A Raccoon's Tale: Seven Saves the Notch

by Fran Hodgkins

Seven Rings Moon is a clever raccoon destined to save the forest! Chased from their home in the city, Seven Rings Moon and her sister Arnica set out to find the mythical raccoon homeland, the Notch. On their journey, the sisters face dangers including deadly coyotes, evil raccoon rulers, and the destruction of humanity's urban sprawl. This delightful tale of family loyalty will raise your awareness of these adorable forest creatures and their struggle with humanity's expanding presence.

Genres: Middle Grade

224 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2016

About the author

Fran Hodgkins always loved nature and science, and loved writing as well, so it seemed only logical that she would grow up to write about science and nature for children. Her first book, The Orphan Seal, received the Henry Bergh Children's Book Award from the ASPCA. Her book How People Learned to Fly is an exemplar in the Common Core ELA standards.

Fran has written more than 20 books for young readers. Her most recent, The Secret Galaxy, came out in October 2014 from Tilbury House Publishers.

Fran lives in Midcoast Maine.

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After their home and surrounds are demolished by man-made machines, young raccoon, Seven-Rings, and her younger sister, Arnica, manage to escape to safety. Tales from many animals they meet all tell them of a raccoon which is destined to save the Notch, and Seven-Rings quickly discovers that she is the foretold raccoon whose path has already been laid out before her. Braving many dangers while keeping Arnica safe, Seven-Rings makes it her mission to risk life and limb, in order to try and bring about the prophecy which will save the Notch and give the animals of tomorrow a bright future.

I very much enjoyed this tale of a possum with a mission. Fran Hodgkins’ well-written tale brings to life the story of hardship, friendship and determination, as one small animal goes up against all the odds to save her friends and the future of the next generation from man-made threats. Not only does it deal with those who are natural predators against one another which unite in a common goal, but they also understand that sometimes it is better to say goodbye to the ones we love in order to make the future possible. The delightful illustrations in A Raccoon’s Tale: Seven Saves the Notch help bring this incredible story to life in a fun-filled fantasy which is sure to delight children and young adults alike. Fran Hodgkins has shown, in writing such a dramatic tale of fantasy, incorporating the beautiful wildlife on our planet, that sometimes there are more important things than adversity and war, when the future is at stake. I will read this story time and again, and recommend it to readers aged from 6 through to 15, who enjoy tales which do not take delight in bloodshed, and which show that sometimes, putting aside differences is the only way to make a better future for the generations to come.

- Rosie Malezer for Readers’ Favorite