Skunks,woodchucks,acrownamedPoe,anabsent-mindedfather,aneighteenfoot,half-finishedcanoeinthelivingroom—welcometotheNorthhome!Nothing'ssurprisingattheNorthresidence.Noteveneleven-year-oldSterling'snewpetraccoon.RascalisonlyababywhenyoungSterlingbringshimhometojoinhisunusualfamily.ThemischievousraccoonandSterlingarepartnersandbestfriendsforaperfectyearofadventure—swimming,fishing,exploringthecountrysidetogether—untilthespringdaywheneverythingsuddenlychangesandSterlingrealizeshemustletRascalgo.Thisheartwarminganddelightfulmemoirofaboy'sfriendshipwithawildanimal,andhisgrowingawarenessoftheworldaroundhim,hasbecomeatreasuredclassic.Rascalhastakenhisplaceamongliterature'smostcaptivatingandendearinganimals.TheauthorrecallshiscarefreelifeinasmallmidwesterntownatthecloseofWorldWarI,andhisadventureswithhispetraccoon,Rascal.