Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley

PERESTROIKA IN PARIS by Jane Smiley is her 31^st book, but the first with talking animals.  Smiley explains that she has been thinking about this novel for close to a decade and hopes it offers “a distraction” to all the stress of 2020. A light and easy read, the story begins with a three-year-old filly named Perestroika (or Paras for short) having just won a race.  Ever curious, she manages to open her stall and ambles off to explore a nearby park.  There she meets a cast of animal characters (a pointer dog named Frida, a talkative raven and two mallards) who develop affection and concern for each other.  Helpful, generous humans provide food and eventually Paras is befriended by young Etienne, an eight-year-old orphan who cares for his grandmother in an old house in Paris. Frankly, there does not appear to be a great deal happening in the story; instead, the entertainment comes from wry observations, a growing sense of belonging, and the lingering worry of discovery. Described in various reviews as a wistful charmer, whimsical, heartwarming, and comforting, PERESTROIKA IN PARIS received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal.