Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
By age 11, Abby Coogan has lost interest in her old dollhouse. During her quest to turn her family's backyard into a wildlife habitat, she decides to turn the dollhouse into a mouse house.
We have to admit that sounds like an upgrade from Crash's gym bag, where at least one local rodent has taken up residence.
What's interesting about Abby's mouse house is the way it takes two things we associate with traditional gender roles for girls—dollhouses and domesticity (i.e., homemaking)—and turns them on their head. Abby has zero interest in dolls so far as we know, but helping mice find shelter? That's 100 percent relevant to her interests.
You go, girl.