When Ratboy Lived Next Door

by Chris Woodworth

From the spring day in 1962 when Willis Merrill and his pet raccoon arrive in Maywood, Indiana, they are nothing but trouble for Lydia Carson. Lydia nicknames Willis "Ratboy" and wonders why he can't be more like his handsome older brother, Elliot. Life gets more complicated when Lydia alienates Elliot by insulting Willis and comes to a standoff with her mother. In her struggle to make amends with all, Lydia finds an ally in Willis and discovers the good in herself.

In her sharp, fresh voice, the author captures the flavor of a small town in Middle America and the hearts of its populace as she tells a powerful story about the resiliency - and flexibility -of family.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2005

About the author

CHRIS WOODWORTH’s debut novel, When Ratboy Lived Next Door, was hailed by School Library Journal as “an outstanding offering from a first-time author.” Her novel, Double-Click for Trouble, was selected as finalist for Best Book of Indiana–Children’s Literature and her book, Georgie's Moon, won Best Book of Indiana-Children's Literature. Her newest novel, Ivy in the Shadows, will be released in 2013. (All published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.)

Chris has lived in Indiana most of her life, recently moving to North Carolina. She is the mother of two children.

Reviews

[juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

rocco the raccoon carried

[Georgiagirl11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named Willis Merrill who is a new neighbor and he just moved in next door.But his next door neighboor,Lydia,thinks he is worst person ever!She hates willis merrill so much that she gave him a nickname,"Ratboy".As the summer weather starts fading away lydia realizes that something in "Ratboy's" house is going on,she just don't know what it is.But,as she's worrying about "Ratboy's"problems "Ratboy"finds something sneaky about lydia's house too,but he just don't know what it is.All in all lydia finds something good in herself and in "Ratboy".You have to read this book to find out more about this book.

[Virginia Brace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much more than the average middle grade novel about family, school and neighbors. I felt the characters were very realistic and sometimes hard to like. But Lydia learns some difficult things about her own family and her neighbors and they make her a better person. Would be a good book club book because there is a lot to talk about.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raccoon antics, permanents, outdoor movies,
applesauce cake, and trash talk. A great read!