By Dietlof Reiche, translated from the German by John Brownjohn
Scholastic, 2003
Genre: Fiction
Honors:
- Booklist 04/01/03
- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 07/01/03
- Christian Library Journal 06/01/03
- Horn Book 10/01/03
- Publishers Weekly 05/26/03
- School Library Journal 11/01/03
- Wilson's Children 10/01/10
Review: Who would have thought that a golden hamster would be clever enough to impress his way into the home of his choice, and from there learn to read and communicate with humans? Freddy certainly did. As soon as he learned from one of his elders that domesticated hamsters were doomed to the bland existence of pet to humans, Freddy decided that he would make himself the exception to the rule. Using a smile, a wave, and a few other tricks, Freddy stands out in his family of sitters and sleepers when little Sophie's father visits
the pet store. Freddy is sent away due to Sophie's mother's dislike for rodent pets, and then Freddy ends up in the hands of a writer named Mr. John and the company of two vaudevillian guinea pigs and a cat, all of whom befriend Freddy and aid him in his quest to find more reading materials and figure out a way to write the things he wants to say to Mr. John.
Opinion: This is the first in a series about one hamster's dream to escape to the outside world and be free from the restraints of pethood. It is filled with satire and comic relief, mainly provided by the guinea pigs, who have impeccable improvisational skills and who often come up with mocking songs to sing about how hansters are inferior to guinea pigs and so on. I wondered in the beginning if I would really enjoy reading the narrative of a hamster, who, honestly, is not my favorite animal, but by the end I was hooked and wanted to see what the next book in the series holds for Freddy the Golden Hamster. I am going to guess that tweens up to age 11 may enjoy this, but those in the teens are more likely to think that this series is silly and babyish.
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