Ralph, named Ralph S. Mouse by Ryan, is a mouse and the protagonist of the novel. He lives in the Mountain View Inn under an old grandfather clock. Ralph isn’t like other mice. He spends his nights racing through the halls of the inn on his tiny red motorcycle, a gift from a child named Keith. Ralph is also unique in that he can talk to lonely children and the inn’s caretaker, Matt: “Ralph […] had listened to so many children and watched so much television that he had learned to talk” (13). Ralph embarks on a journey of self-discovery and exploration as he bravely leaves the inn to help his relatives escape capture and help his friend Matt keep his job. In the human world, Ralph faces physical challenges that force him to rely on his animal instincts to survive but also use his human-like creativity to solve problems.

Ralph’s challenges extend beyond the physical, however, as he wrestles with guilt and searches for his identity. Ralph defies mouse conventions through his behavior but he also displays human-like qualities such as intense emotions, a yearning for meaning, and empathy. As Ralph hides in Ryan’s pocket, he endures an intensely emotional journey: “Deep inside the parka pocket, Ralph felt sad, brave, and noble, frightened and bewildered” (44).