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Ratscalibur
The New York Times bestselling author of I Am A Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President reinvents the Excalibur legend—with rats!
When Joey is bitten by an elderly rat, he goes from aspiring seventh-grader to three-inch tall rodent.
At first, Joey is amazed by his new rat self. The city streets call to him at night. Smells that would have repelled him before are suddenly tantalizing. (A chicken bone? Yes! A squashed cockroach? Like perfume!) And wow, the freedom! But when a bout of hunger leads Joey to pull the spork from the scone, he finds himself at the center of a longtime rat prophecy.
Joey has unwittingly unlocked the sword Ratscalibur; and now, it is up to him to protect his new rat friends from the evil crows who seek to destroy their peaceful kingdom. But what does an eleven-year-old know about actual swordplay? And what happens when Joey no longer wants to be a rat?
When Joey is bitten by an elderly rat, he goes from aspiring seventh-grader to three-inch tall rodent.
At first, Joey is amazed by his new rat self. The city streets call to him at night. Smells that would have repelled him before are suddenly tantalizing. (A chicken bone? Yes! A squashed cockroach? Like perfume!) And wow, the freedom! But when a bout of hunger leads Joey to pull the spork from the scone, he finds himself at the center of a longtime rat prophecy.
Joey has unwittingly unlocked the sword Ratscalibur; and now, it is up to him to protect his new rat friends from the evil crows who seek to destroy their peaceful kingdom. But what does an eleven-year-old know about actual swordplay? And what happens when Joey no longer wants to be a rat?
192 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2015
24 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lieb
7 books41 followersJosh Lieb is an Emmy-winning Executive Producer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and has worked on such shows as The Simpsons and NewsRadio.
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President is his first novel. He lives in New York with his wife and family.
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President is his first novel. He lives in New York with his wife and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
September 1, 2018
When Joey is bit by a rat that is dying and becomes one, he must go find King Uther where the rats live at to tell him that his ragician Gondorff the Gray has failed. It is only when he pulls a spork from a scone, that everyone thinks he is the prophesized hero who is to save the rats from the evil Salaman. Is Joey a hero? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good fantasy middle grade novel and sword in the stone retelling. If you like animal stories, definitely check this book out at your local library and wherever books are sold.
This was a pretty good fantasy middle grade novel and sword in the stone retelling. If you like animal stories, definitely check this book out at your local library and wherever books are sold.
October 1, 2024
This was a really cute, first fantasy action book to read with my 8 year old. Lots of references and nods to classic fantasy like LOTR etc to keep parents interested while we read together.
June 9, 2015
I need half stars!! (4.5, to be precise!)
Joey the human is turned into a rat by Gondorff the Grey, and proceeds to pull the spork from the scone, wielding Ratscalibur like a pro and signalling the salvation of Ravalon!
We all know I like books about mice. This is fact. Ignoring that fact, this book is hilarious. Very nearly every page turn refreshes the laughter. It is cheesy humor that tends to suit the pun-inclined, it is typical male-chosen-one-based-on-epic-fantasy (and especially Arthurian legend)...but it is also amazing. Next to Robin Hood, the King Arthur tales were my favorites when I was young and the treatment is so completely irreverent, it is perfect. Bonus points for a powerful princess(even if she is unconscious a lot).
I also very much like the cover and interior illustrations.
My one sticking point: I really dislike how Parsifur is constantly making fat jokes at Brutilda. It's not necessary (she's a guinea pig, of course she's bigger than a mouse/rat) and rather Jaime Lannister--Brienne of Tarth-esque - which I really hope the age group this is recommended for does NOT get. Instead, since Parsifur isn't ever reprimanded for it, it's more likely that they'll get it's okay to mock people for their size..and by people, we mean girls, because Patrick is never called out for his hulk.
So while I would still definitely recommend this book, I think Parsifur's character would/should be addressed in discussion.
Joey the human is turned into a rat by Gondorff the Grey, and proceeds to pull the spork from the scone, wielding Ratscalibur like a pro and signalling the salvation of Ravalon!
We all know I like books about mice. This is fact. Ignoring that fact, this book is hilarious. Very nearly every page turn refreshes the laughter. It is cheesy humor that tends to suit the pun-inclined, it is typical male-chosen-one-based-on-epic-fantasy (and especially Arthurian legend)...but it is also amazing. Next to Robin Hood, the King Arthur tales were my favorites when I was young and the treatment is so completely irreverent, it is perfect. Bonus points for a powerful princess(even if she is unconscious a lot).
I also very much like the cover and interior illustrations.
My one sticking point: I really dislike how Parsifur is constantly making fat jokes at Brutilda. It's not necessary (she's a guinea pig, of course she's bigger than a mouse/rat) and rather Jaime Lannister--Brienne of Tarth-esque - which I really hope the age group this is recommended for does NOT get. Instead, since Parsifur isn't ever reprimanded for it, it's more likely that they'll get it's okay to mock people for their size..and by people, we mean girls, because Patrick is never called out for his hulk.
So while I would still definitely recommend this book, I think Parsifur's character would/should be addressed in discussion.
May 23, 2021
A quirky but fun twist on a classic tale as a boy who struggles in his new home in the big city finds a surprise quest, thanks to his new pet rat. Putting a twist on the King Arthur tale with rats does seem odd, but it delivers a solid and well told tale. It definitely has “Tale of Desperaux” feels and a bit of “Stuart Little” in it. This rat “tail” isn’t over yet, as there’s still more of this story. B+ (83%/Very Good)
April 15, 2017
At times, the prose of this book positively sings, complemented by the evocative illustrations. It's got many likeable characters, and a somewhat innovative fantasy setting mixed with modern urban life. And I certainly wasn't bored while reading it (three days is fast to read a book for me.)
Books about small creatures having grand adventures has become of recent interest to me, having read Watership Down and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH last year, enjoying them thoroughly. Seeing this in a bookstore, a pun-laden pastiche of Arthurian legend mixed with the dangerous city, I couldn't resist.
But, let's call a spade a spade here: this is a slightly jokey fantasy, with a pun in its title, written by the showrunner of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. And, at times, it really shows.
Much about this book is beheld to genre convention, to its detriment. Though individual characters are compelling, the main players are pretty dull. Joey, the hero, hardly reacts to things except with bewilderment. The princess (whom I can't even remember the name of) is asleep half the time, and getting characters out of jams the rest of the time. She has little chance to develop a character, if indeed she has one. And the less said about the vizier, the better.
And though it has an occasional twist and welcome surprise, they're few and far between scenes of hard predictability. I'm not sure if that's a genre convention, or because the younger readers it's aimed at wouldn't mind, but I don't see why it has to be this way.
Sometimes, though, I wonder if the book purports to be more clever than it looks. There's a rat "wizard" named Gondorff the Grey. The parallel to Gandalf is obvious, but is the name also a reference to Henry Gondorff, the slick con man from that 1976 film, The Sting? There are a few moments like this, where I wasn't sure if the book was trying to pull a fast one on me.
And, as I said, in between its expected turns and milquetoast main players, the prose is tight, and the more fun supporting actors help carry it. If you're a young reader after some more off-kilter fantasy, or a fan of "rodent lit," it's recommended.
Books about small creatures having grand adventures has become of recent interest to me, having read Watership Down and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH last year, enjoying them thoroughly. Seeing this in a bookstore, a pun-laden pastiche of Arthurian legend mixed with the dangerous city, I couldn't resist.
But, let's call a spade a spade here: this is a slightly jokey fantasy, with a pun in its title, written by the showrunner of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. And, at times, it really shows.
Much about this book is beheld to genre convention, to its detriment. Though individual characters are compelling, the main players are pretty dull. Joey, the hero, hardly reacts to things except with bewilderment. The princess (whom I can't even remember the name of) is asleep half the time, and getting characters out of jams the rest of the time. She has little chance to develop a character, if indeed she has one. And the less said about the vizier, the better.
And though it has an occasional twist and welcome surprise, they're few and far between scenes of hard predictability. I'm not sure if that's a genre convention, or because the younger readers it's aimed at wouldn't mind, but I don't see why it has to be this way.
Sometimes, though, I wonder if the book purports to be more clever than it looks. There's a rat "wizard" named Gondorff the Grey. The parallel to Gandalf is obvious, but is the name also a reference to Henry Gondorff, the slick con man from that 1976 film, The Sting? There are a few moments like this, where I wasn't sure if the book was trying to pull a fast one on me.
And, as I said, in between its expected turns and milquetoast main players, the prose is tight, and the more fun supporting actors help carry it. If you're a young reader after some more off-kilter fantasy, or a fan of "rodent lit," it's recommended.
September 8, 2016
Joey moved to the city with his Mom when she found a better job so she could take care of him better. Joey didn't want to move to a big city but he went where his mother went. Her brother, Uncle Patrick came to visit and brought a present for Joey, a rat in a cage. As it turns out the rat could speak to Joey and was named Gondorff the Gray. Gondorff was a ragician which is a rats version of a magician. Gondorff's kingdom needed help and he asked Joey to volunteer to help. Joey agreed and before Joey knew what was happening, he was changed into a rat. All he had to do was visit King Uther and deliver a message. Not knowing where he was going, Joey realized his sense of smell would led him to the kingdom. On the way there were lots of dangers including a vicious cat. Luckily he made it to the kingdom and unknowingly took a spork out of a hardened biscuit. The spork had a name as well as special powers and had been stuck there waiting for the right rat to pull it out, much like the sword in the stone was for King Arthur. Now he ws put on a quest to save the kingdom by getting to Squirrelin who had Squagic, since Gondorff had died and couldn't help anymore. Joey went through battles and finally returned victorious after solving the vizier's attempt to poison and take the kingdom from King Uther. Uncle Patrick and his Mom both had changed into rats to help him during the story. Full of action in a new kingdom of animals with magic powers and an amusing adventure for all ages.
July 15, 2016
Lieb is a TV guy – he produces Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight show. So this is new territory for him, and I loved it. Ratscalibur is a kind of mashup of King Arthur Legends, LOTR, and Brian Jacques’ classic Redwall novels. Lots of action, lots of fun.
Joey turns into a rat after he is bitten by a talking one; he must deliver a message to the Rat King, and in so doing, he tangles with all sorts of predators – cats, crows, and wild rats. His weapon is Ratscalibur, a spork that has been stuck in a biscuit, until Joey comes along to pull it out.
Loved the b/W illustrations. The humanizing of rats was done well. The naming of one rat as Gondorf was a nice nod to Gandolf, and Salaman even appears. Every species has magic in some form, but their name for it reflect their species: Ragic/Ragicians, for example.
There’s a princess, and a weak king, and even a traitor in the midst of the rats.
This was a nice, quick read, and very great fun.
NOTE: This review will appear on my library's book review social media channel in the near future.
September 14, 2015
At only 171 pages long, Ratscalibur is a concise little fantasy novel, and although it is very formulaic, it’s still fun and goofy. It’s perfect for a reluctant reader that would like to be entertained by, and lost in some cinematic rat magic adventure.
While there are plenty of illustrations, I wish they would’ve been cleaned up much, much more, as it typically came off as too messy for me, anyway. Granted, I read the ARC, but having flipped through the finished copy, I don't think it was that different. With such stiff Middle Reader competition, you gots'ta pull out all the stops!
Buy it from Powell's.
While there are plenty of illustrations, I wish they would’ve been cleaned up much, much more, as it typically came off as too messy for me, anyway. Granted, I read the ARC, but having flipped through the finished copy, I don't think it was that different. With such stiff Middle Reader competition, you gots'ta pull out all the stops!
Buy it from Powell's.
March 15, 2016
I was highly entertained by this book! I enjoyed the sense of family, sticking up for friends, fighting for justice and standing up to bullies. I have to say, I am greatly enjoying this year's Bluebonnet nominees!
March 31, 2016
I normally do not like books with talking animals...but I thoroughly enjoyed this one! It is a quick read, and a good book for reluctant boy readers--lots of action. It reminded me of Suzanne Collin's series Gregor the Overlander.
April 8, 2016
I normally am not a fan of fantasy but I did like this one. I am always happy to find one that I can recommend to the reluctant fantasy readers like me. There were several times I giggled at the antics and dialogue. Very enjoyable.
August 24, 2016
I normally am not a fan of fantasy but I did like this one. I am always happy to find one that I can recommend to the reluctant fantasy readers like me. There were several times I giggled at the antics and dialogue. Very enjoyable.
July 11, 2018
This book was so much fun and it was over way before I was ready. I love love love that Ratscalibur is a spork and not a sword! Sporks Rule!!! I need to add this book to my library at home to share with others.
July 25, 2015
Una aventura divertida para los nuevos lectores, a la que no le falta algún que otro guiño para los no tan nuevos («I am Gondorff the Gray")
October 27, 2024
Ratscalibur
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.28/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.28/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
September 18, 2018
This is the story of Joey, who gets turned into a rat and becomes a reluctant hero when he pulls a spork from a scone. I liked the silly premise, and expected a playful light read. But the writing was mediocre, the similes and metaphors were uninspired, and there were too many places where I could not suspend disbelief. If the rats just talked and wore clothes and did magic, that would have been fine, but there is absolutely no reason for rats to be jousting with popsicle sticks. And using cats as steeds is just too far in the realm of fantasy. I don't care if you raised it from a kitten, the word "obey" is not in a cat's vocabulary. If a cat likes you, it might defend you, but it won't do work for you. It certainly won't tolerate being told when to go and when to stop, like a horse or a dog, or carry anything you strap to it, including strangers. Just no.
Then there is the issue of language. At the beginning, Joey met a rat who claimed to be a Ragician. He explained that Man does magic, and Rats do ragic. I rolled my eyes at that, but let it go. In chapter 11, the rats send Joey to a Squirrel who is a Squagician. He does Squagic. Oh, for the love of... I like silliness, but this is just... *shakes head*
Later, Joey fights with Ratscalibur (the spork) and the author describes him as slicing, hacking, and slashing. Um, it's a spork. It could stab, but it can't cut; a spork has no sharp edges. Then an enemy rat gets an arm around Joey's neck, and Joey hacks off his fingers... Would these be the fingers around Joey's neck? Hacking at something around one's own neck is a very awkward and difficult maneuver at best (think about the angle, the leverage needed, the balance of the weapon), but to slice the other guy's hand without slicing into your own neck or shoulder...I'm not sure that's even possible.
But I think what bugged me most is that people kept acting in ways that didn't make any sense. For example, when Joey finally gets changed back and goes home after having been missing for two days, his mom is so relieved, at first they just hug and feel grateful. Then she asks him where he's been; he says he can't tell her, and she just accepts that. I find that even more impossible than cat steeds. I don't care how grateful the mom is to have her kid back, she would want to know where the hell he's been, and every additional moment of ignorance would gnaw at her and drive her crazy. She needs an explanation, and she needs it NOW. If he can't tell her the truth, he needs to make up some plausible explanation, and should have had one ready the moment he walked through the door. And that's just one example out of many. Too many.
This book might be fun for young kids who aren't too concerned with things needing to make sense. Maybe kids around 4-6 years old, if an adult could read it to them without getting visibly annoyed.
Then there is the issue of language. At the beginning, Joey met a rat who claimed to be a Ragician. He explained that Man does magic, and Rats do ragic. I rolled my eyes at that, but let it go. In chapter 11, the rats send Joey to a Squirrel who is a Squagician. He does Squagic. Oh, for the love of... I like silliness, but this is just... *shakes head*
Later, Joey fights with Ratscalibur (the spork) and the author describes him as slicing, hacking, and slashing. Um, it's a spork. It could stab, but it can't cut; a spork has no sharp edges. Then an enemy rat gets an arm around Joey's neck, and Joey hacks off his fingers... Would these be the fingers around Joey's neck? Hacking at something around one's own neck is a very awkward and difficult maneuver at best (think about the angle, the leverage needed, the balance of the weapon), but to slice the other guy's hand without slicing into your own neck or shoulder...I'm not sure that's even possible.
But I think what bugged me most is that people kept acting in ways that didn't make any sense. For example, when Joey finally gets changed back and goes home after having been missing for two days, his mom is so relieved, at first they just hug and feel grateful. Then she asks him where he's been; he says he can't tell her, and she just accepts that. I find that even more impossible than cat steeds. I don't care how grateful the mom is to have her kid back, she would want to know where the hell he's been, and every additional moment of ignorance would gnaw at her and drive her crazy. She needs an explanation, and she needs it NOW. If he can't tell her the truth, he needs to make up some plausible explanation, and should have had one ready the moment he walked through the door. And that's just one example out of many. Too many.
This book might be fun for young kids who aren't too concerned with things needing to make sense. Maybe kids around 4-6 years old, if an adult could read it to them without getting visibly annoyed.
May 25, 2015
"The Spork in the Scone!" "He's drawn the Spork from the Scone!" And that's how Joey becomes a hero. Okay, maybe the explanation should start a little earlier than that event. Joey is a boy who has just moved into the city with his mother, because she is starting a new job. So far, he is not very impressed with the garbage on the sidewalks and the bars on the apartment windows. His Uncle Patrick comes to visit and brings Joey a pet rat. What they don't realize is that the rat is actually Gondorff the Gray, a powerful ragician who turns Joey into a rat and sends him on a mission.
It seems that -agic exists among many of the species on Earth. Mankind has magic and magicians. Rats have ragic and ragicians. Squirrels have squagic and squagicians. You get the idea. Gondorff sends Joey back to the kingdom of Ravalon with a message for King Uther that his quest to reach Squirrelin and ask for his aid against the evil Salaman has failed. And when Joey actually reaches the court, no one will listen to him until he draws Ratscalibur.
So, if you enjoy stories like Redwall, Warriors, or The Tale of Despereaux, or the idea of Camelot retold with rats sounds entertaining, then you should read this book. I had fun just looking for all the names from other famous stories that showed up in slightly different versions like Gondorff, Ratscalibur, Parsifur, etc. This is a great middle grades fantasy adventure with plenty of action, humor, and pizza crusts.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
It seems that -agic exists among many of the species on Earth. Mankind has magic and magicians. Rats have ragic and ragicians. Squirrels have squagic and squagicians. You get the idea. Gondorff sends Joey back to the kingdom of Ravalon with a message for King Uther that his quest to reach Squirrelin and ask for his aid against the evil Salaman has failed. And when Joey actually reaches the court, no one will listen to him until he draws Ratscalibur.
So, if you enjoy stories like Redwall, Warriors, or The Tale of Despereaux, or the idea of Camelot retold with rats sounds entertaining, then you should read this book. I had fun just looking for all the names from other famous stories that showed up in slightly different versions like Gondorff, Ratscalibur, Parsifur, etc. This is a great middle grades fantasy adventure with plenty of action, humor, and pizza crusts.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
March 30, 2018
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
Surprisingly, this is not the first rodent-based retelling of the whole Excalibur thing that I have read. A few years ago I read, the first book in the Mice of the Round Table series by Julie Leung, which stuck more closely to the original legends. However, I enjoyed this one more.
It is a fast-paced adventure story that is exciting and humorous. While Mice of the Round Table had kind of a dull, drawn-out beginning, this one jumps into things pretty quickly. This story doesn't really follow the myths and legends very much outside of the basic idea of Excalibur and some of the characters. But it is still a very fun read.
I love all the puns. I legit laughed about Ratscalibur, the Spork in the Scone. Hilarious. And Squirlin who does Squagic is just amazing (not entirely sure about the spelling of either of those since I read the audiobook). Very creative.
This is a unique story that seems to draw on a lot of other great material such as Lord of the Rings, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, and of course the premise of Excalibur.
I highly recommend the audiobook version. It's read by the author, Josh Lieb, who does an amazing job of making the already exciting text even more exciting.
A fun story that sets up well for a sequel. I really enjoyed this book.
Surprisingly, this is not the first rodent-based retelling of the whole Excalibur thing that I have read. A few years ago I read, the first book in the Mice of the Round Table series by Julie Leung, which stuck more closely to the original legends. However, I enjoyed this one more.
It is a fast-paced adventure story that is exciting and humorous. While Mice of the Round Table had kind of a dull, drawn-out beginning, this one jumps into things pretty quickly. This story doesn't really follow the myths and legends very much outside of the basic idea of Excalibur and some of the characters. But it is still a very fun read.
I love all the puns. I legit laughed about Ratscalibur, the Spork in the Scone. Hilarious. And Squirlin who does Squagic is just amazing (not entirely sure about the spelling of either of those since I read the audiobook). Very creative.
This is a unique story that seems to draw on a lot of other great material such as Lord of the Rings, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, and of course the premise of Excalibur.
I highly recommend the audiobook version. It's read by the author, Josh Lieb, who does an amazing job of making the already exciting text even more exciting.
A fun story that sets up well for a sequel. I really enjoyed this book.
July 6, 2015
I feel like this is definitely towards my pigeonholed readers. I'm not a big King Arthur/Merlin fan, BUT, I LOVED reading any type of animal stories based around the legends. This book was like a mismatch of those tales, Lord of the Rings, and every epic fantasy. It was super fun as an adult to smirk at all the play on words/names of characters and situations.
The graphics of the books helped tell the story and would definitely work to readers to connect with the story. I just felt overall, the story, was missing something? Maybe it was that they included the mom, who didn't feel a sense of panic that her son and brother were missing. I mean she was upset and the police came, but I felt her part was this weird out-of-body experience that really didn't add anything to the story. Maybe she'll join them on adventures later.
I also wasn't sure how I felt that the uncle-turned rat had a crush on the guinea pig---don't get me wrong IT WAS HILARIOUS AND CUTE----but I'm not sure how that's suppose to work out at the end of the series----but I guess if the movie Enchanted turned a book character human (and vice versa)---it will all work out.
The graphics of the books helped tell the story and would definitely work to readers to connect with the story. I just felt overall, the story, was missing something? Maybe it was that they included the mom, who didn't feel a sense of panic that her son and brother were missing. I mean she was upset and the police came, but I felt her part was this weird out-of-body experience that really didn't add anything to the story. Maybe she'll join them on adventures later.
I also wasn't sure how I felt that the uncle-turned rat had a crush on the guinea pig---don't get me wrong IT WAS HILARIOUS AND CUTE----but I'm not sure how that's suppose to work out at the end of the series----but I guess if the movie Enchanted turned a book character human (and vice versa)---it will all work out.
June 15, 2016
The story: Turned into a rat by Gondorff the Gray, Joey is then sent on a mission to find King Uther and tell him of Gondorff's failed quest. On his way to the throne room, Joey pulls the Spork from the Scone and suddenly finds himself the owner of Ratscalibur, prophesied to awaken and save the kingdom. But will he be able to battle traitors and the squirrel magician (Squirrelin, pronounced Merlin, of course) in order to restore the kingdom to the king and get himself turned back into a 7th grader again? The odds do not appear to be in his favor...
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult PG: GLBT content G; adult themes (kids disappearing from home) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: This one was really cute, with all its tie-ins to King Arthur and nods to the Lord of the Rings and other fantasy tropes. Brutilda, the huge guinea pig devoted to Princess Yislene, was a favorite, and there was just the right amount of fighting and biting to keep upper ES boys engaged. Plus, you have to give thumbs up to a book where a boy really loves his mom!
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult PG: GLBT content G; adult themes (kids disappearing from home) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: This one was really cute, with all its tie-ins to King Arthur and nods to the Lord of the Rings and other fantasy tropes. Brutilda, the huge guinea pig devoted to Princess Yislene, was a favorite, and there was just the right amount of fighting and biting to keep upper ES boys engaged. Plus, you have to give thumbs up to a book where a boy really loves his mom!
October 13, 2015
TCL CALL #: J LIEB J
Chris’s Rating: 4 Stars
When Joey is bitten by an old dying rat his uncle gives him for a pet (rally a Ragician named Gondorf), he is transformed into a rat and sent to convey a message to the king of the rats. Unfortunately he may not be admitted to see the king and who knows if there are other ragicians skilled enough to turn him back into a human. Then he pulls the Spork from the Scone, and is pushed into the role of hero. With a few new friends and some doubters, Joey goes forward to save the day, wondering if he will ever be a real hero…or if he will be able to tell his mom what has happened to him.
While Ratscalibur will be fairly predictable for those familiar with King Arthur and Lord of the Rings, the story itself is clever and full of laughs…quite literally. Joey is not a bold hero, but must rise to save the day with the magical weapon that has chosen him to protect rats everywhere from a tyrant. A great quick read, especially for those who love animal adventure stories, King Arthur and Lord of the Rings. Recommended for youth 9-12.
Chris’s Rating: 4 Stars
When Joey is bitten by an old dying rat his uncle gives him for a pet (rally a Ragician named Gondorf), he is transformed into a rat and sent to convey a message to the king of the rats. Unfortunately he may not be admitted to see the king and who knows if there are other ragicians skilled enough to turn him back into a human. Then he pulls the Spork from the Scone, and is pushed into the role of hero. With a few new friends and some doubters, Joey goes forward to save the day, wondering if he will ever be a real hero…or if he will be able to tell his mom what has happened to him.
While Ratscalibur will be fairly predictable for those familiar with King Arthur and Lord of the Rings, the story itself is clever and full of laughs…quite literally. Joey is not a bold hero, but must rise to save the day with the magical weapon that has chosen him to protect rats everywhere from a tyrant. A great quick read, especially for those who love animal adventure stories, King Arthur and Lord of the Rings. Recommended for youth 9-12.
October 27, 2015
When Joey moved to the big city, his uncle gives him a pet rat, but the rat turns out to be a “ratgician” named Gondorff who is fatally injured and magically transforms Joey into a rat, sending him on a quest to find King Uther and a squirrel who can save the kingdom of Avalon.
A nod to “The Once and Future King”, this short adventure uses the Excalibur tale to tell a modern story of rats vs. crows. There is a lot of allusion to classic literature that I think might be lost on the younger reader and that may make the reading cumbersome for them. But, the story is engaging and exciting, with good magic, bad magic (ragic, squagic, depends on your species) If the readers are a bit young for Redwall, this is a good intro to “Rodents with Swords” genre.
Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
A nod to “The Once and Future King”, this short adventure uses the Excalibur tale to tell a modern story of rats vs. crows. There is a lot of allusion to classic literature that I think might be lost on the younger reader and that may make the reading cumbersome for them. But, the story is engaging and exciting, with good magic, bad magic (ragic, squagic, depends on your species) If the readers are a bit young for Redwall, this is a good intro to “Rodents with Swords” genre.
Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
November 22, 2015
Think King Arthur but in rat size and you have the groundwork for "Ratscalibur". Joey has just moved with his mom into the big, bad city where he is given the gift of a pet rat. That is where the weirdness begins and soon Joey is transformed into a small rat who has the power to remove the spork from the scone and wields its strong power to save the kingdom from a horde of bad guys, including Viking rats and birds with big claws. This is pretty scary stuff for young Joey and his Uncle Patrick but like any good fairy tale they come through it standing a little taller and prouder. Of course, the gratitude of a beautiful princess rat helps too. Cute story that everyone can relate to with a smidgen of drama and high adventure.
April 26, 2015
I received this book free through Goodreads Giveaway. It's an advance readers copy, so it's possible there may be some minor changes between this and the final version. This was definitely a cute book. It does a good job getting into a rat's state of mind. The characters are well-developed, with distinct and strong personalities. The humour is done well, and there's plenty of tension, as well. The most interesting thing, I think, is how the writing doesn't really shy away from a certain level of gruesomeness in some of its descriptions. Lieb gets that kids are messed up, and he delights in writing descriptions that they'll find delightfully gross.
Definitely a good book.
Definitely a good book.
March 25, 2016
This is a cute adventure story, which, at times reminded me of a less-epic Redwall. It's chock-full of fantasy references that will be most evident to adults reading the books (Excalibur is actually a spork in a scone; there's a wizard rad named Gondorf the Grey; and the king is named Uther). Children will enjoy the fantastic adventure and the funny terminology (squagic is squirrel magic; ragic is rat magic), and adults will chuckle at the derivations from classic fantasy, including what I assume is an allusion to Theoden in LOTR (Uther as Theoden and his daughter as Eowyn). Derivative but charming.
September 2, 2016
This book is on the 2016-17 Texas Bluenbonnet Award nominee list, and deservedly so. Not since Cleary's The Mouse and the Motorcycle has mouse story been worthy of critical praise. A fun story for elementary aged chapter book readers, the book is a modern and younger take on The Legend of Excaliber. A young boy, just having moved to the big city (NYC) is bitten by a "ratgician"and turned into a mouse. His world changes and the adventure to save the mouse king for his new friends takes off from there. There's action, battles, betrayal and humor. There is even a cliffhanger at the end that tells me more is coming from our young hero.
May 13, 2015
Full of mystery and intrigue, fast paced with some gross descriptions and pics that boys will be sure to enjoy, open ending hints at more rat adventures to come. Don't want to give away a funny thing but the name of the hard as rock biscuit is a hoot! Don't have to be familiar with the Excalibur story to enjoy this one. Only complaint was the very small font - wondering if they are trying to keep the page count below 200? Funny lines on page 54: "Is this how it ends? Murdered in a basement? By a guinea pig?" LOL
December 16, 2015
This is a cute little book that would be perfect for kids about 8 to 11. It's an easy read and lots of fun characters that you really start to like. Joey has just had to move to the city with his mother and the city is a lot different and quite scary. He is bitten by a rat that big his Uncle Patrick brought him as a pet. That begins the adventure as he now has an assignment that turns into a quest to save a rat kingdom. The characters are fun and only a little weird, the squirrel was weird. But it was fun and fast to read full of friendship and loyality and heros.
March 24, 2016
Very cute book, I loved the play on the names of the rats and places, and enjoyed the homages paid to the Lord of the Rings and King Arthur's legend. I am somewhat disappointed that it will be a series because I think it would have been a fine stand alone book, and quite frankly, I am tired of having to read sequels of EVERYTHING! On the other hand, I am sure I will enjoy more work by this author. The book is a quick read, and very appropriate for younger children also (there is some blood and sword play).
June 2, 2016
Read this to my boys. My oldest son who has decided he is too cool to read loved this book. The first night we read a few chapters, he then snuck the book into his room and finished the book and still wanted to hear it again. He told me tonight after we finished it that it is his favorite book, he has read a lot of books so that is saying something. My youngest liked it except for the few bloody parts.
It was a very cute story with really great vocabulary. It is loosely based on King Arthur and Merlin. Now my youngest wants to learn more about them.
It was a very cute story with really great vocabulary. It is loosely based on King Arthur and Merlin. Now my youngest wants to learn more about them.
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