(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jeff Petersen. When the orphaned Ben and Jennet go to live with Alice, a Miss Marple–like old family friend, they find themselves pulled into a struggle of supernatural dimensions. The English seaside setting is well evoked and integral to the plot; the villains are villainous; and the suspense is expertly deployed. Amateurish pencil drawings (thankfully, only occasional) let down the side.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) 4-6 The mice from The Dark Portal accompany Madame Akkikuyu, the rat fortuneteller, to the country, where the rat-god Jupiter's machinations from beyond the grave nearly get Audrey, an innocent mouse, executed for witchcraft. A sudden plot contrivance toward the end is jarring, but the melodramatic writing nevertheless draws readers into the woes, dangers, and quaint pleasures of the characters' lives.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Deptford Mice series. Any mouse from Skirtings who travels through the Grill into the sewers enters a dangerous world ruled by rats. In several trips in and out to rescue one another and retrieve a lost mousebrass medallion, Audrey, city-mouse Piccadilly, albino Oswald, and "innocent" Twit thwart the plans of the evil rat-god Jupiter. Jarvis's detailed, strongly characterized adventure showcases danger and courage.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam