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The Golden Hamster Saga #3
Freddy To The Rescue
In the third installment of the increasingly popular Golden Hamster Saga, Freddy is not only an author, but also a hero. It is a grand adventure -- as only Freddy Auratus can write it!
For Freddy Auratus, being civilized comes with responsibilities. So when he learns that a colony of endangered field hamsters is at risk, he takes action. But it's Freddy's own life -- and his most valuable secret -- that is put in jeopardy when, along with a wise tomcat and a pair of guinea pig poets (turned Opera divas), he takes on City Hall (and some bulldozers). Will Freddy's hamsteritarian mission be his last?
For Freddy Auratus, being civilized comes with responsibilities. So when he learns that a colony of endangered field hamsters is at risk, he takes action. But it's Freddy's own life -- and his most valuable secret -- that is put in jeopardy when, along with a wise tomcat and a pair of guinea pig poets (turned Opera divas), he takes on City Hall (and some bulldozers). Will Freddy's hamsteritarian mission be his last?
235 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
10 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 9, 2023
I do not really enjoy (and have in fact never liked) anthropomorphic animal stories all that much (and somehow in particular in books specifically geared towards children). But since Dietlof Reiche's talking golden hamster Freddy does not ever appear to be wearing human clothing or to be walking around on two hind feet (which tends to rather creep me out and is also why I never really could get into Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows), I decided to give Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein (Freddy to the Rescue in John Brownjohn's English language translation) a try. For I do tend to find Reiche quite personally appealing as a German language children's author (and Dietlof Reiche is as such also someone I want to read more of), and with the only reason why I am reading the third of the Freddy tales and not in fact the first one simply being because only the third novel, only Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein is currently available (in German) on Open Library. And yes, I am in fact also intent on reading at the very least the first of Dietlof Reiche's Freddy books, I do want to peruse Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben (I, Freddy in English) and in the long run perhaps even the entire series (mostly for academic interest purposes but also because if I read one novel of a series, I more often than not desire to complete all of the instalments, unless of course, said one book is really and truly utterly horrible and problematic).
And yes indeed, Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein has been enjoyable and decently enough so for me to most definitely want to continue on with the remaining Freddy the hamster stories (and this would mean four more novels), with Dietlof Reiche's storyline for Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein of Freddy, his friends and acquaintances (both human and animal) wanting, and later trying to rescue and protect a group of wild European hamsters whose burrows, whose lives are being threatened and have been put in danger by unscrupulous industrialists and politicians planning on erecting a number of huge factories in their field, showing not only and interesting and engaging plot scenario but also and importantly presenting in and with Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein an essential message about needing to be active and responsible regarding environmental protection (and that just talking about this is not really the same as actually getting involved and intervening, not to mention that European hamsters are also considered to be critically endangered in most of their range).
But although the "talking hamster" scenario for Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein is most definitely still not something I find all that textually appealing in and of itself (as already explained above and that I do wish Freddy were not able to converse with humans and vice versa, not to mention that Freddy as a hamster being able to both read and write for me goes more than a it too far), I do think that with regard to in particular writing style and narration, Dietlof Reiche has created with his Freddy the hamster a fun and engaging character and with Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein a middle grade novel that would definitely be a probable textual hit with young readers who enjoy short and episodic tales with talking animals as main protagonists (as Reiche's text in Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein is chatty, engaging, fast moving, often quite humorous and also demonstrates with Freddy a main character who even as a hamster feels a bit like Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking with his self assurance and his tendencies to save the day so to speak, and I am of course also assuming and hoping that John Brownjohn's English language translation, that Freddy to the Rescue will mirror Dietlof Reiche's general stylistics and penmanship's, and thus have the Freddy the hamster in Freddy to the Rescue be pretty much the same as in Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein and equally fun, relatable and enjoyable to encounter).
Therefore and quite surprisingly for me considering my general textual aversion to taking animal novels, Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein has actually been entertaining, diverting and a nicely enjoyable way to spend about an hour or so of reading time, a high three star rating and with my only major and problematic textual annoyances regarding Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein being the following. For one, I do find the "interanimal" concept Dietlof Reiche has developed in Freddy. Eine Hamster greift ein (that basically in the presented story, ALL mammals except for humans are able to communicate on some low frequency level) a bit of a very much deliberate and overt plot device, as only Freddy (and later his feline and guinea pig friends) being able to hear the field hamsters calling for help feels a bit artificial, constructed (and in particular for me as an adult reader), and that for two and a bit more of an issue for me, that the main villains of Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein are rather too stereotypically strange and evil, yes, this does bother me, since I certainly wish the industrialists and politicians threatening the field hamsters' field were more nuanced and less like standard fairy tale like nasties.
And yes indeed, Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein has been enjoyable and decently enough so for me to most definitely want to continue on with the remaining Freddy the hamster stories (and this would mean four more novels), with Dietlof Reiche's storyline for Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein of Freddy, his friends and acquaintances (both human and animal) wanting, and later trying to rescue and protect a group of wild European hamsters whose burrows, whose lives are being threatened and have been put in danger by unscrupulous industrialists and politicians planning on erecting a number of huge factories in their field, showing not only and interesting and engaging plot scenario but also and importantly presenting in and with Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein an essential message about needing to be active and responsible regarding environmental protection (and that just talking about this is not really the same as actually getting involved and intervening, not to mention that European hamsters are also considered to be critically endangered in most of their range).
But although the "talking hamster" scenario for Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein is most definitely still not something I find all that textually appealing in and of itself (as already explained above and that I do wish Freddy were not able to converse with humans and vice versa, not to mention that Freddy as a hamster being able to both read and write for me goes more than a it too far), I do think that with regard to in particular writing style and narration, Dietlof Reiche has created with his Freddy the hamster a fun and engaging character and with Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein a middle grade novel that would definitely be a probable textual hit with young readers who enjoy short and episodic tales with talking animals as main protagonists (as Reiche's text in Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein is chatty, engaging, fast moving, often quite humorous and also demonstrates with Freddy a main character who even as a hamster feels a bit like Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking with his self assurance and his tendencies to save the day so to speak, and I am of course also assuming and hoping that John Brownjohn's English language translation, that Freddy to the Rescue will mirror Dietlof Reiche's general stylistics and penmanship's, and thus have the Freddy the hamster in Freddy to the Rescue be pretty much the same as in Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein and equally fun, relatable and enjoyable to encounter).
Therefore and quite surprisingly for me considering my general textual aversion to taking animal novels, Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein has actually been entertaining, diverting and a nicely enjoyable way to spend about an hour or so of reading time, a high three star rating and with my only major and problematic textual annoyances regarding Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein being the following. For one, I do find the "interanimal" concept Dietlof Reiche has developed in Freddy. Eine Hamster greift ein (that basically in the presented story, ALL mammals except for humans are able to communicate on some low frequency level) a bit of a very much deliberate and overt plot device, as only Freddy (and later his feline and guinea pig friends) being able to hear the field hamsters calling for help feels a bit artificial, constructed (and in particular for me as an adult reader), and that for two and a bit more of an issue for me, that the main villains of Freddy. Ein Hamster greift ein are rather too stereotypically strange and evil, yes, this does bother me, since I certainly wish the industrialists and politicians threatening the field hamsters' field were more nuanced and less like standard fairy tale like nasties.
June 19, 2010
Freddy, der lesende und schreibende Hamster, hört durch Interanimal (eine Art tierische Telepathie) einen durchdringenden Hilfeschrei: 'Hilfe! Der Hamstermörder!'. Sofort mobilisiert er seine tierischen und menschlichen Mitbewohner (Sir William, ein schwarzer Kater, Enrico & Caruso, zwei Komiker-Meerschweine und Master John, der Versorger), um die Artgenossen zu retten. Zusammen mit Lisa, der Freundin von Master John und den Kornwölfen, einer Gruppe von Naturschützern, versuchen sie zu verhindern, dass eine Kolonie von Feldhamstern dem Bau einer Autofabrik zum Opfer fällt.
Wer schon immer mal wissen wollte wie Hamster Gottesdienste feiern, zwei Meerschweine Planierraupe und Fahrer spielen und adlige Haustiere miteinander kommunizieren, ist mit diesem Buch bestens bedient. (Unter uns: So groß sind die Unterschiede gar nicht zwischen Tier und Mensch :-))
Ein richtig schönes, witziges und auch spannendes Kinderbuch, denn: Edel sei der Hamster, hilfreich und gut. Doch muss er beissen - dann bis auf's Blut. Auch für Erwachsene geeignet :-)
Wer schon immer mal wissen wollte wie Hamster Gottesdienste feiern, zwei Meerschweine Planierraupe und Fahrer spielen und adlige Haustiere miteinander kommunizieren, ist mit diesem Buch bestens bedient. (Unter uns: So groß sind die Unterschiede gar nicht zwischen Tier und Mensch :-))
Ein richtig schönes, witziges und auch spannendes Kinderbuch, denn: Edel sei der Hamster, hilfreich und gut. Doch muss er beissen - dann bis auf's Blut. Auch für Erwachsene geeignet :-)
October 7, 2017
I like how even though the field mice thought that he was greedy at first, he still kept at it. I'm going to try to learn Interanimal.
September 4, 2018
4 stars from my six year old.
September 6, 2016
I remember trying to read this ages ago in grade school, when it was new and fresh from the Scholastic Book Fair. I promptly stopped reading when I decided "I don't like the first person way it's written!" Although I think I tried to read (and maybe made it through the entire thing?) the first installment of the series as well, this became a sadly abandoned book.
Until now! I wanted something with cute fluffy animals and minimal plot, and my guilt for never having finished this (yes, even years later, I still feel guilty for all those grade school chapter books I still have but never finished) encouraged me to read it.
In this case, I disagree with my younger self about first-person POV: Freddy is a hamster that can read and write, and it would certainly lack the charm of hamster if this wasn't written in first-hamster view.
Freddy and his fellow pets--Sir William, the cat, and Enrico and Caruso, the theatrically-inclined guinea pigs--go on a mission to save a group of field hamsters from being killed when their field is slated to be demolished for an automobile plant. Basic plot, with a happy ending for most parties involved. If you've read Hoot, then this is quite similar, only with animals telling the story.
Although of course I love smart hamsters and amusingly Shakespearean guinea pigs and saving cute little rodents from destruction, there was still something about the story that just made me go MEH. This could simply be because I'm much older and expect more in general from a story. Or maybe some of the amusement could have been lost in translation, as this is translated from, I believe, German.
Regardless of the meh-factor, it was still a fun quick read with cute animals and illustrations and quirky font mixed in for emphasis.
Until now! I wanted something with cute fluffy animals and minimal plot, and my guilt for never having finished this (yes, even years later, I still feel guilty for all those grade school chapter books I still have but never finished) encouraged me to read it.
In this case, I disagree with my younger self about first-person POV: Freddy is a hamster that can read and write, and it would certainly lack the charm of hamster if this wasn't written in first-hamster view.
Freddy and his fellow pets--Sir William, the cat, and Enrico and Caruso, the theatrically-inclined guinea pigs--go on a mission to save a group of field hamsters from being killed when their field is slated to be demolished for an automobile plant. Basic plot, with a happy ending for most parties involved. If you've read Hoot, then this is quite similar, only with animals telling the story.
Although of course I love smart hamsters and amusingly Shakespearean guinea pigs and saving cute little rodents from destruction, there was still something about the story that just made me go MEH. This could simply be because I'm much older and expect more in general from a story. Or maybe some of the amusement could have been lost in translation, as this is translated from, I believe, German.
Regardless of the meh-factor, it was still a fun quick read with cute animals and illustrations and quirky font mixed in for emphasis.
March 20, 2016
07/12: JB: In Freddy in peril, Freddy is trying to save field hamsters from getting killed in the process of building an automobile plant. To do this, Freddy must call on his fiends Sir William the tomcat, and Enrico and Caruso the guinea pigs and some humans. Can they save The field hamsters from dying. I like this book because it's silly and short.
Amazon Book Description:
In the third installment of the increasingly popular Golden Hamster Saga, Freddy is not only an author, but also a hero. It is a grand adventure -- as only Freddy Auratus can write it! For Freddy Auratus, being civilized comes with responsibilities. So when he learns that a colony of endangered field hamsters is at risk, he takes action. But it's Freddy's own life -- and his most valuable secret -- that is put in jeopardy when, along with a wise tomcat and a pair of guinea pig poets (turned Opera divas), he takes on City Hall (and some bulldozers). Will Freddy's hamsteritarian mission be his last?
Amazon Book Description:
In the third installment of the increasingly popular Golden Hamster Saga, Freddy is not only an author, but also a hero. It is a grand adventure -- as only Freddy Auratus can write it! For Freddy Auratus, being civilized comes with responsibilities. So when he learns that a colony of endangered field hamsters is at risk, he takes action. But it's Freddy's own life -- and his most valuable secret -- that is put in jeopardy when, along with a wise tomcat and a pair of guinea pig poets (turned Opera divas), he takes on City Hall (and some bulldozers). Will Freddy's hamsteritarian mission be his last?
December 26, 2012
If you have read the first two books this one is basically more of the same. There are some deep emotions available in these little stories. I feel they are a good introduction to multi chapter books and more complex storylines as well as more intriguing conflicts. An example is the relationship between Freddy and Enrico and Caruso. They need to work together, don't really get along, but are attached to each other none the less. I like them for a quick light read.
December 16, 2007
this one is just about the best one in the series
April 30, 2008
I read this book a couple years ago but I remember liking it, and it is the kind of book you can re-read.(in my opinion about what I remember)
May 5, 2008
That no matter how small you can still tackle big tasks
December 11, 2008
One book (book 5) left in this series! My son likes them. I was tired of them after book #2.
January 7, 2009
A great book for teamwork.
February 6, 2009
horrable
July 8, 2012
Funny, suspenseful, great read.
February 14, 2011
This book was ok but i think im going to stick with the chapter books for now, but its ok for someone else, but this book is not for me.
May 24, 2011
freddy is sooooooo cute!
June 28, 2011
Another cute book "written" by Freddy, the Golden Hamster. In this one he has an adventure rescuing his Field Hamsters. I think elementary school children who have hamsters would love this story.
September 15, 2011
I wasn't that into this one like the others but none the less good book
October 17, 2011
Cute, but not as engaging as the first two.
January 5, 2015
Another charming addition to the series!
October 24, 2008
now he can save colinies of field hamsters, whats next?
March 2, 2010
Never read the first two, 1st-grade-teacher mum just showed up with it one day...
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews