Sterling North (1906–1974)

It is often missed that raccoons are extremely intelligent, insatiably curious creatures with their own personalities. In this book one meets a plethora of raccoons. There is the wise old raccoon whose sensitive ears are attracted to the timbre of Bach to approach a radio before returning to his corner of the woods; a clever raccoon who learned to ring the bell to get a food reward, and passed this essential knowledge to her progeny; a smart and driven mother raccoon, Midnight, who show more sacrificed her own self to lead vicious hunting hounds away from her young; a shy raccoon with a limp, Loner, who used to visit humans for head pats and was tragically shot to death by the ordinance of some bitter neighbor; and numerous unnamed raccoons who fell to painful deaths for the needless purpose of raccoon hunting, an economically and morally bankrupt cruel sport wherein hounds chase and bark at a treed raccoon, who is either shot or shaken down the tree to fight to the death. It reveals a strange moral compass that these animals don't seem to share-- that we can hunt and kill for no benefit other than leisurely brutality, when we don't need these prey for food or clothing. And this book also shows the flip side of that human moral compass-- that we are equally as capable of universal compassion to other creatures without standing to gain anything, in the painstaking and dedicated work of conservation. show less

Sterling North recalls the year of 1918-19 when he raised a raccoon kit called Rascal at the age of 11. In many ways it was a simpler time, and despite the fact that his brother was away at war and his mother had died four years previous, the story has more than a touch of nostalgia as Sterling pretty much has the run of the place while his father works or leaves on business trips. He's building a canoe, having adventures with his animal friends - including a crow and a dog named Wowser, in show more addition to Rascal - dealing with school bullies, and going to the local fair.

I didn't really know what to expect when I picked up this title, working my way haphazardly through all the Newbery Award and Honor books. I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun this was to read as an older Sterling reminisces about one glorious year and contemplates the changing times of his community and the world at large. Some older children's books don't age well, but this one has a lot of charm and lasting appeal. show less

Things are pretty quiet in rural Wisconsin in 1917, unless, that is, you are eleven-year-old Sterling North. An avid naturalist, Sterling raises a variety of unusual pets: Poe, the crow, two skunks, a drooling St. Bernard named Wowzer, and assorted cats. His inseparable best friend, though, is Rascal, a young raccoon. Sterling relates the tales of his and Rascal's misadventures over the course of a year. From the unfinished canoe in the living room to the fenced off Christmas tree, life in show more the North household is unconventional, but warm and radiating that sense of childhood innocence in nature that often feels absent in today's less rural world.

I listened to the audio of this book with my eight-year-old daughter, and she immediately began trying to tame a crow (raccoons being verboten near our chickens). Jim Weiss has a rich, warm voice and narrates the story beautifully. I think I actually preferred listening to this one rather than reading it, although it's been many years since I first read it. My only reservation with the book is the manner in which Sterling acquires Rascal; but the ending compensates. Well-deserving of the Newbery Honor. show less

Rascal is a tender and nostalgic coming-of-age story that captures the deep bond between a boy and his unlikely pet—a raccoon. Set in the early 20th century and rooted in Sterling North’s own boyhood memories, the novel offers a gentle, heartfelt look at friendship, loss, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.
Though aimed primarily at younger readers, the book’s themes are universal. Sterling’s adventures with Rascal are full of innocence and charm, as the pair explore the natural show more world and navigate the quirks of life in a quieter time. North’s writing brings the Wisconsin countryside to life, and his love for animals and nature shines throughout the story.
While I appreciated the simplicity and warmth of the tale, Rascal didn’t leave as lasting an impression on me as other similar boy-and-animal stories. Its quiet pacing and low-stakes narrative may not resonate with all readers equally, especially those seeking more emotional depth or dramatic tension. Still, it’s a wholesome read that has rightfully endured for over fifty years, and it will surely continue to charm new generations of readers who enjoy gentle, heartfelt stories about the bonds that shape our childhoods. show less