The Mountain of Dempsey Molehill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Civics and chaos abound in humorous middle grade novel ‘The Mountain of Dempsey Molehill’

STREATOR, Illinois (Nov. 4, 2025) — Follow a chaotic year in the life of the Molehill family in Julie Stroebel Barichello’s new middle grade novel, “The Mountain of Dempsey Molehill.”

Barichello, of Streator, released the book through an independent imprint on Nov. 4.

The fictional community of Pickettstown is thrown into an uproar when a resident attempts to buck tradition and paint his house bright green. When tyrannical Mayor Jim Picketts tries to impose a strict law on how residents express themselves, underdog Harwood Molehill decides to challenge him in the upcoming mayoral election.

The story is narrated through the eyes of 12-year-old middle child Dempsey Molehill. Dempsey and his siblings — practically-an-adult Brom, responsible Tilly, pesky little brother Penn, and untamed kindergartner Bandi — want to help their dad’s cause and try to stay on their best behavior during his mayoral campaign. Unfortunately, whenever there’s a Molehill involved, there’s bound to be mischief. 

In the midst of their best efforts to behave, the Molehill kids trick a neighborhood bully into a muddy disaster, enlist the assistance of the town’s rumored “witch” to counter a priest’s anti-Halloween crusade, cause an accidental oven inferno in the name of science, and terrorize classmates with Scrap the one-eared cat. 

Barichello drew inspiration for the Molehill family from her parents’ childhood stories, which she grew up listening to around family bonfires. 

“Before I wrote the story of the Molehills, I listened to stories about the Stroebels,” Barichello said. “When I was a kid, my family had a tradition of storytelling around the fire or at family meals. A lot of those stories were about the antics of my dad, aunts and uncles when they were younger. They inspired some of the Molehill sibling mischief and shenanigans.”

The book is written toward a middle school audience of fifth through eighth graders, but the examination of small-town politics and life in a large, rowdy family will resonate with older readers as well, according to Barichello. 

Kirkus Reviews, an industry leader in book reviews since 1933, says “a sublime, charming cast enlivens this delightful tale of family and community.” BookLife Reviews through Publishers Weekly named “The Mountain of Dempsey Molehill” an Editor’s Pick.

For more information, visit www.juliestroebelbarichello.com.

# # # #

Links to reviews