51 pages 1 hour read

James Patterson

Word of Mouse

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2016

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Symbols & Motifs

Food

Throughout Isaiah’s story, food represents survival and bonding between individuals and, as such, ties into The Power of Friendship and Community. When he is by himself, Isaiah does not have much luck getting food. He finds a trash can with discarded food he can eat, but is forced to leave when a gang of rats arrives to take it. The food raids he participates in at the Brophy house show how food acquisition is a communal effort for the mice. For Isaiah, these nightly food runs are not just about satiating his hunger, but about bonding with the mischief. He demonstrates his intelligence and planning by coming up with ways to help them, such as using napkins to carry more food, and trigging the traps with acorns to provide the mice with safety.

His attempts to impress Mikayla always involve food on the raids, usually in the form of desserts such as the cream horn. Food also represents compassion. Mikayla’s initial offer to bring Isaiah into her mischief is tied to food. As she tells him: “We always have plenty of food. It’s good stuff, too. And we don’t mind sharing” (57)

blurred text

blurred text

Related Titles

By James Patterson

Study Guide

logo

1st to Die

James Patterson

1st to Die

James Patterson

Plot Summary

logo

Alex Cross

James Patterson

Alex Cross

James Patterson

Study Guide

logo

Ali Cross

James Patterson

Ali Cross

James Patterson

Study Guide

logo

Along Came a Spider

James Patterson

Along Came a Spider

James Patterson

Plot Summary

logo

Ambush

James O. Born, James Patterson

Ambush

James O. Born, James Patterson

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

logo

Becoming Muhammad Ali

James Patterson, Kwame Alexander

Becoming Muhammad Ali

James Patterson, Kwame Alexander

Study Guide

logo

Cross Down

James Patterson

Cross Down

James Patterson

Study Guide

logo

Eruption

Michael Crichton, James Patterson

Eruption

Michael Crichton, James Patterson

Plot Summary

logo

Four Blind Mice

James Patterson

Four Blind Mice

James Patterson

Study Guide

logo

Holmes, Marple & Poe

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Holmes, Marple & Poe: The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Study Guide

logo

I Funny

James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein

I Funny: A Middle School Story

James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein

Plot Summary

logo

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

James Patterson

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

James Patterson

Study Guide

logo

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

Chris Tebbetts, James Patterson, Illustr. Laura Park

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

Chris Tebbetts, James Patterson, Illustr. Laura Park

Plot Summary

logo

Nevermore

James Patterson

Nevermore

James Patterson

Plot Summary

logo

Roses Are Red

James Patterson

Roses Are Red

James Patterson

Plot Summary

logo

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson

Plot Summary

logo

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

Plot Summary

logo

The Big Bad Wolf

James Patterson

The Big Bad Wolf

James Patterson

Study Guide

logo

The House of Wolves

James Patterson, Mike Lupica

The House of Wolves

James Patterson, Mike Lupica