Anna Fargher’s heart-stopping middle-grade debut, The Umbrella Mouse, is out today with Macmillan Children’s Books, who are releasing as one of their lead titles backed by a strong marketing and publicity campaign.
A timeless tale of courage, resistance and friendship, The Umbrella Mouse draws on the true stories of animals caught in the conflict of WWII.
1944, and London is under attack. Young mouse Pip Hanway’s safe and quiet world is turned upside down when her home, umbrella shop James Smith & Sons, is destroyed by a bomb. Orphaned and alone, she must begin a perilous quest to find a new home.
But the only way to get there is by joining Noah’s Ark, a secret gang of animals fighting the resistance in France, operating beneath the feet of the human soldiers. Danger is everywhere and as the enemy closes in, Pip must risk everything to save her new friends.
Beautifully illustrated by Sam Usher, Anna Fargher’s debut novel takes you on an incredible journey through a war that reaches even the smallest of creatures.
The Umbrella Mouse has already garnered some amazing praise:
“An ambitious and wonderfully well-achieved first novel” Michael Morpurgo
“A spellbinding tale of bravery and hope, where courage is found in the smallest of heroes” Gill Lewis, author of Sky Hawk
We’re looking forward to celebrating with Anna tonight at her launch at James Smith & Sons umbrella shop, where Pip Hanway begins her journey.
Anna Fargher was raised in a creative hub on the Suffolk coast by an artist and a ballet teacher. She read English Literature at Goldsmiths before working in the British art world and opening her own gallery. The Umbrella Mouse is her first book, which she wrote on her iPhone notepad during her daily commute on the London Underground. She splits her time between London and Suffolk where she is often found exploring the coastline and marshlands under the huge East Anglian skies.
The sequel to The Umbrella Mouse will follow next year.
