Word of Mouse

“I’m guessing, however, that none of my ninety-six siblings are as stupendously scared as I am right now, because, basically, I’m the coward in the family.”

By comparing himself to his siblings, Isaiah articulates his feelings of inadequacy and invites reader empathy. He also sets the stage for his character development toward leadership and courage, and The Journey of Self-Discovery.

“I figure I have a choice: A) I could turn around, run back to the Horrible Place, and turn myself in to the Long Coats. If I do that, I’ll be with my family again […] B) I can keep running. Find someplace to hide. Wait for my family to escape and find me.”

This is a critical decision point for Isaiah and reflects a fundamental part of his character. Despite fear and insecurity, he will opt for the possibility of a better future rather than a return to the oppressive but known past. However, he still takes a passive role; he is still waiting for his family rather than trying to save them.

“I am tired of being attacked for who I am. I will not become this cat’s furry toy.”

Isaiah’s declaration marks a pivotal moment in his character arc. For the first time, he asserts his agency and rejects the role of victim. This declaration goes beyond the physical confrontation with Lucifer—it’s a stand against any force that seeks to diminish him.

“I’m pretty cozy. I’m also pretty lonely. I’ve never spent a night away from my family before. As horrible as the Horrible Place was, at least we were all together. I miss my brothers and sisters.”

Isaiah experiences solitude after being separated from his family. This quote shows how complicated the idea of “home” can be, as physical safety often cannot compensate for emotional security.

“I perk up my ears. Listen for her voice. Follow her song. Because wherever it leads, that’s where I want to be.”

Isaiah redirects his priorities from immediate survival to seeking connection. His decision to pursue Mikayla ties into the book’s themes of connection and community, things he has been desperately missing. This quote underscores Isaiah’s inherent need for social interaction and emotional bonding, reflecting the universal desire for love and companionship. The above quote uses two sentence fragments—“Listen for her voice. Follow her song”—emulating real-life speech.

“Well, thanks to the Brophys, we always have plenty of food. It’s good stuff, too. And we don’t mind sharing.”

Mikayla’s offer of food introduces Isaiah to the possibility of a new beginning. It signifies the potential for Isaiah to find a new community where he can belong. Her words also tie food to the idea of community.

“But guess what? That’s exactly what they made us do back at the Horrible Place. It was one of the things that made it so spectacularly awful. Especially if you ever rolled over in your sleep. Not that I ever did. I was usually too afraid to even close my eyes.”

Isaiah reflects on the lab’s lack of sanitation and contrasts it with the state of the Brophy’s mischief’s burrow. By comparing these experiences, Isaiah shows the improvements in his life since escaping and highlights the importance of basic needs like cleanliness and personal space, which are often taken for granted.

“Family. James the Wise was correct. It is such a warm and wonderful word. The coziest word of them all. If you ask me, family is the true cream horn of life, filled with sweetness. Worth risking your life for.”

This quote illustrates a central theme of the book: Family and community is the ultimate source of comfort and fulfillment. Isaiah’s comparison of family to a cream horn conveys his warm feelings for his family. It also hints at his later actions in the story when he decides to return to the lab, just like he decided to risk taking the cream horn back to the burrow.

“Girls don’t sing […] You’re not a normal mouse, so you don’t understand. In this family, girls aren’t supposed to sing. We’re supposed to wash and dry acorn cups and take care of the babies. I might not like it, but that’s just the way it is. Being different isn’t a good thing.”

Mikayla admission to Isaiah shows the cultural norms within the Brophy mischief that restrict her behavior and expression. It highlights the societal challenges that both characters face—Isaiah with his unusual abilities and appearance and Mikayla with her constrained role in the community both feel the need to conform. Mikayla’s resignation emphasizes the deeply ingrained nature of these norms.

“‘Did you type those words?’ she asks me. I’ve never had a human wait for an answer from me before.”

Isaiah and Hailey interact for the first time, and Hailey shows how different she is from other humans. Despite Hailey’s earlier panic, it’s the first time a human has ever bothered to listen to Isaiah and acknowledge him beyond being a lab subject or a pest.

“‘Hey, it’s never easy being different.’ ‘true. unless everybody around you is also different. for instance, my brother abe is red and very funny. my sister delphinia is purple and extremely strong.’”

This exchange between Isaiah and Hailey explore The Importance of Embracing Individuality. Isaiah talks about his uniquely colored family members, teaching Hailey that diversity is normal and even beneficial. This moment serves as a bonding point for them, as Hailey relates Isaiah’s experience to her own feelings of isolation and being judged based on her appearance.

“Those are the keys that lock all the doors that keep my family imprisoned. I look higher and take a good look at Mr. Brophy’s face. He’s the Mop Man at the Horrible Place!”

Isaiah’s discovery that Mr. Brophy is connected to the laboratory is a dramatic twist. His realization links his current environment to his past and serves as a stark reminder that old traumas cannot be easily ignored or left behind.

“‘Thank you, Isaiah,’ she says, her voice growing weaker. ‘Don’t thank me,’ I say. ‘This is a team effort.’”

This exchange between Gwindell and Isaiah exemplifies The Power of Friendship and Community. Isaiah’s response emphasizes the idea that no individual is above the group and every success is shared. He came up with the plan, but without the help of others, he couldn’t have executed it and helped her.

“We both have our Horrible Places. Mine is the prison I shared with my family. Hers is the school where Melissa calls her mean names.”

While Isaiah’s “prison” is one of literal physical confinement and danger, Hailey’s is metaphorical—a place where social ostracism and bullying create a different kind of prison. They are united by their experiences, which shows that pain is a common denominator regardless of species.

“‘You could be a good leader, Isaiah,’ James the Wise tells me. ‘We know that you are different from all the other mice in our mischief. But your differences give you certain advantages: inventiveness, resourcefulness[…]’ ‘Blueness!’ cracks Gabriel.”

The Brophy mischief mice acknowledge Isaiah’s distinct qualities not as liabilities, but as strengths. Acknowledgment from a respected elder within the community suggests a shift in how differences are valued within the group. The humor of Gabriel’s comment also shows the acceptance Isaiah has earned.

“‘We stay together,’ she says. ‘We’re family.’”

Mikayla asserts that she and Isaiah are family and will face their fate together, regardless of the outcome. This highlights the emotional core of the narrative: the power of finding and affirming one’s family, whether by blood or bond. In the story, the bonds of community and family are not just defined by genetics, but by shared experiences and mutual commitment.

“The mere mention of the L-word sends me into a panic. I jump off the laptop, race across the computer desk, and run as fast as I can. Right out Hailey’s window.”

Isaiah has a visceral response to anything that reminds him of the horrors he experienced in the laboratory (“the L-word”). Despite the progress he has made over the course of the story, his reaction shows the lasting impact of trauma even in new, safer environments.

“At the lab, the horrible place, they conducted countless experiments on me and my family. They did this to us because they could. They were big, we were small. In the human world, might makes right. The strong oppress the weak.”

Isaiah’s reflections on his life in the lab highlight the often-overlooked emotional and ethical considerations of using animals for scientific purposes.

“Isaiah is our son and brother. Therefore, his family is our family. The ancient edict applies: Leave no mouse behind!”

By affirming Isaiah’s place within their community, James the Wise validates Isaiah’s plan to rescue his siblings from the lab, and calls upon the moral fabric of their society. This quote reflects the mice’s collective identity and duty to one another, echoing the book’s emphasis on unity and the strength of friendship and community bonds.

“I just have to trust that Abe and Winnie, poised at the top of the pyramid, will catch me.”

This moment shows the trust and solidarity that are crucial for the mice’s escape. The physical act of leaping and being caught by his siblings mirrors the emotional and logistical support that Isaiah relies on throughout his journey.

“That’s the only thing we all have in common: we’re all different.”

In talking about his siblings, Isaiah also captures The Importance of Embracing Individuality. Despite their unique colors and abilities, the mice all share a common bond in being different. As Hailey means when she later quotes these words, this sentiment can be applied to every person and living creature. Everyone is different, and in this way we are also all connected.

“Humans hate us. Always have, always will.”

Despite moments of kindness from individuals like Hailey, Isaiah feels overwhelmed by humanity’s persistent prejudice and fear toward mice, which the congregation is now showing. Isaiah’s statement shows the emotional toll of continuous rejection and the difficulty of changing ingrained attitudes.

“‘Have fun with your singing mouse friends. But remember—they carry all sorts of germs, dear.’ Hailey smiles and gives the nice lady one of my all-time favorite replies: ‘Maybe. But so do we.’”

The old lady’s remark reflects a common stereotype, that mice are disease carriers. Hailey’s turns the comment around, emphasizing that humans, too, carry germs. Her reply underscores the similarities between humans and mice, and challenges both the woman and the reader to rethink their prejudices.