The thing about raccoons, and maybe especially raccoons in big cities like Toronto, is that there’s nothing simple about them. They are part of our streets and communities, yet we treat them as though they don’t belong. They hang out not just in trees but also on our porches and in our garages. We think they’re adorable until they expertly pry open our green bins. We chase them out of our yards but only after we snap a photo for Instagram.
As a fiction author who has written several books on the experience of being an outsider, including one starring a raccoon, I recognized Vivek Shraya’s protagonists in Revenge of the Raccoons as kindred spirits right away. The children’s book, published in October, captures Shraya’s fascination for the creatures as well as their complicated relationship with humans. Set in Toronto, it’s a story about neighbours, outsiders, and fences, about who belongs and who was here first.
