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Squeak
10-year-old Celeste Asher is as shy, quirky, and awkward as they come. After her mother remarries and moves her away from her friends, she finds herself alone and targeted by local bullies known as The Beastly Trio. If that isn't bad enough, her new stepfather is her fifth-grade teacher.
One day, using courage she didn't know she had, Celeste rescues a mouse from being tortured by the same bullies who torment her. Her unexpected bravery is the spark that causes her fellow students to take a second look at the quiet new girl. Her awkwardness is multiplied by an unusual new friend and newly discovered ability- both of which she has no choice but to keep secret.
This coming-of-age tale, set in 1984, is about a young girl who, with help from a special "little" friend, learns to stand up for herself, develop confidence, make friends, and bond with her stepfather.
Squeak is the first installment of The Asher Chronicles.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2022
3 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 4, 2023
I loved this book! It was heartfelt and heartbreaking and funny and amazing! I love Celeste and her friends, Sean, Nicole, Cathy, and Tex. I love Celeste's connection with Briz and her adorable budding romance with Sean. My favorite scene by far is the scene when Celeste and her friends attack their bullies, The Beastly Trio, save Briz, and scare them. They got what they deserved. All in all, great read, and I can't wait for the sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2023
On reading "Squeak", I immediately thought that everyone needs a friend like Celeste. What is more, many of us need our Briz - the beautiful, reassuring Mouse character who allows Celeste to fully become her true, amazing self! It is a modern bildungsroman, perfect for the young Readers who might be encountering Celeste's struggles on their way. Written in an endearing, beautiful manner from Celeste's perspective, "Squeak" will certainly become many young Readers' guide to becoming the best versions of themselves despite any odds. The book is a celebration of strength, persistence, and friendship, and a guide to finding joy in one' life at a very young age! A beautiful and very important book about growing up, becoming one's true self and standing tall and brave against all the odds!
February 8, 2023
Fantastic furry adventure with laughs and tears! The characters were relatable and the story nostalgic. I am very excited to read the next book and continue in their adventures!
April 17, 2023
Wonderful book for kids and young adults. The story has it all- adventure, friendship, fantasy, with a dash of romance. I’m excited to read the next installment of The Asher Chronicles
January 8, 2023
Great for kids who like to read and even as an adult it was very nostalgic. Definitely worth reading. I give it a 10 outta 10 and would read again!
January 8, 2023
This is an adorable book. I loved every word of it. Definitely a must read
December 28, 2022
A must read.
I loved this book so much, it was very entertaining. I can't wait to read more of her books. I would recommend it to everyone. My favorite part of reading this book was as I read it made me think of great memories I had from my childhood.
I loved this book so much, it was very entertaining. I can't wait to read more of her books. I would recommend it to everyone. My favorite part of reading this book was as I read it made me think of great memories I had from my childhood.
June 8, 2024
Donna Power's writing is engaging and accessible, making it suitable for children and early teens. Her narrative style is heartwarming and humorous, effectively capturing the voice and perspective of a ten-year-old girl. The book's pacing keeps readers hooked, making it a fast and enjoyable read.
November 19, 2022
I enjoyed this novel. Fun tale about being new in town. Experience the ups and downs of school life. The story flows well. I would read this author again.
January 16, 2024
This book was a lot of fun for me, as an adult, though I know it’s geared towards children. Taking place in 1984-85, it references a lot of things that were nostalgic to me ( Oregon Trail, records, and arcade games). While these can be seen as dated for kids now, I think it’s still going to be interesting. We need to start at an early date, as we will be growing up with Celeste through a large series of books (the author says at least seven). Celeste is an easy character to grow attatched to- she’s shy and awkward, but also strong, funny and loyal. I think a lot of kids are going to connect with her.
After rescuing a mouse from the school bullies, Celeste makes her first friend, and draws the atention of a great group of people. Together, they show eachother what makes them unique- roller blading, working a lasso, dancing…- and support eachother in a way that made me really happy. We talk about being inclusive now, but here it’s shown. Each character is unique, they have their talents and insecuritues, and they accept all of them as simply who that person is.
There are characters here that will resonate with lots of different people. I liked them all, but ended up loving Gary best. He is quiet, introverted, but when you get to know him he’s smart, funny and really warm. The fact that he was a bit withdrawn, and had to deal with racial issues, kind of resonated with younger me. Most people will love Celeste and Briz the mouse best, I am guessing. Maybe our sweet dancer, Sean.
The interaction between characters were wonderful to watch, from the friendship and support to the inklings of puppy love… I found all of it really charming. Once I earnestly started this book, I finished it in days. It’s a fun, fast read that advocates for acceptance, individuality and inclusiveness. I also love that Power decided to set it in Baxter Springs, KS- a place that she obviously knows well. It helped bring the world out a bit more. For me, this was a four star book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
As far as adult content goes, there’s very little. There is bullying, and some animal cruelty (not so much as I would think it a trigger for some readers). Over all, I would say that this one is fairly safe for any age. That said, I am told that book two will have some romance- I’m thinking old-school disney level stuff? I am kind of here for that.
After rescuing a mouse from the school bullies, Celeste makes her first friend, and draws the atention of a great group of people. Together, they show eachother what makes them unique- roller blading, working a lasso, dancing…- and support eachother in a way that made me really happy. We talk about being inclusive now, but here it’s shown. Each character is unique, they have their talents and insecuritues, and they accept all of them as simply who that person is.
There are characters here that will resonate with lots of different people. I liked them all, but ended up loving Gary best. He is quiet, introverted, but when you get to know him he’s smart, funny and really warm. The fact that he was a bit withdrawn, and had to deal with racial issues, kind of resonated with younger me. Most people will love Celeste and Briz the mouse best, I am guessing. Maybe our sweet dancer, Sean.
The interaction between characters were wonderful to watch, from the friendship and support to the inklings of puppy love… I found all of it really charming. Once I earnestly started this book, I finished it in days. It’s a fun, fast read that advocates for acceptance, individuality and inclusiveness. I also love that Power decided to set it in Baxter Springs, KS- a place that she obviously knows well. It helped bring the world out a bit more. For me, this was a four star book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
As far as adult content goes, there’s very little. There is bullying, and some animal cruelty (not so much as I would think it a trigger for some readers). Over all, I would say that this one is fairly safe for any age. That said, I am told that book two will have some romance- I’m thinking old-school disney level stuff? I am kind of here for that.
January 26, 2023
Part of Power's strength lies in providing an authentic and genuine voice to the joys and frustrations of being 10 years old, whether you grew up in the 80's or not. From bullies, feeling like an outcast, and finding footing with step-parents to friendship, first crushes, school, and all that comes with navigating the world at that age, Squeak is very relatable.
For those who grew up in the 80's, or even a couple decades later, such as myself, it is a blast from the past. Nostalgia hit hard with this book. I am a sucker for pop-culture references, but I especially appreciated the way Power handles them. Instead of over-explaining, she gives just enough context clues for any reader who might not be familiar with the references.
Respect for her younger audience is not only seen in the superb vocabulary for the age group (a great tool for classrooms and homeschooling), but also in some of the topics covered. She does not shy away from much needed conversations.
The narrative itself is full of little threads, and as Celeste and her diverse group of friends go through the year, it is a lot of fun to see how Power weaves it all together.
And, of course, this review would be "crazy daisies" to not at least mention the talking mouse! Briz rules!
This book has all the charm of children's stories from a perspective looking back on childhood, such as A Christmas Story or Then and Now, along with the magic and wonder of stories like Stuart Little. I am so excited to add this signed paperback to my book shelf!
For those who grew up in the 80's, or even a couple decades later, such as myself, it is a blast from the past. Nostalgia hit hard with this book. I am a sucker for pop-culture references, but I especially appreciated the way Power handles them. Instead of over-explaining, she gives just enough context clues for any reader who might not be familiar with the references.
Respect for her younger audience is not only seen in the superb vocabulary for the age group (a great tool for classrooms and homeschooling), but also in some of the topics covered. She does not shy away from much needed conversations.
The narrative itself is full of little threads, and as Celeste and her diverse group of friends go through the year, it is a lot of fun to see how Power weaves it all together.
And, of course, this review would be "crazy daisies" to not at least mention the talking mouse! Briz rules!
This book has all the charm of children's stories from a perspective looking back on childhood, such as A Christmas Story or Then and Now, along with the magic and wonder of stories like Stuart Little. I am so excited to add this signed paperback to my book shelf!
January 11, 2023
From her prologue to the closing chapter, author D.A. Power weaves a lovely, engaging tale for children of all ages about the bond between a young girl, an enchanted mouse, and the struggle to find acceptance.
Set in the 1980s in a quaint, midwestern town, Squeak follows the life of 10-year-old Celeste, the shy, awkward new girl in school content to fly under the radar to cope within her new surroundings. From the first and in nearly every situation, Celeste demonstrates her resilience and her moxie, traits she only comes to recognize with the help of a special friend and a twist of magic.
As narrator, Celeste pulls us into her complex web of fears, hopes and dreams thanks to Power’s deft descriptions and humorous storytelling. The author does a fantastic job of capturing the sights and sounds of the time, making the novel a nostalgic, entertaining read for both adults and the middle grades. You can’t help but remember what it was like to be ten thanks to Power’s clear and poignant descriptions and dialogue. Indeed, she navigates every tense moment in the plot with finesse and strength, building up to an interesting climax and resolving the action with satisfaction.
You leave the novel fully invested in what will come next for Celeste and the gang. That’s why Cowboys and Queens, Book 2 in The Asher Chronicles, is most definitely on my TBRs!
Set in the 1980s in a quaint, midwestern town, Squeak follows the life of 10-year-old Celeste, the shy, awkward new girl in school content to fly under the radar to cope within her new surroundings. From the first and in nearly every situation, Celeste demonstrates her resilience and her moxie, traits she only comes to recognize with the help of a special friend and a twist of magic.
As narrator, Celeste pulls us into her complex web of fears, hopes and dreams thanks to Power’s deft descriptions and humorous storytelling. The author does a fantastic job of capturing the sights and sounds of the time, making the novel a nostalgic, entertaining read for both adults and the middle grades. You can’t help but remember what it was like to be ten thanks to Power’s clear and poignant descriptions and dialogue. Indeed, she navigates every tense moment in the plot with finesse and strength, building up to an interesting climax and resolving the action with satisfaction.
You leave the novel fully invested in what will come next for Celeste and the gang. That’s why Cowboys and Queens, Book 2 in The Asher Chronicles, is most definitely on my TBRs!
March 13, 2025
Great read for young girls!
Celeste is a young girl with the usual (and maybe slightly more than the average) insecurities. She is new at school, has a new stepfather, and has no friends. She is almost instantly terrorized by the “Beastly Trio” of bullies that every student that ever went to school would recognize.
You follow along on her journey, as she struggles with having no friends, and being the “clutz” of the class. Along the way you are reminded of how cruel kids can be, but importantly, how kind they can be as well.
Celeste finally finds friends, all with their own peculiar personalities and attributes. Of course, one is a romantic interest. But her most important friend is a mouse who she rescues. This is a very special mouse, but you need to read the story to find out why.
It is a tale of growing up, learning, showing courage when you didn’t think you had any, and finding friends (and new family) in the unlikeliest of ways. It was a sweet, endearing, touching story, still filled with humor, and drama. I highly recommend it for young girls, who I think might find a soul mate in Celeste. Great present for daughters, nieces, and grandkids (and random girls you know).
Celeste is a young girl with the usual (and maybe slightly more than the average) insecurities. She is new at school, has a new stepfather, and has no friends. She is almost instantly terrorized by the “Beastly Trio” of bullies that every student that ever went to school would recognize.
You follow along on her journey, as she struggles with having no friends, and being the “clutz” of the class. Along the way you are reminded of how cruel kids can be, but importantly, how kind they can be as well.
Celeste finally finds friends, all with their own peculiar personalities and attributes. Of course, one is a romantic interest. But her most important friend is a mouse who she rescues. This is a very special mouse, but you need to read the story to find out why.
It is a tale of growing up, learning, showing courage when you didn’t think you had any, and finding friends (and new family) in the unlikeliest of ways. It was a sweet, endearing, touching story, still filled with humor, and drama. I highly recommend it for young girls, who I think might find a soul mate in Celeste. Great present for daughters, nieces, and grandkids (and random girls you know).
January 8, 2023
I left this review on Amazon, but I just had to repost it here. I bought the paperback version of Squeak soon after it came out, but I just had to come to Amazon to write my review. I'm a male in my twenties and have been wanting to get back into reading like I used to all the time when I was younger. I found Squeak by accident and decided to give it a try and it's been a fantastic read! The style reminds me of the books I used to read and the characters and details in the story have been more relatable to me than I expected. Reading this book has unlocked many memories that I forgot I experienced. Likewise, I be had not anticipated the depth that the author had given her characters because how much could there be to ten year olds? Apparently, I underestimated how much a kid could experience in ten years. The book's fantasy aspect was also a welcome surprise as I have always enjoyed stories with fantasy characteristics. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun, light-hearted, slice-of-life read that pays an homage to life during the eighties for those who have lived through it and an insight for the younger readers like myself who still get nostalgic for times they didn't experience.
March 1, 2024
This was a wonderful book filled with adventure and sweet moments. I loved the main character Celeste. She is finding herself in a new school and managed to make some long lasting friendships in the end. Of course there are bullies who try to get her down but Celeste is fearless and clever, and the bullies totally get what they deserve. I laughed out loud so many times, especially that final showdown between Celeste and her friend vs the beastly trio (the bullies)
The plot itself was very intriguing and there is a clever reason why the book is called Squeak! The main themes of the book are coming of age, found family, friendships. It's a middle grade book, yet even though Celeste was so young, I found myself wanting to be cool just like her! She initially lacks confidence in herself but it's wonderful to see her grow. Real issues like bullying, and racism were also mentioned in the story which made it realistic.
I'm so excited to see how this continues and looking forward to book 2!
The plot itself was very intriguing and there is a clever reason why the book is called Squeak! The main themes of the book are coming of age, found family, friendships. It's a middle grade book, yet even though Celeste was so young, I found myself wanting to be cool just like her! She initially lacks confidence in herself but it's wonderful to see her grow. Real issues like bullying, and racism were also mentioned in the story which made it realistic.
I'm so excited to see how this continues and looking forward to book 2!
October 1, 2023
I purchased this book based on recommendation, and I am not disappointed. The main character Celeste is very relatable character. Experiencing the world through her perspective was a joy. The work is set in 1984. The author does a fantastic job of transporting you there. For those who didn't live through the times she makes relevant references that help immerse you in the year, and for those who remember...nostalgia of times long gone. The supporting characters are unique and each one has their own strengths and flaws making having a favorite character hard. It was an enjoyable read, and would highly recommend for kids or adults. Can't wait for the next one to hit the shelves.
March 21, 2023
Super cute! Really enjoyed this middle grade story about a young girl who’s suffered from bullying starting over in a new school. She has a lot of baggage and serious trust issues, but as she slowly makes new (and extremely unique) friends, she truly begins to blossom. I also loved that it took place in the ‘80s with lots of nastalgic throwbacks for those of us familiar with the iconic era. There was even a cute bit of romance sprinkled throughout, which was really the icing on the cake. Not to be confused with sprinkles on a cupcake… those you’ll have to read about for yourself. 😆
September 19, 2023
This was such a sweet and fun read! It reminded me of Kate DiCamillo's Flora and Ulysses in the best ways. I really liked the growth of the main character and the friendships she built, especially with Sean, and the ways in which she stood up for herself. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a great coming-of-age story.
January 8, 2024
This book was absolutely wonderful! It was very engaging, witty and all of the pictures inside were fun. The pictures definitely helped bring the characters to life. Each character has a distinct personality.
The core theme of the book is bullying, which could help kids out and they can relate. The other theme of course is friendship.
I look forward to book two.
The core theme of the book is bullying, which could help kids out and they can relate. The other theme of course is friendship.
I look forward to book two.
March 23, 2023
Such a cute read, and the story was exciting! I really liked Celeste and Sean, though Tex nearly stole the story! If you want a book with a cute ensemble cast, relatable characters, and a (somewhat) happy ending, I recommend this book.
December 30, 2023
This book was so cute! I am so glad I decided to buy it. I loved it so much. I would very much encourage people that are young at heart to buy this book! This book is great for children as well.
December 29, 2025
I fell in love with the illustrations after seeing them on social media. After reading the story, I’m even more in love with it!
Set in the mid 1980s, the story follows Celeste at her new school as she makes new friends, inclucing a talking mouse named Briz. One thing that appealed to me in this story was the realistic description of life in the 1980s. It was exactly as I remembered it. It was a refreshing vacation to a time when kids still played outside with each other and solved their problems without technology. The characters are all well-developed, likable, and relatable. I distinctly remember my own “Beastly Trio” from my time as a child. The illustrations make the story even more delightful—especially the one of the character Tex Avery. I wanted to laugh out loud every time he said a classic cowboy line.
I will be 180% buying the next book in this series the next time I go online to make a haul of books.
Set in the mid 1980s, the story follows Celeste at her new school as she makes new friends, inclucing a talking mouse named Briz. One thing that appealed to me in this story was the realistic description of life in the 1980s. It was exactly as I remembered it. It was a refreshing vacation to a time when kids still played outside with each other and solved their problems without technology. The characters are all well-developed, likable, and relatable. I distinctly remember my own “Beastly Trio” from my time as a child. The illustrations make the story even more delightful—especially the one of the character Tex Avery. I wanted to laugh out loud every time he said a classic cowboy line.
I will be 180% buying the next book in this series the next time I go online to make a haul of books.
January 14, 2024
When Celeste, the new kid in town, confronts a trio of bullies to save an innocent mouse, life as she knows it will never be the same again.
This coming-of-age tale follows Celeste Asher, a shy 10-year-old as she struggles to make friends and fit in at a new school. Set during the 80s, this story reads like Sandlot meets Beverly Cleary and has much for adults and kids to enjoy.
What I liked:
Celeste's bravery in the face of bullies.
The budding friendships and the distinct personalities D.A. Power created for each character.
The adventures that came from befriending a mouse.
This story is the first in a series, and I can't wait to see what else Celeste gets herself into in the upcoming sequel.
This coming-of-age tale follows Celeste Asher, a shy 10-year-old as she struggles to make friends and fit in at a new school. Set during the 80s, this story reads like Sandlot meets Beverly Cleary and has much for adults and kids to enjoy.
What I liked:
Celeste's bravery in the face of bullies.
The budding friendships and the distinct personalities D.A. Power created for each character.
The adventures that came from befriending a mouse.
This story is the first in a series, and I can't wait to see what else Celeste gets herself into in the upcoming sequel.
January 2, 2024
I was so excited to read this book and it did NOT disappoint!! It’s a great children’s to even young adult book! If you like books like “the rats of nihm” or the Beverly cleary “Ralph” books you will LOVE THIS! So good!!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews