Return of the Forgotten

Gr 4–6—The trilogy set in the world of mice concludes with a rousing adventure packed with revenge, kidnapping, redemption, pirates, and a wedding. Hopper and Zucker are still leaders of the underground city of Atlantia, and their friendship grounds the narrative, but Fiedler allows "Chosen One" Hopper's siblings to become important characters in their own right. This entry is younger brother Pup's turn to shine, and he evolves from outlaw to hero as he helps rescue Firren and Zucker's children, held captive by a traitor to the city with an old grudge against Firren. New readers may have trouble keeping track of the novel's different tribes and family trees, but fans will relish surprises in the backstories of characters they have grown to love. Fiedler keeps the pace moving quickly and the tension tight; the traitor's identity is revealed early to readers but not to the characters. The peril is on the lighter side, making this series ideal for younger middle grade readers who enjoy animal fantasy. The novel's New York City setting continues to be a strong, appealing element as the rodent heroes venture into Manhattan, and Fiedler playfully mines local history and culture for character names, some obvious (Verrazano), some sublte (Vigneault).