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51 pages 1 hour read

James Patterson

Word of Mouse

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2016

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Themes

The Importance of Embracing Individuality

At the heart of the story is the need to embrace individuality: One should not only accept but celebrate the things that make each person special. From the beginning, the writers present Isaiah as very different from the other mice he meets. His blue fur, ability to read and type, and increased intelligence make him an anomaly. In the lab where he was born, these differences were marks of experimentation. However, as the narrative develops, they become marks of his talents, which he uses to benefit his family and friends. The story also explores the fear that often accompanies being different. For example, at the end of the story, the humans of the congregation react with fear when they see the mice.

Mikayla and Hailey also face ridicule for the qualities that set them apart from their family or peers. Their arcs comment on society’s tendency to fear the unknown but show how beneficial embracing these differences can be for the individual and their community. Mikayla’s appearance is more in line with that of an ordinary mouse, but she has a beautiful and powerful singing blurred text
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