Rodent

by Lisa J. Lawrence

Just when Isabelle thinks her life can't get any worse, something happens to her at school that makes her wonder how she can continue to look after her younger siblings, Evan and Maisie, work at the local mini-mart and deal with her alcoholic mother. It's more than any sixteen-year-old should have to bear, but Isabelle can't think of a way out that won't hurt her brother and sister.
When Isabelle punches a girl at school, only one teacher sees past Isabelle's aggressive behavior. Challenged to participate in a group writing project, Isabelle tentatively connects with a boy named Will and discovers an interest in (and talent for) the only kind of drama she can control--the kind that happens on the page.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, High School

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 2016

About the author

I am a writer and teacher from Edmonton, Canada.

Reviews

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I was totally blown away by this debut.

I don't know how to make Rodent sound appealing. It's not beautifully-written fantasy or a heart-pounding thriller. How am I supposed to sell these kinds of books - the quieter but completely absorbing ones, the ones that are brutally honest and portray a real-life situation in such a way that I couldn't look away?

What I think made this novel so great was the tough-loving narrator. Isabelle is a sixteen year old living a nightmare - her mother is an alcoholic and she's struggling to take care of her two younger siblings.

My heart went out to Isabelle. Although she was fierce and self-dependent, she couldn't mask her desperation. I wanted to free her from having to take her siblings to school, make sure they got enough to eat, and save every penny from her part-time job so they wouldn't be kicked out on the streets.

How can I explain the whole sequence, how it all comes down to me? Picking up Evan, my job, babysitting Mom and getting her off to work. A careful line of dominoes, all depending on my push to carry it through.

The saddest part is that she never once relied on her mother. Her deadbeat mom, who drank and worked at a bar and brought new boyfriends home, was in no shape to raise three kids. Isabelle knew this and shouldered responsibilities she never should have had to worry about.

There is romance and drama and anguish. When the truth about Isabelle's living situation leaks out in school, Isabelle is mortified. I could feel her embarrassment. Yet there is a lingering sense of hope as one teacher places his faith in Isabelle and gives her a chance.

This was a great look at hardcore realism. Isabelle's situation saddened me because it's very real. There are kids all over the world who have no one to take care of them.

Isabelle was smart and hard-working and I'm glad she got the happy ending she deserved, but for so many others, this is not the case. This book opened my eyes a little more by shining light on the less fortunate.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great start to the year of 2017, I loved this book so much.

It was sad, but I enjoyed it because it touched on subjects that I don't usually read about. As I have mentioned before, I am in a book club called White Pine. This is one of the books that are in White Pine and I am glad I picked it up. To be honest, this year's book picks for White Pine sound awesome!

This is about a girl named Isabelle who lives in a family that isn't perfect. Her alcoholic mother is always passed out somewhere, her brother and sister are always left alone and Isabelle is the one who takes care of everyone. She has a horrible job and she needs to look after her whole family. She makes her brother and sister lunch, drops them off at school and then goes to school herself. Trying to balance her life with family and school problems, Isabelle struggles to make friends. When her family is forced to move again, she has another fresh start, but is it going to be the same or different?

I know I didn't do a good job with the summary, but that's because I wanted to gush about how good this book was. When I first started reading this book, I didn't know a lot about it. All I knew was that this book was sad and it has a lot of family problems. When I read this book, I started crying at parts where the character broke down. It was so sad to see her go through so much and she was such a nice person.


That's one of the reasons why I loved this book. I loved the main character so much, she is so easy to connect to. Isabelle is hilarious, strong and honest. She says exactly what she's thinking, without thinking about the consequences. Will is a sweet guy who will stick with you no matter what, he is such a nice guy. Jacquie is a great character, but at times I had to stop reading because of her decision making. My favourite character is Daimon, he's so funny and I love his pink streaks in his hair!


This book is fast-paced, I couldn't put the book down. Whenever I had to eat lunch or dinner, I had to stop and put everything aside just to read. If I was interrupted, I was so annoyed because I was immersed in Isabelle's character. The problems in this book were so important and I loved how the author dealt with it.

I think I'm going to have a hard time choosing my favourite book in White Pine, but I guess if I rea the other books, I'll know which book to pick. So far, I loved the two books so much and can't pick one over the other.


I highly recommend this book to everyone, it is amazing. I'll be off to read more, I don't want to fail my reading challenge this year!

[Kyla Spackman (ourbookworlds) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to have been given the opportunity to read and review Lisa Lawerence's book, and am thrilled to say i honestly loved every page! This book could have most definatly have past as any New York Times best seller and I won't have known the difference!

This book is about a girl named Isabelle who has grown up with an acholic mother and has the responsibility of taking care of her two younger siblings. She struggles as life is thrown at her again and again.

Plot - 20/20
Charaters - 17/20
Creativity - 16/20
Writing - 16/20
Pace - 10/10
Ending - 9/10
88/100 = A-
4.5/5 stars

I'm glad to say that there IS in fact a happy ending to this story! While reading Rodent, each page I turned it just seemed to get more, and more depressing! I felt so much sympathy for her! And just when there was finally a bit of hope it would just smash down again only this time much worst.

The book is so real and well paced! I was never bored. Each time I started a new chapter I was excited to see where it would lead, and let's be real I can't say that for a lot of books.

I'd recommend this to YA reader! It's a quick read and will help widen your view of others.

go read it!

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know one thing tonight, with Evan’s hair against my cheek and Maisie waiting for me to feed her: I’ve had enough of the wooden chairs, concrete floors, suitcases and bedbugs. The lying, laundry, excuses, hunger, dirt and piss. My fingers tremble as I touch Evan’s hair. I’ve had enough, and I’m getting out.

Rodent is a quick, powerful read with a protagonist who evokes sympathy, whilst still being - in my opinion - a very realistic portrait of an angry, bitter teenage girl who has had a really shit life.

Actually, that's what I like most about this book, and what makes it stand out from the genre. I've read a number of hard-hitting contemporaries about teenagers living in horrific situations, surrounded by alcoholism, poverty and abuse, but it's rare to get one that allows the main character to be so... unlikable.

Characters like Isabelle tend to be heroes of their lives. She must deal with her alcoholic mother, make sure her young siblings are fed and taken to school, avoid the social services, and get through her own problems in high school. These characters are rarely allowed to be as bitter and hating as Isabelle. And yet, it felt so much more realistic.

Isabelle is not a martyr who shrugs her shoulders and puts up with things. She's angry at her mother. She gets pissy when her little brother wets the bed. She starts physical fights with girls at school. She pushes people away. Her own pain is a raw, visceral thing. And it affected me deeply.

I really liked how the story unfolded, and the tumultuous emotional journey it takes you on. I liked that Isabelle did not simply forgive her mother and walk off into the sunset as a happy family - it felt honest. The book shows the cyclical nature of issues like alcoholism, and also how this affects a wide range of people, not just the sufferer.

The only thing that bothered me a little - and probably prevented a higher rating - is that, once again, there is a completely unnecessary romance. It's not a huge part of the book, but it adds nothing to the story. I'm left wondering again why it was in there. It sometimes seems like publishers make it a requirement that YA books must contain a romance. I don't get it.

A small complaint, though, in an otherwise excellent novel.

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[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5
***Minor spoilers***

Isabelle doesn't live the most glamorous of lives. She lives in a tiny apartment with her alcoholic mother and two younger siblings. She's basically the one who takes care of everything - makes sure her mom goes to work when she's passed out, takes her siblings to school/daycare, picks them back up, and makes sure they have food before she goes off to work. On top of all that, she needs to keep up with school - a new school, where she doesn't have any friends. When she becomes the target of a group of bullies in the school, she finds that school isn't much better than home. And so begins her new daily life of hiding at school.

This was another book I had to read for my book club at school. I actually didn't expect to like it based on the first few chapters. It seemed very generic at first. Girl has tough life, goes to school and gets bullied, it gets really bad, boy comes along and makes everything better, etc. etc. I was ready to be annoyed, but thankfully I wasn't. I'm not saying that some of that stuff didn't happen, but it felt real. It didn't feel like an overly used plot device. The story flowed and made me feel for Isabelle, and it never felt cliche again.

Isabelle was an incredibly strong character, who went through a lot but remained strong. It's admirable. As I mentioned before, she felt real, and her reactions to things seemed realistic. Usually when I read books that take place in high school, I have an issue with how the teenagers act - that wasn't the case in this book. She had good moments and she had bad moments, and her thought process seemed very characteristic of a teenager to me, which is great. I especially loved how although she didn't fight for herself as much, she never hesitated to stand up for her siblings, and make sure that they felt the love that she never really got to feel.

Overall, this book was a pleasant surprise. At first it seemed like a ton of other books in its genre, but quickly became something different. It was written well with good characters and a good plot. I was impressed with how realistic it felt to me, as someone Isabelle's age. Although I couldn't relate to her situation, I really felt for her and what she was going through. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes this sort of novel, because if you do then you'll definitely like this one. It's stood out from other similar books I've read.

[Mike Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book that is powerfully accurate in its portrayal of life as a teenager in difficult circumstances. Isabelle lives from moment to moment taking care of her younger brother and sister, her alcoholic mother, and herself. She tries to make her way through the realities of a life that presents challenges in every direction. To add to the challenges Isabelle faces, she starts grade 11 at a new school, and she makes her way through all that that entails. She finds strong opposition from some, and support from others. Isabelle spends so much time protecting those she cares about, that she leaves little time and energy to take care of herself. This is a powerful read, and there is little chance that readers will finish this book unchanged or untouched.

[Karen W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! Isabelle has difficult time taking care of her younger siblings and her alcoholic mother, who is struggling with a secret past. An intriguing story peppered with sharp humour, made this an engrossing read.

[Diabolica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
It was a really good book, but I don't think it was for me.
It was well-written for her debut, but I think it was a tad bit cliched.

[Liesel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! It was truly just a beautifully brutal, deeply moving and emotionally fraught gem. I won this book through a giveaway and really did not have that high expectations for it. However, I literally read it in one sitting and could NOT put it down. I cried throughout half of the book, I kid you not. Tears ,horrible, ugly tears, of pain and sadness and despair for Isabelle. I truly loved this book so much more than I thought I would and just can not give it enough praise. 5+ stars without any doubt.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabelle is in grade 11. Her mother is an alcoholic, so Isabelle is the one who takes care of her two younger siblings, Evan and Maidie. Normally, she tries to stay invisible at school, but on her first day at a new school, she gets into a fight, which results in her being bullied.

I thought this was really good. It's YA, so it moved quickly and was a fast read. I definitely felt badly for Isabelle and hoped things would work out for her.

[Steven Buechler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawrence has capture a big slice of the human condition by bringing the story of Isabelle forward. The lifestyle endured by the main character does actually exists as does much of the responsibility and the angst she has. And Lawrence hasn’t tempered the language for publication at all. She has Isabelle talking and thinking the way a teenager talks and thinks today. Easy enough for any reader to relate too.

http://tinyurl.com/z8lfrgq

[Shwe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually stopped reading this book for a long time. I had a few pages left and didnt even bother to finish it, seeing as i knew what was going to happen anyway. But i went back and did it anyway. You probably know at this point what my problem with this book is: its hella predictable.

Okay so when you are in your pre teens and tweens (8,9, 10,11,12) that is the first time you are exposed to certain heavy genres of books. I think that the reason why this book didnt do as much for ME is because i have read plenty more like it before. I happened to grow up reading dark, depressing, books yes. The MC is familiar. The love interest also feels familiar. And they always always have younger siblings- whom they have to take care of. There is always a great resentment by the MC towards his/her parent... then there is a huge confrontation usually right after the MC and the love interest get together and then the resolve. Usually these books have happy endings.
So although touching on sensitive subjects like abuse, alcoholism, poverty, drug use, this book can still be age appropriate for YA/ even pre teen reads.

I have read. So. Many. Of. This. Dysfunctional type YA books. So its funny why i even picked up Rodent in the first place.

BUT: I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYBODY. The author is SPOT ON with the main character. She echoed the thoughts and voices of someone who had to deal with an alcoholic/ dysfunctional parent PERFECTLY. It shocked and scared me sometimes, i almost wondered if the author grew up in the same environment.

It was relatable as fuck though. Maybe thats why i didnt like it as much. It basically put everything i couldnt say to my alcoholic dad into words. Everything i felt into words and i envied that.

[serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Rodent. Isabelle was a great character; you couldn’t help but root for her. I wouldn’t mind if there was a second part to this book just because I desperately want to know how everything turns out for Isabelle, her friends, and her family. I like to think that every turned out well and that everyone is happy, but I need to KNOW.

*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Toby J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Looking forward to more from this new author.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depressing

[Nim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is getting my vote
AND
My names in it
*screams*

[Jillaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by a friend of mine or I probably never would have picked it up. It's YA fiction. The synopsis didn't particularly grab me. And my friend told me it was "gritty" and she wouldn't feel bad if I didn't read it since she knows it may not appeal to all of her friends.

I finally decided to give it a shot. I was surprised at how much I liked it! Isabelle is an 11th grader--starting the year at yet another new school. She is pretty much raising her younger siblings. Their mother is an alcoholic whose binges lead to lost jobs and apartments and complete instability for her children. Isabelle is just trying to hang on. She wants to leave and be on her own, but refuses to leave behind her 4- and 7-year-old siblings. This girl is a strong leader in her home, but tries to be invisible everywhere else. When that doesn't quite work out at her new school, her life becomes more complicated by bullies--but she gets a glimpse at something safer and more worthwhile due to friends and adults who believe in her.

I don't always like books where I can't identify with the characters. Isabelle's life and experiences are *nothing* like mine, yet the storytelling in this book completely drew me in and had me turning the pages late into the night. I *could* understand Isabelle and was sad and angry and happy for her in a way that made me like this book so much more than I expected.

Notes: The book is set in Canada. For you American readers out there, you may be thrown by a few things (like Thanksgiving in October). Just remember and pay attention. Also, it really is a gritty book. This is definitely for older teens.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story could have been pulled from the lives of many of the students I teach. Like Isabelle, I have many students who have had to deal with an alcoholic parent. In Isabelle’s case, it is her mother. I have many students who have had to take care, raise their younger siblings. Isabelle has a younger brother and sister to take care of. On top of all of this, she has a part-time job and is going to school. She is in a vicious cycle. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and she is afraid to try to remove that weight because of the consequences to the lives of her siblings. As I read this and saw her pain I wanted so much to take that pain from her. It hit too close to home. I had a student, a young man who lived this life with his younger brother. His mom was a drug addict. He’d had enough teachers show support that he finally took a leap of faith, left his mom in another state and moved back to Florida with his younger brother. He arrived a few days before turning 18, with the help of one of his high school teachers he was able to go to court to get custody of his brother.

Unlike my former student, Isabelle doesn’t want anyone knowing what is going on in her life and therefore, getting help for her and helping her deal with things is made more difficult. This is definitely a book I will recommend and it is a book I will put on my shelves at school. I see this as a book that may just help that one child who is like Isabelle and needs some encouragement to get help. Well worth the read.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

It begins compellingly enough, with a gritty sense of teenagehood being having to fend for yourself in a contemporary, realistic high school setting, a sub-genre/theme that was admittedly already starting to wane by the time this book was published and really had its heyday in 2011-13 as a realistic/contemporary counterpart to the more sci-fi dystopian of that period. And that's the thing that really struck me - especially from a 2023 perspective but also having been reading YA intensively for a solid decade now, it somewhat struck me as what I can only describe as quaintly, nostalgically vintage. It's also a sub-genre/theme that's done with extremely varying degrees of success, but Lawrence was showing a lot of good construction here. Then it just kind of sort of meandered, with none of the characters but MC Izzy most of all not really feeling any growth. It started to feel real repetitive and stuck in a rut in a hurry with a promise of growth and change at the end that felt so abrupt I thought I missed a chapter when I saw Acknowledgements. So, 3 stars, sorry.

[Carli · Rating 5 out of 5]

“From this time forth, my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” (Shakespeare)

It’s hard to hate someone whose story you know.

Teachers- we have no idea the lives some students are living outside of our classrooms. Sometimes we forget that. Our classes are the last thing on their minds, when they are literally struggling to survive. I was troubled, thinking about a couple of my students who I know might be living this very life.

The characters in this book (even minor characters) were so well developed and the details and description were just impeccable to create a beautiful, albeit nauseating, story.

I don’t even know how I came across this book. Like many that I am “meant” to read, it found me.

[Joel Slicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rodent by Lisa J. Lawrence was by far one of the best books I've ever read and i give it 5 stars. Isabelle is a high school girl who has to look over her siblings, Evan, and Maisie. Isabelle works long hours at a mini mart while dealing with her alcoholic mother. When things cant get worse she gets in a lot of trouble for punching a girl at school. One of the reasons I liked this book so much was it put into perspective how some people have it better than others but its up to you solve your problems as Isabelle realizes the only drama she can control is hers. In conclusion I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn an important lesson or anyone who just likes a good overall story.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, a really good story with believable and well-developed characters. The main character is feisty and authentic. I liked how she coped and learned how she needed to establish boundaries--
& how that impacted family around her. I also appreciated how the author portrayed the balancing act she was trying to accomplish, and how doing that difficult job (keeping the authorities from separating her siblings from each other and their mother while compensating for her mom's alcoholism) was really asking way too much of her. She just needed to be a kid, and deserved protection. Liked the romantic development too--very honest. A thoroughly enjoyable story and denouement.

[GNRLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isabelle has a lot on her plate: taking care of her younger siblings, managing her sometimes-present, often-drunk mother, and navigating the social norms of a new high school. Her high school life does not look promising when on her first day at school she finds herself suspended after punching a girl in the face. Isabelle's journey is heartbreaking and frustrating but also admirable; her instincts to protect those she cares about are fierce and iron-clad. Slowly but surely Isabelle finds slivers of hope in a teacher and a few students at school; these just might be the ammunition she needs to figure out her next steps.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It was a quick and easy read. You can't help but read it quickly to discover what happens next to Isabelle and her siblings. Isabelle is an admirable character who is struggling to shelter her younger brother and sister from their reality, while at the same time face the trials and tribulations of being a teenager in a new school. She knows firsthand what it's like to have an alcoholic mother and she doesn't want them to experience the same pain. She tries her best, but there's just one problem - her mother. Definitely worth the read.

[Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

M'KAY, so first of all I hated the first like 5 chapters of this book XD! Idk why, I just didn't like it...

BUT THEN, mm GURL!

I am clinically depressed. OK, no that's terrible, I shouldn't say that... I am extremely sad, but happy too, after finishing "Rodent". I am going to miss Isabelle so very much :(

AND, hold up I'm not done yet! THIS IS LISA'S FIRST BOOK! AND SHE'S CANADIAN!

LISA J. LAWRENCE YOU ARE MY QUEEN!

[Tishy Wishy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabella is coping with an alcoholic mother, two younger siblings who depend on her for everything since mom is usually wasted, a new high school, a part time job, and all the angst and woes that come along with being a teenager. She's had a turbulent life and I think Lisa manages to convey this while making Isabella multi-dimensional. She's angry, defensive and keeps to herself (all for good reason) but she's also loving, emotional and dependable. A good, short read.

[Sheryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being the new kid at school is difficult enough for Isabelle, but she also has to hold the family together as her mother is a drunk. She steps in when another is bullied and becomes a target herself. Her English teacher see something in her writing, which leads to an odd group friendship. She finds solace in this group, but then the bullies strike at her very core !!!

[Alison Jog · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a quick and enjoyable read. The plot was amazing and very realistic. I have to admit though that my favourite parts were the times when Isabelle and Will were together, their relationship was just adorable.

[Jeane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but it was very real and a little hard, emotionally, to read about the amount of abuse addiction has on a family. Side note, I think this is definitively a YA book and my library has it under "Quick Picks" aka Easy Reading for Adults which I totally disagree with.

[Rebecca Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't believe this was her first novel. Fiction really allows you to learn empathy and understand that everyone has their own problems going on behind the scenes. It certainly wasn't an easy read. It was very emotional. But still fast and book book that I would read again.