Squirrels in the Wall: A Novel in Stories

by Henry Hitz

Overview

Squirrels in the Wall—a novel told in stories by a collection of interspecies voices—presents a unique and darkly hilarious blend of human and animal perspectives in a single setting on a Wisconsin lake. The stories provide a kaleidoscope of heartbreak among both human and animal characters as they confront abuse and death.

“They call me Herziger, but my real name is Woof,” one of the stories opens. “They call me a dachshund, but in reality, I am just a dog. I live with my mother among a pack of wild humans in a big house on a lake.” In the second story, “Squirrels in the Wall,” Herzie’s “human,” Barney Blatz, experiences a fire in that house when he is just four. The stories follow Barney from infancy to death, tracing the epic, ongoing conflict between him and Father—a bumbling tyrant guilty of shocking abuse but also capable of poignant redemption.

On this rollicking journey, we meet a suicidal toad, a cat, two mice, a bee, Grandfather’s ghost, and a turtle who possesses Barney in a climactic tale of environmental activism gone awry. Other stories reflect the points of view of Barney’s mother, sister, and older brother; together, they construct a collage of spectacular family dysfunction—and of healing love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684630226
Publisher:	SparkPress
Publication date:	10/29/2019
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Editorial Reviews

2021 American Fiction Awards Finalist in Literary Fiction

“My mind is BLOWN. Hitz has exposed and bared his soul, poured his guts out, expounded on every profound question surrounding the mysteries of life, time, space, eternity, death . . . and offered meaningful solutions.”
 —Will Wright, author of The Poetry of Living 

“Squirrels in the Wall is a unique collection of interwoven stories that explore the interactions between humans and animals in a single habitat. The stories range from hilarious to poignant. Henry Hitz’s sensitive portrayal of both humans and animals reminds us of the interconnectivity of nature. The narrative arc of the stories follow a human protagonist and his family, from infancy to old age, from heartbreak to reconciliation. Hitz displays a unique creativity with point of view to compose both a symphony and a cacophony of voices. A rollicking good read.” 

 —Alon Shalev, author of 2013 Eric Hoffer YA Book Award winner At the Walls of Galbrieth

“Henry Hitz laces this riveting, thought-provoking journey, Squirrels in the Wall, with dollops of juicy humor. Dogs, bees, a fox, humans, turtles, and other assorted critters—both dead and alive—all ponder, question, and wonder about that line blurring life and death. ‘Life is death's dream?’ Under the masterful hand of Mr. Hitz, we are in for a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read.” 

 —Francine Thomas Howard, author of two Amazon bestsellers: Page from a Tennessee Journal and The Duke of Union County

“Squirrels in the Wall is a compelling read filled with humor and pathos . . . as morbid as some of the subject matter sounds, Hitz has the skill to tell the stories in a moving but humorous way, so they never seem too heavy.” 

 — Terry Tierney, author of The Poet’s Garage

From the Publisher

2019-09-26
Hitz (White Knight, 2016) explores themes of childhood and family in stories of a lake and the creatures who live around it in this linked collection.In these tales, set around the edge of Wisconsin's Pike Lake, all manner of animals—including a few humans—learn about the world and one another through confusing, sometimes-fearful interactions. In "Frank and Stein," a young field mouse gets caught in a trap while searching for food and finds herself caged up with a brainwashed lab mouse; both are now the pets of an 8-year-old boy who enjoys destroying stuffed animals. In "Life Cycle of a Toad," a curious toad—a singer of melancholy songs—discovers a "green earthen lake" at the edge of the forest only to be captured by a monster. The ghost of a doctor/sculptor/inventor in "Death Masks" continues to haunt his old studio, where his grandson and namesake frequently goes to vent his frustrations about his father—the ghost's son. The boy at the center of all of these stories is Barney Blatz,an emotional child who collects animals and throws temper tantrums. The chorus of witnesses who track his growth from boyhood to manhood on the shores of Pike Lake include Barney's dog, Herzie; his brother, Charlie; and his sister, Pookie. Hitz employs a simple but descriptive prose style that captures his human and animal characters' simplified worldviews: "Was he the only toad in the world? Perhaps the toad-eaters had gone on a rampage over the winter and eaten every toad but himself....What good was it to be alive if no one else was?" Not every story lands, and some conceits work better than others. However, the cumulative effect of the tales is fairly powerful. The many different perspectives present a view of boyhood that's alternately destructive and innocent. Even more notably, the book reveals the obvious and hidden ways that one is shaped by one's environment.

An imaginative coming-of-age narrative that explores the natural world.

Kirkus Reviews