Poppy's Return is the fourth book in the 'Dimwood Forest' series, and the second to last one, by Avi. It is a series enjoyed by all kids and adults all over the world with it's tales of adventure, family, friendships, and emotions. It's a great light read for children. The 'Dimwood Forest' consists of six books: Ragweed, Poppy, Poppy and Rye, Ereth's Birthday, Poppy's Return, and Poppy and Ereth. It is an amazing series which gives an insight to a mouse's life. But not an average mouse at that. A spirited and highly capable, adventurous mouse named Poppy.
For people who are not familiar with the Dimwood Forest series, here is an introduction to all of the characters in 'Poppy's Return'
Poppy is an elderly deer mouse with large ears, round eyes, and a small torso and a pink tail. She's adventurous, headstrong, but a mother all the same. In this book, Poppy is the mother of 11 little mice, with a particularly interesting one by the name of Ragweed Junior. She has made many unusual acquaintances one of them being a porcupine whom is rather...... fond of swearing.
Rye is Poppy's mate, and brother of her other one, Ragweed. He's a calm, quiet golden mouse with a love for family and poetry, much unlike Ragweed, whom had a taste for adventure and dangerous notions.
Ereth is a porcupine, and a dear friend of Poppy's. He swears.... continually, but is really has a good heart in the right place. He's very fond of salt, and is very headstrong as well.
Ragweed Junior is..... Well, he's a teenager. Rude, crude, and everything mean, he's the most troubling of all of Poppy's children. With an extremely stinky skunk as a friend, and his funny, weird ways, Ragweed Junior, otherwise known as Junior, is a very exact replica of what Ragweed stood for. Trying new things out. As a teenager, it's his 'domain of expertise' to make his mother's life as difficult as possible. To say the least? He's doing very well.
Last but not least, Mephitis is a skunk, and Junior's best pal. Not to mention that he has a really nasty stink, and he may be the worst influence to Junior. But as a mysterious figure for Poppy, she's not quite sure what to make of him. Mephitis turns out to have his heart in the right place, and gets along with everyone much better than anyone thought he would.
In this book, Poppy makes her way back to her old home, the Gray House, when her sister, Lilly, arrives with news that her father and mother have some things to discuss with her, along with a new danger to their home. It's very unlike the woods she is familiar with though, in the Gray House. With many many many mice scurrying around, and not enough space for all of them, it gives a new definition to crowded. With the threat of their house being broken down by a bulldozer, it always keeps the deer mice scurrying all over the place. The news that their house may be broken down is not good, nor is it welcomed. However, it is true that the mice seem eager for a bit of change. Will Poppy be able to protect the Gray House and return back to her home, where her heart lies? Will she be able to explain to her father that she doesn't wish to stay?
Avi is an amazing writer who writes a hilarious series of novels with rapt adventures and an intricate plot. It's a great read for readers whom do not love to have much of a long book, but also love to have a series to read and be entertained by.
***I give this book a 8.8 out of 10***
