By: Bode

Poppy returns to Gray House safely and her family moves to New House. Poppy and her family have to move to New House because their family is growing and food is too scarce where they live now.   Poppy and her father go into Dimwood Forest to ask Mr. Ocax for permission to move. Mr. Ocax denies permission to go to New House so Poppy sets off to see what is at New House that is keeping them from going there. During her journey Poppy runs into a porcupine but it turns out that the porcupine is nice and will help Poppy get to New House safely. Poppy discovered the real reason Mr. Ocax didn’t want the mice to move. Mr. Ocax had seen a fake owl that was much bigger than he was and he didn’t want the other owl to rule his territory or eat the mice he wanted for his own. Mr. Ocax was afraid that Poppy would discover that he had lied to keep control. Poppy is facing Mr. Ocax in a battle of death. Poppy stabs her porcupine quill into Mr. Ocax’s talon and he flees away from Poppy flying in pain after about 1 minute he flies into the salt lick too hard and dies. Poppy returns to Gray House safely and her family moves to New House. Poppy marries Rye and has eleven kids.

Poppy Poppy is a friendly, girl deer mouse that loves to dance (a real picture of a deer mouse is below). At the beginning of the book Poppy is shy but her family is put in danger and she must become a hero. I think Poppy is also very intelligent because she even escaped a owl 3 times..

Mr. Ocax Mr. Ocax is a gruesome great horned owl that loves to scare Poppy and her family. He also claims himself as the ruler of Dimwood Forest.

Lungwort Lungwort is Poppy's father that always wants to protect Poppy and her family. Lungwort is also the ruler of the family and is married to Sweet Cicely.

Ragweed In the beginning of the book Ragweed is Poppy's boyfriend. Ragweed was often judged for being different because he was a golden mouse, not a deer mouse. He was slaughtered by Mr. Ocax in the beginning of the book.

Ereth Ereth is a lazy, grumpy porcupine that loves salt. He loves salt so much that he would do anything for it. He once had a family but they left him to live on his own.

George George is a lazy house cat that lives at New House. He was the one that reveled the truth to Poppy about the fake owl.

Conflict and Resolution The mouse family was growing too large and had to move Getting through Dimwood Forest by not getting eaten Mr. Ocax was hungry Mr. Ocax died and they could move to New House safely When Poppy got to Ereth’s log, Ereth agreed to help Poppy if she got him the salt He ate Ragweed (Not the happiest of resolutions!)

The Theme People (and animals) can find courage and be brave when something is important to them, especially when it comes to protecting family. I believe Poppy showed courage in chapter 5 when she left Gray House for her family, even though she was afraid of the forest and porcupines. (This reminded me of the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz who had to fight his fears and show courage.)

My Thoughts on this Book The main reason I really liked the book Poppy because it teaches a really good lesson. I think the author, Avi, had great imagination. In addition, I thought it was interesting that these would be real problems small animals would have because they are not at the top of the food chain.