Nathaniel is a fruit rat who has grown bored and angry with his redundant life. Even his wife Birgit has become annoyed because of his constant complaints. Nathaniel often reflects on his youth when he was adventurous and wistful but at the end of the day, all these realizations come back to the same point that what felt lively and lovely back then feels mundane and like a waste of time now. Life takes a significant turn for Nathaniel when he meets his old friend Mr. Leach, an old yet peculiar possum. In his discussions with Mr. Leach, Nathaniel begins to learn where the problem actually lies.

Nathaniel’s Got the Blues by David L. Heaney is a unique take on a horde of issues that humans, especially the youth, face these days. It follows Nathaniel on a journey through self-realization and extracting the true meaning of his life from Blue tunes. With Mr. Leach’s guidance, Nathaniel learns about the art of engagement while discovering a world that is full of complex problems, instances, and realities. His learnings help him clarify the unique relationship between melancholy and the meaning behind a life that is waiting to be extracted.

David L. Heaney has given a distinct twist to ordinary literature for young and adult readers who take interest in fantasy as well as thought-provoking narratives. He has crafted an engaging as well as a polarizing narrative through one of the most unlikely characters, a rat. Much like the movie Ratatouille, this tale that is laced with witticism and that features crisp and delectable prose will speak uniquely to the hearts of readers. It is essentially a journey through human life without a single human character and the deft use of anthropomorphism elevates the quality of the entertainment. It is a fable that explores human nature and emotion in a way that is intelligent and fascinating. A beautiful story about a character struggling to find meaning in difficult times and the role of a mentor in providing direction.