Book giveaway this week: Mouse and the Cossack by Paul Wilson

[RachelMumsnet]

If you fancy getting your hands on an early copy of Paul Wison's latest, Mouse and the Cossack, apply for one of 50 free copies.

A beautiful, heartbreaking mystery about Mouse, a young girl who has lost her voice. When she moves with her mother to a deserted farmhouse, she becomes intrigued by the traces of the previous inhabitant?s life there and uncovers his secret wartime past ? Paul Wilson is a winner of the Portico Prize for Literature for Do White Whales Sing at the Edge of the World? All those who are allocated copies will be notified next week and once again, please do post your feedback (or ask your Dcs to feedback) on this thread.

I was another reader who was puzzled about the age of the intended reader. The text I thought suited a teenager, but I don't think that the subject matter would appeal to them.

When I started reading this book it did not really hold my attention and a couple of times I nearly gave up reading it, which is something that I hardly ever do. However I persevered and went on to moderately enjoy the book.

The later sections of the book, covering the fact-based atrocities committed against the Cossacks post-war were thought provoking and have inspired me to look further into this period in history.

I really enjoyed this story though was a bit confused at first. I liked the different threads running through the story and the different voices. I do not agree that this is a children's book. The themes are quite adult and I would say that it would only be suitable for an older teen/young adult, though I am not sure that the content would interest them. I was very interested in the Cossack story which I knew nothing about before.

Overall I liked the style of writing and found it quite an easy read. I read short sections at a time (due to time restraints) but would have preferred to have sat down and read more at a time as I feel it would have flowed better.
Overall a good read and I would like to try more by this author

Well I read it. This book didn't jump off the shelf and order me to read it, so it sat there for a while, and I read other books that seemed more appealing. Eventually I thought I best get on and read it. By page 90 I was ready to give up, If It wasn't for needing to come back here and review it I would have given up. I didn't "care" what happened to any of the characters enough to want to find out.
So I carried on, and the pace picked up a little but not so much that I fell in love with it. Its a story where very little, happens very slowly. One gets glimpses of characters but they are not fleshed out fully.

I'd say Mouse and the cossacks is a young adults book, aimed at teen+ girls.

I am being a slow reader too DS picture books taking up my time :) I'm enjoying the book and finding it intriguing and although it's written by a child it doesn't seem like a Childs book. I have not got to the end yet though and will post again when I do

I received a copy of this, thanks Mumsnet, but it's taken me a while to pick it up. I don't know if it was the cover or the ambiguity of the target audience that made me take so long to getting around to reading it. Found it an interesting read and liked the way the author used the main character's voice. It wasn't particularly detailed in historical information which would lean me towards recommending this for pre teens, however, I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Not a gripping read, in my opinion, but worthy of the effort.

Hi, I really enjoyed the story, although I did find it a bit slow at the beginning. I loved how all the threads came together at the end and suddenly everything made sense. The historical information about the Cossacks was very interesting and added another element to the story. I would agree with the other reviewers in that I don't think it is a children's book, definitely for young adults. In summary, a good read, which I would recommend.

Forgot to add my comments to this. Finished it a few weeks ago.

Started off really well, and I thought it was going to be great, but it really tailed off. If I hadn't 'had' to read it I would have given up.

I found the William/history chapters quite dull and skimmed those

I would disagree that this was a children's book.

I had read the author's previous book (Do White Whales Sing...) and much preferred that one. Sorry.

Loved the cover

Finally posting my review.

I did enjoy the book, read it without any difficulty, but agree with everyone else (and my original comment) that I'm not sure who it is marketed at?

I felt it wasn't quite an "adult" book - not enough depth in the characters or insight into the parents' difficulties, more on Mouse's point of view, but then it wasn't a children's book either.

As a teen I might well have enjoyed it I think, but I was quite an odd teen so not sure if modern teenagers would enjoy it.

Lovely cover yes, and an interesting read anyway. Thanks for the free copy!