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Little Mice
FOR FANS OF THE HUNGER GAMES, THE GIVER, AND UGLIES
“I could not put it down...Little Mice creates a universe every bit as rich and haunting as Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale or Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, while also reminiscent of Lois Lowry’s The Giver or George Orwell’s 1984.”
"If you are a fan of dystopian sci-fi and liked The Handmaid’s Tale, Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, or The Hunger Games, this is for you.”
Each citizen must contribute to society. If a citizen fails to find a suitable objective, one will be assigned.
In the Canopy Complex, no one grows old. Age is for the little mice, the donors far below who bleed so the privileged can thrive. Seventeen-year-old Astra Fairwood has never questioned the system. Why would she? As the daughter of the Chief Enforcer, her future is secure – a life of parties and privilege. Until everything is taken from her.
Cast out of the Canopy and condemned to the Donor Zone, Astra is forced into the very world she was raised to fear. She meets a girl who challenges everything she thought she wanted and soon learns the Canopy taught her to fear the wrong thing. The real threat was never the Zone.
With tensions rising and the people she loves most in danger, Astra must choose between the life she was promised and the truth she can no longer ignore. Does a world built on the blood of others deserve to survive?
“I could not put it down...Little Mice creates a universe every bit as rich and haunting as Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale or Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, while also reminiscent of Lois Lowry’s The Giver or George Orwell’s 1984.”
"If you are a fan of dystopian sci-fi and liked The Handmaid’s Tale, Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, or The Hunger Games, this is for you.”
Each citizen must contribute to society. If a citizen fails to find a suitable objective, one will be assigned.
In the Canopy Complex, no one grows old. Age is for the little mice, the donors far below who bleed so the privileged can thrive. Seventeen-year-old Astra Fairwood has never questioned the system. Why would she? As the daughter of the Chief Enforcer, her future is secure – a life of parties and privilege. Until everything is taken from her.
Cast out of the Canopy and condemned to the Donor Zone, Astra is forced into the very world she was raised to fear. She meets a girl who challenges everything she thought she wanted and soon learns the Canopy taught her to fear the wrong thing. The real threat was never the Zone.
With tensions rising and the people she loves most in danger, Astra must choose between the life she was promised and the truth she can no longer ignore. Does a world built on the blood of others deserve to survive?
- GenresDystopia
302 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
Tara Louise Crowe
1 book2 followersAfter a decade in publishing sales at The Guardian and New Scientist, Tara worked at Ingenious - a company making collagen supplements. She was fascinated by the increasingly clever ways science can trick the body into looking and feeling younger. The inspiration for Little Mice came from a news segment about young blood plasma being used to rejuvenate older people - a concept she found both intriguing and unsettling. The idea lingered. What happens when youth itself becomes a commodity?
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 3, 2026
What a ride, an action-forward YA dystopian novel! It's always a journey seeing a character have the rug pulled from under them and everything they believed in crumble before their eyes!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Very topical dystopian story. You can see how this could happen in the future with today's times of growing inequality. I enjoyed the characters and their growth through adversity. Values not tested are just words after all. The story really picks up like a 'whodunit', so you want to keep turning the page. Passing on to my 18 year old next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Finally, I managed to get to read this book! My 18 year old daughter, got her hands on it before I could! So I had to wait...
A brilliant debut novel!
I absolutely loved Little Mice. From the very beginning, I was completely hooked and found it incredibly difficult to put down.
Set in a dystopian future, the world of the novel feels unsettlingly plausible. It’s a society obsessed with youth, where inequality prevails, and the consequences of those values make for a fascinating and thought-provoking backdrop. What makes it particularly compelling is how believable it all feels — it’s dystopian, but not so far removed from our own world that you can’t imagine it happening.
The plot is gripping, with plenty to keep you turning the pages, and the characters are believable and engaging. I was completely pulled along by the story, constantly needing to know what would happen next. It’s one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll read just one more chapter… luckily the chapters are short!!
A fantastic debut from Tara Crowe, and I’m already looking forward to the sequel. Highly recommended!
A brilliant debut novel!
I absolutely loved Little Mice. From the very beginning, I was completely hooked and found it incredibly difficult to put down.
Set in a dystopian future, the world of the novel feels unsettlingly plausible. It’s a society obsessed with youth, where inequality prevails, and the consequences of those values make for a fascinating and thought-provoking backdrop. What makes it particularly compelling is how believable it all feels — it’s dystopian, but not so far removed from our own world that you can’t imagine it happening.
The plot is gripping, with plenty to keep you turning the pages, and the characters are believable and engaging. I was completely pulled along by the story, constantly needing to know what would happen next. It’s one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll read just one more chapter… luckily the chapters are short!!
A fantastic debut from Tara Crowe, and I’m already looking forward to the sequel. Highly recommended!
September 26, 2026
This was read as an Advance Reader Copy!
Now that is dystopian done right 🐭🩸
This book intrigued me as it was like nothing I have ever read before. The story was so unique and it kept me gripped from page 1!
This story follows Astra Fairwood who is navigating life from the Canopy, into the Donor Zone. Astra is a great MC and I really liked her. She showed moral compass yet fight which I loved about her.
Sometimes, because dystopian worlds are similar to our own but changed in a dramatic way, I can sometimes struggle to keep up. However, this book was super easy to keep up with and the plot of the story had great pacing. This being said, I never had any clue where the story was going and I was taken on such a wild ride!
I loved that this book had so much inclusivity with the characters and we had a Jem! I have never read a book with my name in before so this was such a nice surprise.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a fabulous YA book where it’s is still gripping, even as a 28 year old.
Thank you so much to Emily at Leapfrog for sending me an ARC copy of this book and to Tara - for writing this unique world! I cannot wait to read more 🤭🩸
EDIT: what has made this book even more interesting now is reading Tara Crowes bio on GR! Go and have a read 📖
Now that is dystopian done right 🐭🩸
This book intrigued me as it was like nothing I have ever read before. The story was so unique and it kept me gripped from page 1!
This story follows Astra Fairwood who is navigating life from the Canopy, into the Donor Zone. Astra is a great MC and I really liked her. She showed moral compass yet fight which I loved about her.
Sometimes, because dystopian worlds are similar to our own but changed in a dramatic way, I can sometimes struggle to keep up. However, this book was super easy to keep up with and the plot of the story had great pacing. This being said, I never had any clue where the story was going and I was taken on such a wild ride!
I loved that this book had so much inclusivity with the characters and we had a Jem! I have never read a book with my name in before so this was such a nice surprise.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a fabulous YA book where it’s is still gripping, even as a 28 year old.
Thank you so much to Emily at Leapfrog for sending me an ARC copy of this book and to Tara - for writing this unique world! I cannot wait to read more 🤭🩸
EDIT: what has made this book even more interesting now is reading Tara Crowes bio on GR! Go and have a read 📖
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a gripping read. The storyline, topic and characters were all engaging. The short chapters made it easy to pick up and put down. Also very much enjoyed by my 14 year old son. We look forward to the sequel!
October 6, 2026
Characters: 4.00⭐️
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 3.75⭐️
Themes: 4.00⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.75⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.00⭐️
Overall rating: 4.00⭐️
Astra Fairwood lives in the Canopy, a high rise of sorts where the elite of society live, never having to touch the ground or venture outside. In the Canopy, the citizens partake in medical procedures of a plasma donation where they can extend their life and stay young looking. However, when Astra's father, Ivan, is killed in an attempted robbery of the blood vault, Astra's standing in the Canopy is called into question and her protections are no longer valid. Citizens who cannot find a job are sentenced to the Donation Zone where the poor, addicts and criminals are sent to donate their plasma to the elite. Astra arrives finding the truth about the Donation Zone and will do what it takes to reveal the horrors to the world.
Little Mice gives the vibe of a 2010s dystopian novel. There is a world built within our own that the rich and powerful take advantage of the poor, tossing them aside like garbage and filth. There are overarching themes of inequality between the high and low class of society. I think this was a very good start to a dystopian world. It was unique in the sense that it utilizes medical advancements in this world rather than strictly political manipulation. I liked Astra's character and her growth. She was this weaker character in the beginning, but towards the end she wanted to bring change to the Donor Zone.
Overall, I think this was a solid start to a new YA dystopian trilogy with themes that we are witnessing in real time.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, and I cannot wait to see more.
Thank you to Leapfrog Press for a finished copy for an honest review.
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 3.75⭐️
Themes: 4.00⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.75⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.00⭐️
Overall rating: 4.00⭐️
Astra Fairwood lives in the Canopy, a high rise of sorts where the elite of society live, never having to touch the ground or venture outside. In the Canopy, the citizens partake in medical procedures of a plasma donation where they can extend their life and stay young looking. However, when Astra's father, Ivan, is killed in an attempted robbery of the blood vault, Astra's standing in the Canopy is called into question and her protections are no longer valid. Citizens who cannot find a job are sentenced to the Donation Zone where the poor, addicts and criminals are sent to donate their plasma to the elite. Astra arrives finding the truth about the Donation Zone and will do what it takes to reveal the horrors to the world.
Little Mice gives the vibe of a 2010s dystopian novel. There is a world built within our own that the rich and powerful take advantage of the poor, tossing them aside like garbage and filth. There are overarching themes of inequality between the high and low class of society. I think this was a very good start to a dystopian world. It was unique in the sense that it utilizes medical advancements in this world rather than strictly political manipulation. I liked Astra's character and her growth. She was this weaker character in the beginning, but towards the end she wanted to bring change to the Donor Zone.
Overall, I think this was a solid start to a new YA dystopian trilogy with themes that we are witnessing in real time.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, and I cannot wait to see more.
Thank you to Leapfrog Press for a finished copy for an honest review.
October 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Dystopia is so BACK!
This follows Astra, who has grown up in the Canopy Complex, a world where nobody ages and everyone has their place in society. But when she is thrown into the Donor Zone and meets a girl who challenges everything she has ever thought she knew and wanted, Astra starts questioning the world she has always believed in. I loved watching her perspective slowly change as she begins to realise that things are not quite as perfect as she thought.
The world itself was SO interesting and the corruption genuinely made me angry at times. The deception, manipulation and predatory characters had me constantly questioning who I could trust and what was actually going on. There are also so many layers to the characters and relationships, with betrayal, secrets, complicated sister relationships and a love triangle all woven into the story. I really loved that nothing felt completely black and white and it constantly made me question what I would do in their position.
The stakes just kept getting higher and higher and I was genuinely on the edge of my seat, my heart was pitter pattering for Astra the whole time 🥹 If you love The Hunger Games, especially the Capitol side of things, Divergent and dystopian worlds filled with corruption, moral dilemmas & complicated relationships, I definitely think you need this on your radar. And all those twists at the end?! I was on the edge of my seat.
can we also talk about this being a DEBUT?! It was addictive, tense and had me completely invested from start to finish. Little Mice is officially going straight onto my recommendation list and I cannot wait to see what Tara writes next. 💓
Dystopia is so BACK!
This follows Astra, who has grown up in the Canopy Complex, a world where nobody ages and everyone has their place in society. But when she is thrown into the Donor Zone and meets a girl who challenges everything she has ever thought she knew and wanted, Astra starts questioning the world she has always believed in. I loved watching her perspective slowly change as she begins to realise that things are not quite as perfect as she thought.
The world itself was SO interesting and the corruption genuinely made me angry at times. The deception, manipulation and predatory characters had me constantly questioning who I could trust and what was actually going on. There are also so many layers to the characters and relationships, with betrayal, secrets, complicated sister relationships and a love triangle all woven into the story. I really loved that nothing felt completely black and white and it constantly made me question what I would do in their position.
The stakes just kept getting higher and higher and I was genuinely on the edge of my seat, my heart was pitter pattering for Astra the whole time 🥹 If you love The Hunger Games, especially the Capitol side of things, Divergent and dystopian worlds filled with corruption, moral dilemmas & complicated relationships, I definitely think you need this on your radar. And all those twists at the end?! I was on the edge of my seat.
can we also talk about this being a DEBUT?! It was addictive, tense and had me completely invested from start to finish. Little Mice is officially going straight onto my recommendation list and I cannot wait to see what Tara writes next. 💓
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an advance copy of Little Mice from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I’m a fully grown adult, but I enjoy a good YA novel, and I loved this. Little Mice is a gripping, dystopian story with a brilliantly imagined world and a premise that feels disturbingly plausible.
It feels particularly current given the Silicon Valley longevity fad involving people undergoing plasma exchanges using blood from their children. The novel takes that kind of extreme pursuit of youth and privilege and develops it into a chilling vision of where such thinking could lead.
I was immediately drawn into Astra’s privileged life in the Canopy, and it was fascinating to watch her beliefs unravel when she is cast out into the Donor Zone. Her journey from sheltered pampered girl to outcast was convincing.
What I particularly enjoyed was the way the book explores inequality, privilege and the uncomfortable human cost of a society built to protect the few at the expense of the many. There are plenty of twists and turns on the way.
A compelling and thoroughly entertaining read. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book!
It feels particularly current given the Silicon Valley longevity fad involving people undergoing plasma exchanges using blood from their children. The novel takes that kind of extreme pursuit of youth and privilege and develops it into a chilling vision of where such thinking could lead.
I was immediately drawn into Astra’s privileged life in the Canopy, and it was fascinating to watch her beliefs unravel when she is cast out into the Donor Zone. Her journey from sheltered pampered girl to outcast was convincing.
What I particularly enjoyed was the way the book explores inequality, privilege and the uncomfortable human cost of a society built to protect the few at the expense of the many. There are plenty of twists and turns on the way.
A compelling and thoroughly entertaining read. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A very impressive debut novel. A wholly original story with an unsettlingly plausible medical-technological central concept. Set in the not too distant future the novel is told from the POV of Astra the pampered, sheltered, yet sympathetic central character. As readers we share her creeping realisation about what is really going on and who makes the sacrifices for some people to live a life of luxury. The author manages to fully develop and keep control of a large cast of characters who introduce adventure, romance, and humour to the story.
It aimed at young adults, but as a middle-aged reader there was still plenty here for me. If you are a fan of dystopian sci-fi and liked The Handmaid’s Tale, Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, or The Hunger Games, this is for you.
It aimed at young adults, but as a middle-aged reader there was still plenty here for me. If you are a fan of dystopian sci-fi and liked The Handmaid’s Tale, Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, or The Hunger Games, this is for you.
September 29, 2026
In a world obsessed with health and order, a young woman is forced to understand the human cost of society.
This is a quick read, a page turner, I managed to reading it in a single day. Astra is a very relatable young person. A rule follower who loves to read, is a bit socially awkward, and not special. When the life she has always known falls apart, she is forced into a situation her society has been lying about for years. This is a near future dystopia it that feels very real, and like it has alot to teach us about how we value our own humanity. It's a start to a trilogy so I'm very intriguinged to see where this story goes.
This is a quick read, a page turner, I managed to reading it in a single day. Astra is a very relatable young person. A rule follower who loves to read, is a bit socially awkward, and not special. When the life she has always known falls apart, she is forced into a situation her society has been lying about for years. This is a near future dystopia it that feels very real, and like it has alot to teach us about how we value our own humanity. It's a start to a trilogy so I'm very intriguinged to see where this story goes.
October 27, 2026
This book took me straight back to my YA dystopian era, when I couldn't get enough of "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent"! The world-building is captivating, the characters are compelling, and I was hooked from the start. Astra is such a refreshing, modern take on the classic dystopian heroine, and I loved following her journey as everything she thought she knew was turned upside down. And that plot twist at the end?! I did not see it coming!
"Little Mice" has everything I loved about the dystopian books I grew up reading, but with a fresh perspective that makes it feel entirely its own. I genuinely can't wait for book two!
For everyone who grew up loving The Hunger Games and Divergent!
"Little Mice" has everything I loved about the dystopian books I grew up reading, but with a fresh perspective that makes it feel entirely its own. I genuinely can't wait for book two!
For everyone who grew up loving The Hunger Games and Divergent!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Little Mice reminded me exactly why I love YA dystopias - fun, high stakes, romantic tension, and underlying relevance to elements of the increasingly dystopian world in which we currently live.
The world Astra inhabits is beautifully crafted and scarily believable. I loved watching the internal journey she takes as the novel progresses - how she grows as a person - as well as all the twists and turns of the plot which kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.
I could not put it down, and I am so looking forward to the next book!
The world Astra inhabits is beautifully crafted and scarily believable. I loved watching the internal journey she takes as the novel progresses - how she grows as a person - as well as all the twists and turns of the plot which kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.
I could not put it down, and I am so looking forward to the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book. Thé story grips you from the beginning and reallt keeps you captivated throughout - perfect for a good escapism novel. even with a newborn I finished this book within a week, sneaking in chapters wherever I could since I couldn’t wait to see what happened next! Thé concept of harvesting plasma from the young is such a dark and yet very believable future nowadays - thé world thé author creates feels very real and eerie to explore. À great debut novel that leaves you counting the days for the next book .. I know I am!
October 2, 2026
Little Mice is a gripping read with an original storyline that feels all the more sinister because it isn't far-fetched. Crowe draws you in with characters that feel real, and none more so than the main character, an ordinary girl who finds herself in extraordinary circumstances and has to rise to meet them. Her ordinariness makes her easy to root for, and the adventures she's pulled into are all the more compelling for it. Unsettling, original and hard to put down, this is well worth picking up.
October 22, 2026
An absolute page-turner!
If you love dystopian stories like The Hunger Games, add Little Mice to your reading list. The worldbuilding is rich and clever; the contrast between the shiny, forever-young Canopy and the grit of the Donor Zone hooked me from the start. Astra is a standout protagonist; watching her transform from a sheltered insider into a fierce fighter was so satisfying. The story leaves you wondering what choices you would make in a world built on such brutal truths.
An incredible debut by Tara Crowe, I honestly couldn’t put it down. Please write the sequel immediately!
If you love dystopian stories like The Hunger Games, add Little Mice to your reading list. The worldbuilding is rich and clever; the contrast between the shiny, forever-young Canopy and the grit of the Donor Zone hooked me from the start. Astra is a standout protagonist; watching her transform from a sheltered insider into a fierce fighter was so satisfying. The story leaves you wondering what choices you would make in a world built on such brutal truths.
An incredible debut by Tara Crowe, I honestly couldn’t put it down. Please write the sequel immediately!
Review of advance copy
Review of advance copy received from Publisher.
Read this in two sittings! Little Mice pulled me in fast — from Astra's life in the gleaming Canopy until she crosses into the Donor Zone, and from that point on the plot really thickens. Great characters. Astra is a compelling lead, naive in a believable way but quick to grow, and the supporting cast all feel like real people with their own secrets and motives. Twisty, fast-paced, and delightfully (worryingly!) dystopian.
Read this in two sittings! Little Mice pulled me in fast — from Astra's life in the gleaming Canopy until she crosses into the Donor Zone, and from that point on the plot really thickens. Great characters. Astra is a compelling lead, naive in a believable way but quick to grow, and the supporting cast all feel like real people with their own secrets and motives. Twisty, fast-paced, and delightfully (worryingly!) dystopian.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy
Little Mice spins an intricate web of intrigue and adventure - I couldn’t read it quickly enough and yet also wanted to savour the world it created. By the end of book 1 I felt so connected to the characters - desperate for book 2 to be released soon.
A perfect read for escapism. The plot lines are absorbing and skilfully woven together - the dystopian world and characters pull you in. If you liked Hunger Games or the Twilight books, you’re bound to love this.
Little Mice spins an intricate web of intrigue and adventure - I couldn’t read it quickly enough and yet also wanted to savour the world it created. By the end of book 1 I felt so connected to the characters - desperate for book 2 to be released soon.
A perfect read for escapism. The plot lines are absorbing and skilfully woven together - the dystopian world and characters pull you in. If you liked Hunger Games or the Twilight books, you’re bound to love this.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This fast paced novel kept me turning pages!
I love that it dives straight into the action and the tension builds throughout the story.
One of the best things about this novel is the range of strong female characters: of different ages, temperaments, and morals. I enjoyed reading about their capacity to learn and change.
It delivered some great twists towards the end and now I’m left asking, ‘where’s book 2?’
I love that it dives straight into the action and the tension builds throughout the story.
One of the best things about this novel is the range of strong female characters: of different ages, temperaments, and morals. I enjoyed reading about their capacity to learn and change.
It delivered some great twists towards the end and now I’m left asking, ‘where’s book 2?’
Review of advance copy received from Author
The best dystopian novels take reality and push it to its most extreme possibilities, so the story reads as both a fantastical adventure and a warning. This is what Tara Crowe achieves with Little Mice.
A brilliant story, coupled with strong writing, the novel is well-paced and keeps the reader gripped throughout. I couldn’t put it down!
A brilliant story, coupled with strong writing, the novel is well-paced and keeps the reader gripped throughout. I couldn’t put it down!
October 27, 2026
A cracking read, pacey and un-put-downable. Fans of YA dystopian drama will be thrilled by this debut offering from Crowe who creates a world in which youth and beauty are prized above all values but at what cost! With strong female leads and a conclusion that leaves you wanting more, this is a book that should be read!
October 2, 2026
An original gripping read. Murder mystery, science fiction, dystopia, thriller and teen coming of age rolled into one. The story races along, but leaves time to engage with the characters. Suitable for teens yes, but certainly adult readers too. Great book.
October 5, 2026
I do love a good dystopian story… and this had intriguing characters and moved at a good pace. I liked the twists and guessing who Astra could really trust.
October 8, 2026
A thoroughly unique and inventive plot concept from Tara Crowe. The core storyline kept me hooked and curious to see how the mysteries would unfold. Perfect for fans of dystopian fiction.
October 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this book its so well paced I could barely put it down
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 18, 2026Advanced reader copy supplied by author.
I loved this debut novel by Tara Crowe! The hook is intriguing and disturbingly plausible and the world building is excellent. The contrast between Astra’s life in the canopy and the donor zone makes a stark statement about the way the upper classes can exploit and dehumanise those less fortunate. The characterisation, not just of Astra, but of all the major characters, is excellent: I particularly liked the fierce loyalty of Kass. Full of twists and turns, the plot keeps you guessing right until the end. I devoured the book in one sitting! Looking forward to the sequel.
I loved this debut novel by Tara Crowe! The hook is intriguing and disturbingly plausible and the world building is excellent. The contrast between Astra’s life in the canopy and the donor zone makes a stark statement about the way the upper classes can exploit and dehumanise those less fortunate. The characterisation, not just of Astra, but of all the major characters, is excellent: I particularly liked the fierce loyalty of Kass. Full of twists and turns, the plot keeps you guessing right until the end. I devoured the book in one sitting! Looking forward to the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews