Reviewed by Tim Hörmann and Luke Mercer

Summary Thelonious is a little chipmunk who lives in a world of speaking animals. When his tree is caught in a river an adventure begins. He comes to a city called the City of Ruins. There he meets a porcupine, a lizard and a bear who all become friends. They overcome dangers and have big adventures.

Main Characters  Thelonious (chipmunk)  Bill (human)  Fitzgerald (porcupine)  Olive (bear)  Brown (lizard)  The Dragon Lady  Ratminks

The Story

Arrival in the City of ruins Thelonious is a male chipmunk who lives in a tree at the edge of a river. He is one of the few animals that believe in the existence of humans. In his home he even has a picture postcard of the City of Ruins. When his tree falls in the water, the river carries him to the sea shore where the City of Ruins is. First he sees a bear that wears clothes from the distance. Then he meets a lizard, named Brown, that wants to take him to the Dragon Lady and trade him in for a Rubin. But Thelonious is able to escape and meets Fitzgerald, a porcupine. Thelonious and Fitzgerald eat food together from cans that proved human existence. On the next day Fitzgerald gives Thelonious a yellow-black sweater from a Barbie toy and go to Fitzgerald's friend. There they learn about the Flying Bear and are told where this bear lives.

Meeting Olive They decide to visit the Flying Bear. When they meet the bear they find out that her name is Olive and she tells them how she arrived at the City of Ruins. “I had two elder sisters at home. When my oldest sister became old enough to find a male partner bear my parents told her a secret path to take so she could avoid the poisonous fog. She left home but never returned. The same happened to my other sister. She was told the way and left but did not return either. So I built an airplane to fly over the fog, because I was not told the secret passage. While flying I hit a storm and crashed near the City of Ruins.” Hence all three go to Fitzgerald's home where previously Thelonious had found the diary of one of Olive’s older sisters. In the diary it says: “I was caught by the Dragon Lady and bitten to death.” Suddenly Brown arrives and gives them a letter from him that the Dragon Lady and the Ratminks intend to attack tonight and attempt to destroy Olive’s machine.

The Flying Machine They return to Olive’s home where she shows Fitzgerald and Thelonious the Flying Machine she built. Thelonious asks if Olive could fly him back to the Untamed Forest, before Fitzgerald and Olive go Fog Mound. Thelonious takes a few souvenirs with him: a label of a can, a bracelet for his mother and a small blanket. They also want to use the two maps that they found in the Olive’s sister’s diary to help them finding their way back and walking through the labyrinth of Fog Mound. Suddenly the Dragon Lady and the Ratminks are attacking them. They manage to escape with the Flying Machine but leaving the two valuable maps behind. Brown, the lizard, smuggles himself in the plane as well. They find the way to the Untamed Forest. Thelonious meets his family and presents the souvenirs from the City of Ruins: the blanket, the labels and the bracelet. He decides to join his friends on their journey to Fog Mound.

The Entry to Fog Mound Shortly before Fog Mound birds end their flight, when they come to close to their bird nest. After they crash they start a fire and get some sleep. The next day they decide to find the secret way to Fog Mound without Olive’s sisters maps. First they look for a Bear rock, but then a bare rock. They find the bare rock. When Olive puts her claw into a rock opening the rock slides to the side. Hence they go inside, find a glowing rock that they use as a lantern and continue until the tunnel ends. Thelonious remembers that it said on the map: “Mushroom entrance”, so they are looking for a mushroom in the dark tunnel. When they find it and pull it, another door opens. Next Thelonious remembers the waterfall entrance, which they find behind the curtain of falling water. Now they enter the labyrinth. Quickly they are drawn in the first fog pit but are able to escape from it again.

The Labyrinth The fog smelled like Carmel remembers Brown afterwards. They also note that the fog did not harm a reptile like Brown. Then they have the idea that Brown shall navigate them through the labyrinth. They chop off a piece of the glowing rock using one of Brown’s diamonds that he had gotten from the Dragon Lady before. Now Brown goes ahead and is able to warn them of fog pits and other dangers. Finally Brown finds a refrigerator with a frozen scientist inside, whose name is Bill. They thaw the scientist who comes alive again and manages to find the exit from the labyrinth to Fog Mound. Now the bear can guide them the way to her parents who are delighted to see Olive and the others. THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!