On one level, Rascal is a simple story about a boy and his pet. The story's primary appeal lies in its realistic depiction of the relationship between Sterling and Rascal, his pet raccoon. In the literary tradition of Julie of the Wolves, The Yearling, and Incident at Hawk's Hill, North's narrative presents a child and an animal who, because they both lack a conventional family structure, become family to one another. Rascal lives in relative isolation from raccoons and other wildlife, and Sterling is raised, without a mother, by an often preoccupied father. In the course of a year, these two characters share affection, adversity, and adventure, and North's description of their experiences together emphasizes Sterling's growing awareness of the world around him. Through his relationship with Rascal, Sterling learns to defend his beliefs and to accept inevitable change. North explores the classic theme of man...