Sterling's Rascal

In 1963, Sterling North published his most renowned novel, a memoir remembering a year of his childhood spent with his pet raccoon, Rascal. Rascal has received many prestigious awards, one of the many being the Newbery Honor and the Dutton Animal Book award.Throughout the book, Sterling and Rascal embark on many adventures whether it's to Lake Koshkonog with Sterling's father to see birds or to Sterling's school for a lesson on raccoon's or in the backyard locked in Rascal's cage. Although all these moments and more are humorous and bring readers content, the most significant part of the book for me is at the end of the book when Rascal leaves to find his female companion. This scene is emotional for Sterling as he is losing his best friend, but I believe that this scene truly evokes the theme of loss and transcendence seen throughout the book. There are other lighter themes in the book as well such as true friendship, but I think that as loss is inevitable, it is a more important and valuable theme. Despite Sterling's losses of his mother's death, his siblings absence; particularly his brothers', and even his father's company when he is working, he overcomes it all and does the same when Rascal leaves him as well.
Thus, Sterling kept his memories but, let go of his best friend, for Rascal’s happiness. This selfless act of loving someone or something and letting them go because they can do better, is very painful but also, very