My first impression of Squirrels in the Wall was that it would be bizarre and cringeworthy, that the tales would be long and it would be difficult to get through. However, I found it was quite the contrary. The chapters, each comprising a different story, are relatively short and told in no particular order.

It’s told as a series of stories about a family that lives in a house on a lake in Wisconsin. It ranges from stories about the family, told from the perspectives of one of the children to stories about a particular group of animals living on the lake, in no obvious order. My favorite story followed Barney, a 10-year-old boy, and a bee known as Z-z-z, and it alternated perspectives between Z-z-z and Barney as Barney steals honeycomb from the hive and Z-z-z fights to protect her home.

I found Squirrels in the Wall quirky, hilarious, and imaginative. It’s the perfect choice for someone looking for something a little different. But fair warning, it’s not for the faint of heart and if you are squeamish, maybe skip this one.