathrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers who enjoy mystery or adventure will be cheering for the. main character in Radhika R. Dhariwal's book, "The Tale of a No-Name Squirrel. " Squirrel is born a slave but discovers there is a way to gain his freedom. In order to do that he has to follow a series of clues to find the key. His journey takes him to a town filled with thieves and gamblers, a town of tea growing mice, and a town where a camel guards the water supply. Squirrel works hard to find the clues and he's not the only one looking for them so he must escape the villains who are also racing to find find the key. Readers who are looking for a complex chapter book will enjoy putting the clues together along with Squirrel. They will also have to figure out which characters can be trusted and which are evil. In the end readers will be thrilled to find that the whole mystery has not been solved and there will have to be another book to finish the tale. On a personal note I have to say that I found the thinly disguised colorful language and references to adult relationships to be unnecessary. In my experience young readers are overexposed to crude and juvenile language and don't need more exposure. For me it seemed the trash talk did not fit in the otherwise classy and well written tale.

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squirrel never understood how he got into this mess. He also doesn’t understand many of the hidden secrets along his journey. But, what he does understand is that if he succeeds, he will be free from his PetPost slave bonds.
This “no-name” squirrel makes new friends with Des, a dog, and the mysterious Kowa crow, Azulfa. They venture through a magical world that includes a fantastic walled city run by bees, the marketplace of Gandgoon peopled by tricksters - and so much more. I really enjoyed the wide range of personalities that characterized the different places the trio traveled through.
The story has a great ending that is exciting and gratifying. The trio fights till the end; through joys and tears, they overcome fears of their own, and make it to the finish line.
This book is a satisfying blend of fiction, fantasy, and adventure. It is about 370 pages long and is good for readers that want something challenging, fun, and humorous to read. It’s perfect for readers between 9 and 11 years old. I gave it 5 stars because it was one of my favorite books that I have read. It was fun, happy, and adventurous, with ups and downs throughout the way.
Brooke Z, Age 9, Delaware Valley Mensa

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot to enjoy in this tale of Squirrel, who spends his days working as the PetPost slave under a ruthless taskmaster. But when he receives a surprising invitation to a wedding, he makes friends with Des, an enthusiastic canine, sips some wine at the ceremony, and unlocks some of the secrets left behind by his deceased mother. With the memories comes the challenge of solving various mysteries and finding the mysterious and powerful Brittle's Key. As his quest takes him to many different settings, Squirrel is accompanied by Des and some other allies. But Squirrel isn't completely sure of anyone's loyalty, and he's particularly suspicious of Azulfa, the crow who has conveniently appeared everywhere along his journeys. Fans of the Redwall series and similar animal fantasies may find this one enticing, particularly for all of its political intrigue and the untrustworthiness of some of the characters as well as the descriptions of food and the social order that exists between various dogs and cats. Anyone interested in code cracking may enjoy the puzzles that are sprinkled throughout the book as well.

[Kizzi Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Squirrel is the last animal slave of Bimmau, and never expects to be invited to the most anticipated wedding of the year. It's the most exciting thing to happen in Squirrel's life until he drinks the forbidden ceremonial wine setting into motion a wild chain of events that takes Squirrel on a quest full of riddles and danger. Squirrel's quest could bring disaster or freedom.

The Tale of the No-Name Squirrel written by Radhika R. Dhariwal and illustrated by Audrey Benjaminsen is a bizarre tale set in a world where animals speak and live in a structured society. While middle-grade readers might find the tale interesting and enjoy solving the riddles alongside Squirrel, the animals speaking in dialect is distracting and difficult to read. The tale brings many ideas together in a jumble of animals, riddles, and prophecy. If a reader loves novels with talking animals, they may enjoy this one, but there are better books in this category for readers in this age range.

Thank you Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for a reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squirrel is a slave, and when he receives an unexpected invitation to a wedding, he learns there is a way to become free. This sends Squirrel off on a quest to solve a series of clever riddles that will show him the way to freedom. Along the way, he learns truths about his parents and himself and finds not only freedom but friendship.

So many things make this a great read. First, it's a delightful story, with marvelous little riddles and fun surprises all along the way. Second, Squirrel and the other animal characters have lovely personalities with an unexpected mix of ancestries. And, third, the path to freedom takes several twists and turns you won't anticipate.

[Don Henwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I packed my clutch and traveled with Squirrel and his new companion 'Des'. I trembled with them when all seemed dark, and plucked up courage when it was most required. Then as opportunity arose for me to solve the Brittle's Key, I took on the quest myself and sought answers from my memory, or as need be, searched back through my adventures to find the clues in plain sight.
This tale will entice you to be brave and wise. it will call upon you to observe and to trust. Are you ready? Then come along and adventure with The Tale of a No-Name Squirrel. I think you will love it as much as I do.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightfully crafted young readers book!! There were great word choices to build vocabulary. This book engaged me easily as an adult reader. The descriptions were clever, an interesting variety of characters with a creative plot. As I read I looked forward to the next chapter to see what would happen next. I loved how there was the puzzle in the book for the reader to do. The ending seemed open to a sequel with an enticing dash of mystery and intrigue… Enjoy the book!

[Humbir Nerker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the lively writing, description and world-building. The characters had me hooked and I thoroughly enjoyed solving the crossword puzzle at the end. While aimed at children this book can be an enjoyable read for any age group. Could not put it down and can't wait for the sequel.

[Samantha Gunning]

I won this book via Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. I received an autographed hard cover copy.

[January Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun for kids. Interesting, fun and challenging.