Mutant Rat Attack!

by Jay Cooper

Nothing exciting ever happens to boring Dex at his boring home or at boring school. He oversleeps (again!), he daydreams while his science teacher Mr. McFur babbles on about his lab rat Princess Pretty Fabulous (Pretty for short), he gets harassed by Millicent (the neighborhood meanie): boring, boring, ultra-boring! Then one day, a mystery man convinces Mr. McFur to feed Pretty radioactive gamma broccoli, which turns the rat into a rabid rodent the size of a hippo and launches Dex into an underground world of kid spies and rat gas power. Suddenly Dex's life doesn't seem so boring anymore! But who was that mystery man? What does he want? And most importantly, can a boring Dex shed the boring to become the most unlikely hero in spy history?

Genres: Childrens, Science Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Fiction, Middle Grade

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2017

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dexter Drabner's life is about as exciting as his name might indicate. His days are spent going from class to class, dreaming of adventures, and avoiding the attentions of classmate Millicent M. But when his mad scientist of a science teacher, Mr. McFur hatches a desperate plot--with a mysterious stranger--to save his pet rats, things quickly change for Dexter. In the blink of an eye, he is enlisted as a spy by Big K, and finds himself in the thick of things. Readers will be entertained as Mr. McFur's favorite rat, Pretty, consumes a radioactive gamma broccoli, and grows to an enormous size. Can Dexter and his new supercharged skateboard--after all, spies have to have high tech toys, don't they?--save the day and rescue the school's leader, Principal Pickles, from Pretty? Fans of Captain Underpants or those a little bit older will enjoy the book, filled as it is with farting references as well as sly humor and all the elements that entertain intermediate grade readers. I also liked the illustrations that are sprinkled throughout the book's pages so readers can see just how large Pretty grows. Are there some unrealistic and absurd happenings in the book? Of course, but those just add to the fun.

[Janice Cafarelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. Cute book for grade 2 through possible grade 4 age child. Its all about Dexter and his becoming an agent for the Super-Secret Spy Kids and his robotic skateboard B.O.A.R.D on their first mission to stop Mr. McFur and his Mutant Rats. This is book 1 in a series.

[Blaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read for elementary schoolers!

[Mrs. Salas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dexter Drabner becomes a super secret spy kid in this first book of the series!! Great picture support throughout the book. Full of action and suspense.

[Cafe Kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I wish I had a robot skateboard too!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some "bathroom" humor but was enjoyed by my class.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

With illustrations littered throughout the text, this direct attempt at writing to the reluctant and mostly male crowd, The Spy Next Door is ripe with irreverent humor and action that will keep kids turning the pages and waiting anxiously for Agent SK8’s next adventure. Good for general purchase or for collections lacking in Captain Underpants (Scholastic, 1997) humor read-alikes.

[Mompop · Rating 3 out of 5]

What kid wouldn't want a B.O.A.R.D.?

(Battery Operated Artifical Reasoning Device)

[David]

a crass grab for the captain underpants demographic, including an illustration style all-too-reminiscent of dav pilkey's, with a charmless, meandering story that lacks subtlety and any real humor.

but by all means, give it to a boy and he'll be quiet for about 20 minutes.