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Mouseheart #3

Return of the Forgotten (3)

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Loyalties are tested and secrets are revealed in this third book of the epic animal adventure series set in the subway tunnels of Brooklyn, ideal for “fans of Erin Hunter, Brian Jaques, and Kathryn Lasky” (School Library Journal).

Felina the cat queen may be gone, but the subway tunnels of Atlantia are still dangerous to all rodents who dwell within the twists and turns. Pup and his spider companion Hacklemesh are lurking in the shadows...

Hopper is determined to reach out to his brother-gone-bad, to see if he can talk some sense into the young rodent. But then Hope, the youngest of Zucker and Firren’s new litter, goes missing, and all signs point to Pup as culprit.

Meanwhile, Firren is rattled not only by the disappearance of her daughter, but a shameful secret from her past that she’s kept hidden for years. A secret that may hold damaging consequences for not only Firren, but all of Atlantia.

How can Pup betray his brother like this? What exactly is Firren hiding?

And will the tunnels ever be the same again?

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2015

18 people are currently reading
314 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Fiedler

24 books78 followers
Lisa Fiedler is the author of a number of popular young adult novels, including two retellings of a Shakespearean story from the female point of view, Dating Hamlet and Romeo's Ex. She lives in Connecticut with her family.

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5 stars
155 (50%)
4 stars
98 (31%)
3 stars
46 (14%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Janine.
17 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2019
Es ist schon eine ganze Weile her, dass ich die ersten beiden Teile der Triologie gelesen habe. Überrascht war ich allerdings, wie leicht ich wieder in das Universum von Atlantia, den Tunneln und der Oberwelt eintauchen konnte.
In vielen anderen Reihen werden die Geschehnisse der letzten Teile einfach so nochmal kurz zusammengefasst, was ich persönlich nicht so mag wenn man die Bücher direkt hintereinander liest. Hier war das allerdings anders.
Alle wichtigen Erlebnisse werden hier meist in Dialogen zwischen Charakteren nochmals aufgegriffen, was ich persönlich sehr schön fand, da man die Rückblenden so nicht als lästig empfindet, wenn man alle Bücher innerhalb kürzester Zeit liest.

Zum Inhalt will ich eigentlich nicht so viel sagen, da die Geschehnisse aufeinander aufbauen.
Aber soviel: Im dritten Teil werden Fragen geklärt, die dich seid dem ersten Teil verfolgen ( bspw. Wer ist La Rocha?)
Auch mochte ich wie die Geschichte von Hopper, Zucker & Co. zu Ende ging.
Wer mehr wissen will muss selber lesen :)

Mit dem Schreibstil bin ich eigentlich auch gut klar gekommen.
Die Kapitel werden aus der Sicht von Hopper, Pip und La Rocha erzählt und diese verschiedenen Erzähler wechseln sich immer ab.

Das Buch endet mit einem Sprung in die Vergangenheit, was Personen, die im dritten Teil nicht mehr aktiv gehandelt haben nochmal in einem anderen Licht dastehen lässt.

Wer sich jetzt fragt warum das Buch keine 5☆ von mir bekommen hat, dem kann ich sagen, es gab ein paar kleine Dinge die mir nicht gaaaaanz so gefallen haben.
Beispielsweise ging mir
(Achtung Spoiler)
Pip's Sinneswandel am Anfang des Buches einfach zu schnell. In dem einen Kapitel ist er noch gegen alles und jeden und will Rache, im nächsten bereut er alles und will sich entschuldigen. Allerdings sind diese Kleinigkeiten jetzt auch nicht so dramatisch.


Zum Schluss kann ich sagen, dass ich dieses Buch als gelungenen Abschluss für die Mouseheart-Triologie sehe.
Profile Image for dru.
28 reviews
November 23, 2020
My mom had ordered me the finale of Mouseheart as soon as it was up for pre-order, and when she handed me the package after excruciating months of waiting, I immediately knew what it was. I remember the excitement but looming sadness of knowing this was the end. I prayed it wasn't a trilogy. I prayed for more, but after reading it, I knew it was time for it to go. This was an amazing ending to an amazing series. So many loose ends are tied in perfect ways. When we find out the true meaning of Firren's battle cry, my heart shattered. Lisa Fielder really put her heart and soul into this book, and you can tell. She's thought out every detail, and everything in the book has a purpose like any good book should. The title is so fitting because even details you might have forgotten were brought back and explained. I had no other friends who loved this book series. I had no one to share my love with, and yet I loved it relentlessly. I felt as though I had an entire kingdom to share my love of this series within the characters created by Lisa Fielder. It takes an amazing author to create an immersive universe for a child to become a part of.
80 reviews
November 1, 2017
In Teil 3 „Die Rückkehr des Mäusekriegers“ (Teil 3 von Trilogien heißt auch ganz häufig Rückkehr von irgendwem) müssen Hopper und seine Freunde sich einem neuen Gegner stellen, nachdem Felina besiegt ist: Pip! Dieser hat geschworen Atlantia zu zerstören. Doch während sie alle versuchen Pip zu finden, bekommen sie nicht mit, dass es noch einen anderen Feind gibt. Was das Ganze interessant macht, ist, dass hier auch die Kinder von Zucker eine große Rolle spielen.

An den Büchern hat mir sehr gefallen, dass man mitbekommt, wie die Figuren sich entwickeln und warum die Figuren so sind und so werden. Das beste Beispiel sind meiner Meinung nach der Rattenkönig Titus und der Mäuserich Pip. Das sieht man allerdings erst in Teil 2 und 3. Das Zeigen der Konsequenzen hat mir gut gefallen. So wird zum Beispiel in Teil 3 Hope, die jüngste Tochter von der Ratte Zucker, von ihren älteren Geschwistern gemobbt und läuft daraufhin weg. Erst danach wird den Geschwistern klar, wie ihre „Witze“ von Hope wahrgenommen wurden. Ein sehr gutes Beispiel ist auch Pip. Dann spoiler ich aber so viel. Sehr schön gestaltet finde ich die Cover.

Was mich am Meisten gestört hat, war aber tatsächlich die Kleidung der Mäuse. Die Rattenstadt Atlantia ist tatsächlich von den Ratten gebaut und sieht auch wie eine Stadt aus. Das stellt auch der eine Kammerjäger in Teil 2 fest. Dass die flüchtenden Ratten Kleidung tragen und die Wachen auch kleine Schwerter haben, fällt den Menschen nicht auf? So ein roter Umhang auf einer grauen Ratte müsste doch auffallen? Die eine Ratte in Teil 3 hat ein Holzbein… Es ist halt eine Pi-ratte. Gut bei Bernard und Bianca ist das auch so. Irritiert hat es mich aber doch.

Tei 2 und 3 gleichen die Schwächen von Teil 1 aus. Gesamt kann ich die Reihe nur empfehlen. Daher gebe ich der Reihe als ganzes 4 Sterne.
Profile Image for Pam.
9,749 reviews54 followers
August 3, 2023
Third in the trilogy.
The two main families interact to maintain their countries and continue to develop their governments and areas. Hopper remains with Zucker in Atlantia while Pinkie is in charge in Mus. Pup remains a runaway but readers see that he wants to come home. Unfortunately, one of Pinkie's soldiers betrays them all to get his revenge on Firren. The story unfolds as we travel with the various characters to rescue others and culminates in the final scene at the abandoned subway station. In the end, all is resolved and the two countries move forward in peace.
It will be interesting to see if further adventures are written about the next generation.
Profile Image for Noora Alsuwaidi.
Author 34 books19 followers
January 29, 2018
For me, this is the best book in the series, the addition of new characters was wonderful. This part was written better and there wasn't any unnecessary details or repetition.
I loved the character of Hope, and her four siblings, and as for the ending for the three mice siblings, Hopper, pup, and their stubborn sister Pinkie it was satisfying...


Yet I wished that the legend of La Rocha just ended and the truth revealed.
Profile Image for Shiloh Peacemaker.
199 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2019
I would love to see the Author continue with this little series. It has so much potential and I would very much would love to read it. Mouseheart 2 and Mouseheart 3 were library books, but it was a Salvation Army book buy of Mouseheart, that made this book special. In the future, I will buy the other two to add to my collection.
2 reviews
September 6, 2021
My husband read this entire series to our 8yr old. Even though the cliff hangers were driving her nuts some nights. There were plenty of laughs and had us as a family crying with both sadness and joy. We as a family would recommend and hope the author writes more with these characters in the future!
70 reviews
March 14, 2025
The final book in the mouse heart trilogy that wraps both past and present events that shaped the books together. It is a Happily ever after, but if you read the very last snippet the author gives you it will make the story a bittersweet read.*
Profile Image for Victoria.
618 reviews19 followers
September 8, 2017
utterly brutal finale. I grew affections for rats, mice & crickets!
Profile Image for Jessie.
79 reviews3 followers
Read
May 4, 2020
I would definitely recommend this series for middle to upper elementary-aged students. It's well written and engaging for a young audience.
Profile Image for Kiri.
943 reviews54 followers
May 11, 2022
I really liked how the finale tied everything together and filled in blanks I didn't even know were there. Such a good little trilogy!
Profile Image for Eliott.
642 reviews
August 14, 2023
Return of the Forgotten
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4/5) or 8.42/10 overall

Characters - 9

Atmosphere - 9

Writing - 8

Plot - 9

Intrigue - 8

Logic - 8

Enjoyment - 8
Profile Image for Marilyn.
1,447 reviews30 followers
June 27, 2017
An excellent ending to an excellent trilogy. This trilogy remained strong throughout and always had my son and I wondering what was going to happen next. Many times after I said goodnight to him, he continued to read ahead, anxious to know what would happen next. I was impressed at the level of vocabulary used in this series - it's definitely encouraging kids to stretch their vocabulary instead of talking down to them.
Profile Image for PSU.
145 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2016
" 'Well,' he began, delighted by the tiny rat's interest in learning her own history, 'Atlantia was the dream of your grandfather, the late emperor Titus. He was an ambitious upland rat from Brooklyn, New York.' Hope shuddered. 'But he was nasty!' 'He was misguided,' Hopper corrected, but this was being generous."

Mouseheart-Return of the forgotten-is about Atlantia thriving after Titus was overpowered. Firren and Zucker have a litter of five, Gowanus, Verrazano, Brighton, Fiske and Hope. After then, Hope disappears and all signs point to Pup-Hopper's younger brother-as the culprit. Firren has a dark secret that could destroy all of Atlantia.

The author-Lisa Fiedler-does a great job with the Mouseheart Trilogy and she has other books like the Poison Apple series, Lucky Me and more.I recommend this book to kids between the ages of 9-14 and to people who like high fantasy. But personally I recommend this book to Katie G, Gabriela Q, and Abigail C.
~Carolina B. :)
Profile Image for Cornell Poder.
174 reviews
December 9, 2016
Sasha M.- Felina the Queen is now gone,but that's not the end of there problems yet...The tunnels are still dangerous for all rodents who dwell into the tunnel's twists and turn.Pup and his spider friend are still lurking in the darkness of the tunnels waiting....Hopper is determined to find his brother that gone bad,and talk some sense into his younger brother.But all of a sudden Hope,Zucker and Firren new litter goes missing and all signs point to pup.But Firren is a whole different story...Not only she alarmed that one of her children are missing,but by a shameful,long hidden secret from her past that nobody knew that may hold consequences...But Not only for her and her family....But of all Atlantia....

Sasha M.-
Profile Image for A.B. McFarland.
Author 1 book11 followers
June 20, 2016
This one was fun because Pup finally gets to grow up and find his place, Firren continues to be awesomely admirable, and Hope is a new strong female character.

I read all three Mouseheart books to my 11 year old and the only thing I didn't like about them was that each book seemed to ramble on a bit, but I think that was only annoying because I was reading it out loud. I found books 2 and 3 to be more enjoyable than book 1.
164 reviews10 followers
February 6, 2016
Definitely interesting storyline. Sometimes it felt like it dragged on too much.

Pros: Interesting storyline, cute characters, good continuation of story

Cons: Dragging in some areas, could have used more character development and more understanding

Overall, not a waste of my time, although it could be better. I'm pretty sure this is the end of the series. Thanks for reading!
Profile Image for Robin.
44 reviews
Want to read
July 8, 2016
Did not see that this was book 3, so may abandon it, although it is seeming. as if the story can stand alone... enough to give me a sense to recommend (or not) in an elementary library.
the royal vs. socialist conflict and fairly literary language, combined with anthropomorphised rodents, do bring to mind the Redwall series.
Profile Image for Anne.
135 reviews
February 7, 2016
Really terrible writing, forgettable characters, confusing plot, such as it is. There are lots of fabulous books aimed at children; this isn't one of those.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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