THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

The mouse, Ragweed, leaves his home to explore the wide world. A train ride leads him to unexpected adventures and new friends. He joins a beatnik-style mouse community that has been terrorized by ferocious cats. Ragweed helps the mice learn to stand up for themselves and defeat the cats.

Characters grapple with the tension between the safety and comfort of home and the danger and excitement of exploration.

Content of which to be aware:

• Slang, insults, exclamations or profanity: dork
• A cat is jealous and vengeful.
• There is no magic in the book.
• Cats believe mice are vermin that should be destroyed.
• A cat is offended that her grandchild is friends with a mouse.
• A cat spanks her grandchild.
• Mice are chased, attacked, and eaten by cats.
• A cat threatens a mouse and forces him to betray other mice.
• Mice defend themselves by spraying cats with water.
• A mouse vows that no one can tell them what they can or cannot do.
• Mice develop crushes on one another; however, this relationship is minor and not central to the plot. There is no kissing in the book.