Did you know that girl mice wear dainty dresses? Or that boy mice are super messy? Come to think of it, the girl humans in Secrets at Sea are pretty dainty, too—and the boy humans can definitely make a mess. There were certain—and rather rigid—expectations for boys and girls in the 1800s, and the mice and humans in this book are no exception. For instance, Helena presumes that all boys are wild, like her little bro, and Louise tries to act pretty and girly like Camilla, her favorite human. It can be a big challenge trying to fit these molds, and our characters experience ups and downs along the way.
Questions About Gender
- What qualities define being a girl in this book? What about boys? Are boys and girls defined differently for humans versus mice?
- According to the book, are ladies and gents super similar? Or are they pretty different? How so?
- What assumptions do the characters make based on gender? Are there any characters that avoid making assumptions or believing stereotypes altogether?
Chew on This
Secrets at Sea argues that girl mice are meant to act like dainty ladies, while boys are supposed to be messy. In this book, girls and boys are very different.
Secrets at Sea argues that girl and boy mice come in all different types, and that's a good thing. In this book, girls and boys have a lot in common.