The Borrowers Avenged facts for kids
First UK edition
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| Author | Mary Norton |
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| Illustrator |
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| Country | United Kingdom and US |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Borrowers |
| Genre | Fantasy children's novel |
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Publication date
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November 1982 |
| Pages | 284pp (UK); 298pp (US) |
| ISBN | 0722658044 |
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| Preceded by | The Borrowers Aloft |
The Borrowers Avenged is a fantasy novel for children written by Mary Norton. It was published in 1982. This book is the fifth and final story in The Borrowers series, which began in 1952 with the book The Borrowers.
The Borrowers Avenged was written over 20 years after the previous book, The Borrowers Aloft (1961). It is much longer than the other books in the series, with almost 300 pages. Pauline Baynes drew the pictures for the UK edition, and Beth and Joe Krush continued to be the illustrators for the US edition.
Critics liked the book a lot. New York magazine said it was a "well-drawn portrait" and "wittily told." Country Life magazine called it "a modern classic in the making."
Story Summary
The Borrowers Avenged tells what happens after the tiny Clock family escapes from the attic. They were living there with the tricky humans, Mr and Mrs Platter. Now, the Clocks need to find a new home.
After going back to the Little Fordham model village, the Clock family gets into Spiller's boat. They plan to travel to their new home, which is the rectory of the local church. They travel down the river at night. They just barely avoid the Platters, who are still looking for them.
When they arrive at the rectory, they find out that their relatives are living in the church next door. These relatives are Lupy, Hendreary, and Timmus. Arrietty also meets another Borrower named Peagreen Overmantel. He shows them a good place to live under a window seat.
The Clock family settles into their new home. Arrietty is allowed to go outside and "borrow" things for both Borrower families. She discovers that her human friend, Miss Menzies, visits the church to arrange flowers. However, Arrietty is told not to speak to her.
Meanwhile, the Platters had damaged the model village while searching for the Borrowers. They decide to use one of Homily's old aprons to help Lady Mullings find the Borrowers. Lady Mullings is a local "finder" who claims she can find lost things. Miss Menzies recognizes the apron and becomes suspicious.
The Platters then spot Timmus in the church. They break into the church after hours to try and catch him. But they accidentally ring the church bells! This causes the humans to catch them in a very suspicious situation.
Main Characters
Here are some of the characters you will meet in the book:
The Borrowers (Little People)
- Arrietty Clock – She is a brave and independent fourteen-year-old girl. Arrietty loves being outdoors and enjoys talking to humans.
- Pod Clock – He is Arrietty's father. Pod is a shoemaker and very skilled at "borrowing" things.
- Homily Clock – She is Pod's wife and Arrietty's mother. Homily is less adventurous than her husband and daughter.
- Hendreary – He is Homily's older brother and Arrietty's uncle. Hendreary often suffers from gout, which is a painful foot condition.
- Lupy – She is Hendreary's wife. Lupy has become very religious from living in the church.
- Timmus – He is an adventurous little boy. Timmus loves to climb around inside the church.
- Peagreen Overmantel – He is a poetic and artistic Borrower. Peagreen is lame because he fell off a fireplace mantel. He has lived in the rectory his whole life.
- Spiller – He is an outdoorsy Borrower who prefers to be alone. Spiller is very good with a short-bow and arrow.
The Big People (Humans)
- Mr Platter – He is a greedy builder and undertaker. Mr Platter is determined to get rich by showing off the Clock family.
- Mrs Platter – She is Mr Platter's wife. Mrs Platter often worries about getting caught by the police.
- Miss Menzies – She is Arrietty's kind and caring human friend.
- Lady Mullings – She is the village "finder." Lady Mullings claims she can find lost people and objects using a special "sixth sense."
