Rascal

Rascal by Sterling North, 1963 E.P. Dutton

   Eleven-year-old Sterling North and his good friend Oscar manage to capture a raccoon cub and Sterling raises Rascal. The boy has no idea of the chaos a baby raccoon can cause.
     Sterling lives with his widowed father after his mother's death and his sisters' marriages. During World War I Sterling's older brother serves and fights in Europe. Along with the rest of the town, Sterling helps with the war effort but misses and worries for his brother.
     Rascal and Sterling adventure through their Wisconsin town participating in everything from pie eating contest and fishing. The raccoon is charming and curious, but like other wild creatures Rascal has no boundaries. After several unexpected incidents Sterling is forced to allow Rascal to return to the wilderness.
     Following Rascal's first year and Sterling's adventures through their small town, Rascal looks at loss through embracing life. In autobiographical style, Sterling examines his past and the changing times he grew up in. Middle-grade readers will enjoy the raccoon's antics and easily follow North's narrative.