I've loved all of Victoria's books, and this one is so different, but incredibly charming! Its a twist of Historical Fiction with a mystery, but also fantasy with mice narrating every other chapter. This would be a perfect 3r or 4th grade read aloud.

Ezra, a young boy with rheumatism, wants to be a shipbuilder like his grandfather, but the odds are against him. When Ezra saves Bertie the Mouse from getting stomped in 1822 Duxbury, Massachusetts, his life becomes more interesting...and dangerous. Based on historical events I've never heard of, these two unlikely friends encounter danger and mystery as Ezra's grandfather's ship is about to set sail for France.

Bertie's family wants to board the ship and dock in France, hopefully, to find Marquis de Lafayette. No, not THAT Marquis de Lafayette. A 500-pound CHEESE! As Bertie and his sister, Olive get into more and more trouble and lose their family in the crowd, they find that they cannot survive without Ezra's help.

Kids of all ages will love the adventure and mystery of this tale and learn to appreciate the historical town, Duxbury. This is a book to be shared with families and in classrooms. I mean, who doesn't like pick-pockets, smugglers, and huge blocks of CHEESE?

Have fun reading!

The story of Ezra and Bertie is an endearing one of friendship and family within a historical event.

Ezra badly wants to be a part of the family shipping business, however, due to health issues, he is "protected" and kept out of the things he longs for. Along with his best friend/cousin Elizabeth he ends up smack in the middle of a huge family secret. Can they discover whats really going on and if they do will the outcome spell disaster for the family?

Bertie and his sister Olive are separated from their family and in danger of being trampled by horses. Ezra saves them, but then keeps them in a cage. Through a series of escapades Bertie makes some interesting discoveries and learns that Ezra can be trusted and he is capable of more than he thinks.

Set in the charming town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, Ezra and Bertie reveal some interesting history about our newly formed country and The Marquis de Lafayette. This would be a good book for those younger middle grade readers who like animal characters, history, and alternating POVs.

Thank you to the author Victoria J. Coe, Duxbury Rural & Historical Society, and NetGalley for the early copy of this book.

Ezra is desperate to be seen by his family. He just wants to be a part of something important and to be recognized for something other than being fragile due to his chronic health concerns. By chance Ezra stumbles upon two mice on their own adventure, but when one is injured Ezra scoops in and rescues them from the dangers of a horses hoof. The mice, Bertie and his injured sister Olive, need to reunite with their family leaving on a ship for France owned by Ezra's family which leads to a mystery of the search for Lafayette.

Based on historical events in Duxbury Massachusetts, this fantasy adventure told in alternating points of view, will be loved by fans of history, mystery, adventure, Hamilton, and animal fantasy.

Told in alternating points of view, Ezra is a young boy who longs to be part of the family business but is pushed aside due to his rheumatoid arthritis and over-protected mother. Bertie and his sister Olive are mice trying to reunite with their family on a ship before it leaves, after being separated when Bertie convinces Olive to go on an adventurous detour. The detour results in Olive injuring her leg and Ezra saving the mice from a horse hoof but deciding to keep them in a cage. Ezra discovers a mystery around the family's latest ship leaving for France, while Bertie and Olive need to get to that ship but are trapped. Can the two pairs work together to solve the mystery and reunite the mice family back together?
Readers will relate and enjoy the camaraderie, not just between Ezra and his cousin Elizabeth, Bertie and his sister Olive but the entire family of mice living in Ezra's house. The alternating point of view provides a well-balanced back and forth developing the characters and the relationship between Ezra and Bertie while adding another layer of a mystery for readers to solve.
Be sure to read the Author's Note that provides some background on how Victoria J. Coe connected her love of various literary mice growing up to the history of Duxbury. Ezra and the Mouse: The Search for Lafayette is for fans of animal stories, adventure, mystery and historical fiction and a book you should add to your collection.

I absolutely loved this book! On its face it is the story of a boy and two mice. However, once you dig in, it’s a rich tale of family, of handicaps, but mostly of redemption. I highly recommend this book!

Do you like books with mice like Stuart Little? Do you love history, or have you ever heard of Hamilton? This book is for you and your children.

Set in Duxbury, Massachusetts the story takes places after the American Revolutionary War. The book is told from the perspective of Ezra the IV, the youngest grandson of Ezra Weston (King Cesar) who is a owns a ship building enterprise and Bertie a field mouse that is tiny in stature but with a huge heart.

Victoria Coe takes you on a journey about Lafayette, cheese, smuggling and how to complete some detective work. This is a great book to read with your children and gives them some insight into America’s history. The end of the book has great information about how it came to fruition and the history in which the story was derived.

I have to say….I never knew about a 500 lb block of cheese.

This is your the next book for your school classroom and at home library.

Historical fiction - mystery - cheese
Told in alternating points of view - Ezra, 12 year old who wants to be part of the family business but is considered sickly and his mother is overprotective. And Bertie, a mouse, who along with his sister lose track of their family and need to get back to them.
Ezra, along with his friend Elizabeth, try to solve a mystery involving Ezra's father and his business. Bertie and his sister Olive, who are captured by Ezra and put in a cage, needs to find their family before the ship sails for France. Can the two characters help each other? Based on real events and involves a 500lb cheese.