Book review - Ratty

 

Title: Ratty

Author: Suzanne Selfors

Genre: magical realism

Similar books: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

                      The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling

Rating: 

better than I expected

Summary (provided by publisher): Ratty Barclay wasn't supposed to be born a four-foot-tall, walking, talking rodent, but thanks to the Barclay family curse, he's had to live in hiding from the rest of the world. All he wants for his thirteenth birthday is to return to his family's abandoned estate on Fairweather Island to somehow break the curse. Then he'll finally get to live his life as a four-foot-tall, walking, talking, human boy.

Edweena Gup, the granddaughter of the Barclays' groundskeeper, has dedicated her life to being a Rat-Catcher Extraordinaire like her great-great-great grandmother before her. It doesn't matter that Fairweather Island has been rat-free for over a hundred years—she's determined to make sure everyone is prepared for their imminent return. And when she spots a human-sized rat lurking on the Barclay grounds, her worst fears are confirmed.

Though it seems like Ratty and Edweena are destined to be enemies, they have a lot in common—they're both lonely and misunderstood. But will they be able to overcome their fears of each other and maybe even become . . . friends?

My opinion: The concept here sounds a bit strange and we quickly develop expectations for the direction of the plot. In some ways it matches those expectations but there are enough variations to make it surprising and pleasant. The pacing is strong, moving the action rapidly while leaving just enough space for reflection to allow the characters to have some depth. Ultimately, this is a pleasant read with enough depth to satisfy a young reader.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley