The Mouse That Moved

David Rees relates a true life event (the realignment of a Tudor House in Exeter) but renders it as fiction. For two boys the house is their favourite play space and won't be after it if moved. They squeeze the last ounce of enjoyment out of the place-to the extent of getting into the house for the actual move. This gives the story its best and final twist. Read on... The difficulty is that David Rees wants to tell us the history of the house, and all that implies, and he wants to tell us the boy's story. The two do not always gel comfortably. The result is not a good piece of literature but it is a fascinating springboard/sourcebook for discussion. A class working on buildings or Tudors and Stuarts...(whatever happened to Unstead?) would enjoy the faction. Laszlo Acs' monotone illustrations are excellent whether showing the mechanics of moving the house or the enjoyment of having breakfast with Dad. An interesting addition to a Middle Junior reading area.