Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Borrowers Afield
Illustrator: Beth Krush , Joe Krush
Fiction Series
For ages 8 to 12
Harcourt, 2003 ISBN: 978-0152047320
Pod, Homily and Arrietty Clock are on the run, literally. Very suddenly the three little people have had to leave the relative safety and comfort of their home under the kitchen floor in the big house, and they are out crossing fields and orchards looking for their relatives who left the house some years ago. The problem is that the only thing they know about the Aunt Lupy and Uncle Hendreary is that they went to live in a badger's sett, but they cannot be sure that they are still there. When they find the badger's sett, the Clocks determine that their relatives left some time ago. Homily, Pod, and Arrietty are well and truly on their own now.
The three little people are fortunate enough to find an old boot, which makes a dry and safe enough home for the time being. Then, and very luckily for them as it happens, they meet another borrower. Spiller is a very country savvy borrower who knows how to survive in the wide world, and he turns out to be a great help to the Clocks, who have much to learn about living rough. The Clocks know that they cannot remain in the boot forever. Winter is not that far off, and they have to find more suitable accommodation before then.
In this wonderful story, Mary Norton beautifully combines the exciting and adventure filled story of the Clock family with that of a set of humans who are interested in the little people, and who are keen to know what happens to them.
With wonderful characters who practically step off the pages, Mary Norton has blessed us with a book that has stood the test of time since it was first published in 1955. Like the first book in this series, The Borrowers, this book will surely be a favorite for many years to come.
