Liza Martini’s middle grade novel, Squirrels of Speedwell Farms, is a mix of mystery and fable that tells the story of a scurry, or community, of squirrels under siege by invisible forces.

Chister Chary lives a sweet life surrounded by family and friends in woods that have slowly been overtaken by a growing suburb. Elders share the legend of a chestnut grove destroyed by blight that led the squirrels to migrate; it serves as a reminder of their survival and adaptation skills. But Chister’s own father is one of many squirrels who have mysteriously vanished without a trace. Desperate for answers, Chister must risk everything to find them.

Martini packs so much into this novel. The world of the squirrels is richly described, with attention paid to the changing seasons and various animal foes and allies. Travelling around Speedwell Farms (largely via power lines) feels dangerous and exciting.

Advanced vocabulary is defined in a glossary, and there are squirrel facts, including a look at how humans impact the animal kingdom. The book is initially very gentle when discussing death (“What happened next is too sad to mention here.”) but grows more frank as the story progresses.

There are a few missing quotation marks in otherwise immaculate text, and one scene where Chister spies on a human gathering provides a lot of exposition in the dialogue at the expense of characters sounding realistic. But these are minor issues.

The story is engrossing and perfectly paced, and has a twist ending that’s a genuine shock and delight. A parent reading this to their child will end up pushing bedtime out for one more chapter, then one more, to see what happens.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.