Squirrels in the Wall

Squirrels in the Walla novel told in stories by a collection of interspecies voicespresents a unique and darkly hilarious blend of human and animal perspectives in a single setting on a Wisconsin lake. The stories provide a kaleidoscope of heartbreak among both human and animal characters as they confront abuse and death.They call me Herziger, but my real name is Woof, one of the stories opens. They call me a dachshund, but in reality, I am just a dog. I live with my mother among a pack of wild humans in a big house on a lake. In the second story, Squirrels in the Wall, Herzies human, Barney Blatz, experiences a fire in that house when he is just four. The stories follow Barney from infancy to death, tracing the epic, ongoing conflict between him and Fathera bumbling tyrant guilty of shocking abuse but also capable of poignant redemption.On this rollicking journey, we meet a suicidal toad, a cat, two mice, a bee, Grandfathers ghost, and a turtle who possesses Barney in a climactic tale of environmental activism gone awry. Other stories reflect the points of view of Barneys mother, sister, and older brother; together, they construct a collage of spectacular family dysfunctionand of healing love.