The Stowaways

Praise for The Stowaways

2014 Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy shortlist

2014 CLA Book of the Year for Children Award shortlist

2014 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature shortlist

2013 OLA Best Bets honourable mention

2014 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection

2013 Resource Links “The Year’s Best” selection

"Themes of courage, family, friendship, and accepting differences permeate the story. Intermittent and well-placed black-and-white illustrations lend a vintage feel to the overall design of the book. A fine debut that deserves a place alongside Cynthia Voight's Young Fredle (Knopf) and Richard Peck's Secrets at Sea (Dial, both 2011)."—School Library Journal

"In her first novel, Marentette shows promise as a storyteller, creating distinctive characters, building tension, and grounding the fantasy with realistic settings and details...this appealing book will quickly find its audience, fans of mouse adventure tales from George Selden's The Cricket in Times Square (1960) to Robert C. O'Brien's Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971) to Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux (2003)."—Booklist

"In the tradition of memorable mouse heroes, the Stowaways deliver page-turning, cliffhanging, heartwarming, first-rate adventure."—Kirkus Reviews

"Not since Stuart Little has the heart of a valiant mouse beat quite so fiercely as that of Rory Stowaway in Meghan Marentette's first novel, The Stowaways. It meets and exceeds all the expectations of a good mouse story, with a well-constructed and self-sufficient mouse world, a teeny-tiny hero set against impossible odds, and an adventure brimming with mystery that scampers from chapter to chapter."—The National Reading Campaign

"Marentette has created a lovely world that combines animals and fantasy with humans and reality in an original and lively story. Her writing style is elegant yet conversational."—Resource Links

"...charmingly illustrated by Dean Griffiths...exciting, interesting, and really good fun. I hesitate to compare it to The Wind in the Willows, but it is in the same league; so read and enjoy...Highly Recommended"—CM Magazine

"Like Arrietty of The Borrowers or Stuart Little, Rory Stowaway is a pocket-sized hero set against rather large odds...The Stowaways is an engaging story which would also be a wonderful read-aloud book for younger children at home or in the classroom. The book's endearing characters, exciting plot and the central themes of family and growing up would be fertile ground for classroom discussion."—Canadian Children's Book News

"Debut author Meghan Marentette has crafted a charming adventure tale with a plucky protagonist."—Atlantic Books Today