The Brown Mouse

"The Brown Mouse" by Herbert Quick is about Jim Irwin, a simple farm worker, who has big dreams when he unexpectedly becomes a schoolteacher. The story, set in old rural America, is about class differences and chasing after a better life. The story starts with Jim and a farmer's daughter named Jennie, but she doesn't think much of him. Her comments push Jim to question his life and seek the role as a schoolteacher. The novel introduces Jim’s struggle between what is expected of him and what he wants, and how he feels about Jennie. It also hints at how society limits people in the countryside, promising changes for Jim and the town as they deal with difficult relationships and dreams.