Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

The Umbrella Mouse is an exciting espionage thriller set towards the end of the Second World War. It is a story about a young mouse who is orphaned and left homeless after her home and family are destroyed by a German bomb. She joins a resistance cell made up other animals working in occupied France and helps them to fight back against the Nazis behind enemy lines, sabotaging supply lines and planning daring escapes.

I loved this and will definitely be buying this for my nephew.

Highly recommend tothose who want a new perspective on WW2.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC all views are my own.

Well, this was such a short, sweet, uplifiting book all about courage, friendship and loyalty that had me captivated. I had never read a book with solely animal characters before and in my opinion, I enjoyed the voices of these characters more than many human ones if I'm being totally honest. I don't read enough historical MG and The Umbrella Mouse may have convinced me to explore the genre more.

This book certainly doesn't shy away from the horrors of World War Two and some may think it's not appropriate for a book that is primarily aimed at 9 - 12 year olds. I certainly disagree, it is told in an entertaining yet factual way and this is perfect for getting children learning more about that period of time. The historical accuracy throughout the book is commendable and I applaud the author for this - it can't be easy researching into a topic that is, at times pretty harrowing.

I relished the plot and really enjoyed how the reader is taken straight into the action. It's fast-moving and this, in turn, makes you want to continue reading no matter what. At times I felt rushes of adrenaline and found my heart was racing. You are constantly praying for the best but at times are expecting the worse. When a book does this, you know it's a great one. Moving on, I found the use of animals within the story to be exceptional. I'll admit I don't know much about how animals were used during World War Two apart from the basics so this was a really eye opener for me. Without these animals, the war may not have gone the way it did.

Pip, she was such a sweetheart! I adored her as a character from the moment she was introduced. I found myself caring for her..a lot and was constantly wishing nothing bad would happen to her. Her character development was next to none and it was a joy to see her discover how brave and courageous she really was. Her friendships with the other animals was just heartwarming to read about and she's certainly going to be a character that sticks in my mind for a long time. We all, at times, need to find our inner Pip and embrace it.

The only negative thing about The Umbrella Mouse was that it ended so abruptly that I didn't get many answers that I was hoping to find before the end. It also felt like the plot line changed halfway through. However, this may be because a sequel is the works. I'm hoping.

The Umbrella Mouse was a pleasure to read. It's a story all about finding your inner courage and doing what you think is right no matter what. A lot of children, I think, will come out of this book having been educated and entertained.

This is such a lovely book, full of adventure and bravery and cute animals. I would have loved this as a child and I can't wait to share it with my children as they get older. The pictures are beautiful and I was completely swept up in the story.

What a gorgeous, exciting adventure this is. Feels like a modern classic and an absolute must for children who love animal tales and history.

The Umbrella Mouse an exciting espionage thriller set towards the end of the Second World War, after D Day and during the Blitz. It is a story about a young girl who is orphaned and left homeless and alone after her home and family are destroyed by a German bomb. But she has one destination in mind, somewhere her parents told her about where she has family and could find a new home. Trying to get there across war-torn Europe, she joins a resistance cell working in occupied France and helps them to fight back against the Nazis behind enemy lines, sabotaging supply lines and planning daring escapes.

It is packed full of exciting wartime drama, serious peril and a fantastic crew of resistance fighters both in occupied France and back in London. There are creepy villains, sneaky spies and brave heroes. It's everything you would want from a children's book based in this period.

The fact that the girl is a mouse and the resistance is led by a hedgehog, with an array of different birds and beasts just adds another magical layer to a brilliant MG novel, with so much heart and emotion in it.

The animal characters work well though, and each has a unique set of talents and abilities that are used very effectively in the story telling. It also lightens what would otherwise be quite a heavy story.

The illustrations by Sam Usher are quite charming and really fit the feel of the story.

This is a truly delightful story of a young mouse who is made homeless by a bomb during the blitz. Her adventures show the courage shown by both humans and animals during this conflict and really highlights the qualities of comradeship, loyalty and family. I absolutely loved this story.

I had been keen to read this book since I first viewed it on netgalley. I loved the cover and the description sounded wonderful. The animals of war are not often given a voice in fiction texts and this was a wonderful story from Churchill’s Secret Animal Army.
We know great sadness affected all in the war and the animals in this story are no different. With mirror emotions to those of humans, we meet Pip Hanway and her umbrella mouse family. They have history with umbrellas and live in a popular London store. Pip is mischievous and keen to watch the world around her, but diaster strikes and we see how life has changed for Pip’s family and their beloved umbrella shop.

Pip meets Dicken, a rescue dog and a variety of animals leading the fight for the resistance. There are brave messenger pigeons, fierce eagles and rats, and a fearless hedgehog leader named Madame Fourcade. They call themselves Noah’s Ark and they cause havoc to the German war effort. Their bravery, courage and determination help to bring down phone lines, rescue animals from capture and blow up land mines.

Pip surprised me with her courage, her ideas and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. She becomes a proper little heroine and very much a part of the Noah’s Ark family. As an orphan, she soon finds a home with these brave and fearless creatures.

There were parts of this story that had me on the edge of my seat, in tears and wishing for the end of the war.....I was so emotionally charged and invested in the lives of these creatures. They all had personalities and qualities we might see in humans and they wore scars of the war in the same way too. There are happy, proud moments and others with great sadness and loss. It was the perfect blend.

I enjoyed it from start to finish!

Read this book, love it and share it!