cover image Pentecost & the Chos

Pentecost & the Chos

W. J. Corbett. Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers, $14.95 (237pp) ISBN 978-0-385-29549-9

The British author resumes the story he began in the award-winning The Song of Pentecost, which ended with the death of the heroic mouse. Young Pentecost lacks his father's abilityhe led the displaced mice to a home on Lickey Top. Faced by Uncle, who is trying to take charge of the band, Pentecost dithers on until wily Fox takes a hand. Unwillingly, the mouse travels far, to the city where he meets the Chosen One, a leader beset by conspiracies in his mice band. Tense, funny and moving situations abound in Corbett's enchanting allegory. Lickey Top's fractious Owl, Old Codger and Son (possums), the Iago-like Cockle Snorkle (a bug) and all the believable anthropomorphs are visible in Ursell's expert illustrations. All ages. (June)