Square mile holding character from children's novel (4)

I believe the answer is:

emil

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'character from children's novel' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'square mile holding' is the wordplay.
'holding' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'EMIL' is hidden within 'square mile'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for emil that I've seen before include "German boy" , "French boy's name" , "- - Zatopek, Olympic runner" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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