Ned Mouse Breaks Away

by Tim Wynne-Jones, Dušan Petričić

Ned Mouse has been sent to jail. His crime? Writing "The government is unfair to mice!" in his spinach. But Ned does not like jail. He does not like his tiny cell. He does not like the food. And he does not look good in stripes.
"I would give my right arm to be out of here," he thinks. Thus begin his attempts to make a break for freedom. Yet each time his attempts are foiled by the keeper.
The years pass, and Ned very nearly gives up. Then one day he receives a letter from his long-lost friend Mort, who tempts him with stories of the beautiful sunrises at his house by the sea. Filled with new determination, Ned comes up with the most daring escape plan yet. He'll mail himself to Mort, piece by piece. And all he needs for his plan to succeed is the cooperation of the gullible keeper.
Award-winning author TimWynne-Jones brings his wit and humor to bear in this gently subversive fable. Pen and wash illustrations by Dusan Petricic beautifully capture Ned's despair, hope and determination, and cleverly convey the bizarre conceit of his masterful escape plan.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens

68 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Tim Wynne-Jones (born 12 August 1948) is an English–Canadian author of children's literature, including picture books and novels for children and young adults, novels for adults, radio dramas, songs for the CBC/Jim Henson production Fraggle Rock, as well as a children's musical and an opera libretto.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2001): The Boy in the Burning House
Edgar Award
◊ Best Young Adult (2002): The Boy in the Burning House

Reviews

[Silvia Creed · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happened to freedom of speech?

[Salsabrarian]

Booktalk: Ned Mouse doesn't like jail. He doesn't like his tiny cell. He doesn't like the food and he doesn't look good in stripes. He'd leave if not for the fact that he's locked up. So he tries digging his way out with a dessert spoon. He makes an airplane in and tries to fly his way out. He tries sneaking out in a vacuum cleaner. But each time, the keeper finds Ned and marches him back. Time passes and Ned is desperate to escape. "I would give my right arm to be out of here!" says Ned. Hmmmm. Maybe that's what it will take ....

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ned mouse wants to get out of jail so he digs with a dessert spoon. He also makes a plane out of tin to try and get out to too. Then he takes himself apart and mails himself to his friend who will make him into a puzzle. Then he's out of jail!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hilarious satire about Ned Mouse (who was jailed for writing) and his escape attempts.
I laughed out loud when reading this story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny. It's one of the best books that I have read in a long time.

[esin duzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

cannot help but adore the free spirits of the mice

[Carla Ehrenreich · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's a mouse to do when he's stuck in jail. If it wasn't for the temptation of the Warden's tiramisu he would have made it out the first time. Now he must get clever.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bizarre.

[Gabe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too scary.

[Czechgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute tale, but some parts don't make sense at the end. I think the author had a happily-ever after ending, but it just wasn't thought out very well.