Chester, the cricket, develops Stockholm syndrome and excepts his life as a pet in a gilded cage and learns to pay for his mulberry leaves and crumbs, becoming a New York musical sensation along the way. Along the pages, Chester is also befriended by a mouse and cat, and no one devours the other.

All good things must come to an end, even strange Narnia Utopian tales, where meat falls magically from a passer-by's hero sub and cats are vegans. You might think here comes an Ole Yeller ending. Get the tissues ready and prepare a deep existential discussion. But no, Chester decides he has had enough of his closet-sized apartment life in the big city, and it is time to head back to the sticks, where the now famous musician insect can rediscover his roots. Chester jumps a commuter train, among the suits, and heads back to Connecticut, with a vague promise to visit his city friends.

Not much happens in Cricket in Time Square, but it is a pretty easy and short read, with nothing much to call offence too, and a alternative to the much-used Charlotte's Web. Charlotte's Web is better, but you can avoid the death element with CTC. You got a week or two to give to a novel study for ages anywhere between grade 2 and 5, it is suited to be read out loud or independent. It might also be fun for the insect enthusiasts and theme-link to science or music.

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