Do you like reading autobiographies? Do you want to hear the story of a boy and a raccoon becoming friends? Then read on!
Rascal is an autobiography about the author who became friends with a raccoon. Sterling, the author, tells his story about finding a raccoon in the woods with his friend. He sees it in an animal trap and releases it. He decides to take the raccoon home and names it Rascal, which is why this book is called that.
Sterling starts to befriend Rascal, which seems weird. A raccoon and a boy getting along together? That’s not an everyday thing you see, is it? Sterling’s dad approves of it since he’s okay with Sterling doing stuff by himself. Later, they go on a trip together with Sterling’s dad. They observe nature there. After this, neighbors start to complain about Rascal since he started roaming in their gardens and eating their crops.
So Sterling is forced to make a pen for Rascal, even though he dislikes the idea. School is out right now, but it is coming. Sterling’s dad goes on a trip, leaving Sterling by himself with Rascal. Sterling and Rascal have fun by themselves. Sterling pets Rascal every night, and they one time go to see a horse race.
Sterling’s dad comes back, and then it’s time for Sterling to go to school. Sterling goes to a junior high, and when he gets there, the teacher says in biology that everyone can say what pets they have. Then she says that everyone can bring them into school. Rascal and Sterling are first. A rude boy named Sammy snaps a rubber band in front of Rascal’s face, and then he bites Sammy’s hand. Class is then dismissed, and Rascal has to be kept at home for 14 days in his pen. Sterling goes home early that day.
14 days later, Sammy doesn’t get rabies, unfortunately. Soon, before he knows it, it’s springtime. During the winter, Rascal slept a lot more, but he didn’t hibernate. Now that it’s springtime though, Rascal has been acting weird lately. He’s been making strange sounds at night, and it’s odd to Sterling. Soon, though, he realizes that Rascal has found a female raccoon. Since it’s mating season, male raccoons mate with females. Sterling decides that it’s up to Rascal whether the raccoon wants to stay with him or the female. Who does Rascal choose? Read this book to find out!
I like this book, but not that much. I would give it 4 stars because even though the story was kind of good, it was a bit boring to me. Not much action happened in the book, and I like books that have more exciting and gripping plots. This book was a bit heartwarming, but once again, some parts were boring to read to me. I would recommend this book to people who like books that go a bit slow, but not too slow as well as not too fast when the story is being told. I also recommend it to ages 12 and above since it might be boring for people ages 8-11, like me.
Written by Kruti Patel
