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Oh, Rats!
When a hawk snatches up an adventurous squirrel named Phoenix, he’s ready to kiss his tail goodbye. But what should have been a death sentence becomes the beginning of a sweeping big-city adventure in this captivating novel by National Book Award–nominated author Tor Seidler.
Phoenix is a pretty big deal in his neck of the The biggest in his litter with the most lustrous fur and by far the bushiest tail, he’s one of the most sought-after squirrels in New Jersey—which makes his kidnapping by hawk even more dramatic.
Luckily, the hawk doesn’t have the best grip. Unluckily, he drops Phoenix on a freshly-tarred street in downtown Manhattan. Now stripped of his gorgeous golden-brown coat, Phoenix looks like nothing more than a common sewer rat. Fortunately for Phoenix, it’s not a pack of sewer rats that find him (they’re a notoriously surly bunch), but rather wharf rats.
Taken in by siblings Lucy and Beckett, Phoenix is welcomed into a rat pack living in abandoned piers on the Hudson. But when they learn of plans to demolish the piers, Phoenix is swept up in a truly electrifying scheme to stop the humans from destroying his new friends’ home.
Phoenix is a pretty big deal in his neck of the The biggest in his litter with the most lustrous fur and by far the bushiest tail, he’s one of the most sought-after squirrels in New Jersey—which makes his kidnapping by hawk even more dramatic.
Luckily, the hawk doesn’t have the best grip. Unluckily, he drops Phoenix on a freshly-tarred street in downtown Manhattan. Now stripped of his gorgeous golden-brown coat, Phoenix looks like nothing more than a common sewer rat. Fortunately for Phoenix, it’s not a pack of sewer rats that find him (they’re a notoriously surly bunch), but rather wharf rats.
Taken in by siblings Lucy and Beckett, Phoenix is welcomed into a rat pack living in abandoned piers on the Hudson. But when they learn of plans to demolish the piers, Phoenix is swept up in a truly electrifying scheme to stop the humans from destroying his new friends’ home.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published August 27, 2019
19 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 19, 2019
This was a cute animal story but for some reason it felt so long. The interesting bits were interspersed with some pretty slow sections. I did like the sense of community and the friendships formed along the way. Good but not great.
August 7, 2025
A somewhat fantastical adventure story involving a singed squirrel, wharf rats, and a grateful hawk. Also a bit of squirrel romance.
February 11, 2022
I feel crazy for being the only one thinking that this book is extremely weird. For a children's book there are a lot of very, very dark moments from multiple explicit deaths to strong depictions of child abuse. I assume it's written for fairly young children because the writing style is very simplistic which is what makes it so bizarre to me. The protagonist is Phoenix, a squirrel, and he encounters a LOT of dead animals.
Here is Phoenix encountering a dead raccoon:
Phoenix has a rivalry with another squirrel, Tyrone, who likes to show off. That ends when Phoenix saves Tyrone's life, but doesn't really matter anyway since later Tyrone is electrocuted and found dead. Phoenix then carries Tyrone's dead body away from humans so they can have a funeral.
But the worst example by far is that of the abusive father to two sibling rats. Phoenix is rescued by one of the rats, the sister. The other rat, Beckett, is repeatedly abused by their alcoholic father. He is constantly described as having a "soft" voice, and this is why:
Yes. You read that right. One of the main characters has physical damage to his vocal chords cause by being strangled by his father because he was reading a book too loudly. This is just mentioned as an aside, there aren't ever any real consequences for their father, Mortimer, making it that much more disturbing. None of the other rats confront Mortimer or say anything about his abusive behavior. It is mentioned a few more times as "the throttling incident" and excused as Mortimer blaming them for the death of their mother. The sister, Lucy, is especially horrible, constantly worrying for Mortimer and making Beckett help her search for him the many times that he stays out overnight drinking.
And Mortimer ends up helping them in the end as though he was secretly a good person all along. He even has a moment where he realizes Beckett resembles their dead mom and decides to half-heartedly defend him against the antagonist.
This book portrays child abuse but refuses to call it what it is, instead making excuses for the abuser and pretending that family ties are more important than escaping an abusive relative.
Here is Phoenix encountering a dead raccoon:
Rupert led him along the side of the road till they came to a grayish stain on the pavement. Only when Phoenix made out the ringed tail attached to it did he realize it was the remains of a raccoon.
Phoenix has a rivalry with another squirrel, Tyrone, who likes to show off. That ends when Phoenix saves Tyrone's life, but doesn't really matter anyway since later Tyrone is electrocuted and found dead. Phoenix then carries Tyrone's dead body away from humans so they can have a funeral.
But the worst example by far is that of the abusive father to two sibling rats. Phoenix is rescued by one of the rats, the sister. The other rat, Beckett, is repeatedly abused by their alcoholic father. He is constantly described as having a "soft" voice, and this is why:
The reason Beckett's voice was so weak was that Mortimer had throttled him for rustling pages when he'd been trying to sleep off a hangover.
Yes. You read that right. One of the main characters has physical damage to his vocal chords cause by being strangled by his father because he was reading a book too loudly. This is just mentioned as an aside, there aren't ever any real consequences for their father, Mortimer, making it that much more disturbing. None of the other rats confront Mortimer or say anything about his abusive behavior. It is mentioned a few more times as "the throttling incident" and excused as Mortimer blaming them for the death of their mother. The sister, Lucy, is especially horrible, constantly worrying for Mortimer and making Beckett help her search for him the many times that he stays out overnight drinking.
And Mortimer ends up helping them in the end as though he was secretly a good person all along. He even has a moment where he realizes Beckett resembles their dead mom and decides to half-heartedly defend him against the antagonist.
This book portrays child abuse but refuses to call it what it is, instead making excuses for the abuser and pretending that family ties are more important than escaping an abusive relative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2019
With scampering adventure, this tale hits the theme of friendship and community, while proving that some things are worth fighting for.
Pheonix is a pretty lucky squirrel...and sometimes not so lucky. He's the top of his siblings, but still, is jealous of another squirrels climbing skills. When Pheonix is snatched away from his park, he's sure his life is going to end as a meal to a nest of hungry birds, but then he's dropped...in a painful manner...and ends up in unexpected company. Not only does he need to learn to fit in and form new friendships, but soon learns it's time to step beyond his squirrel comfort zone and fight to save their home.
Pheonix is in for the adventure of a lifetime, and one that no squirrel could ever see coming. While the first chapters ground a warm, caring squirrel life, as jealousy comes and accidents happen, things take a not so nice turn. There is a death pretty early on, and while handled gently, the atmosphere around it struck me odd. But there's no time to consider that long as Pheonix finds himself in a deadly and life-changing situation. Again, he meets a bit of brutality, but it's this which molds him into the form to get sucked up into the world of rats. In other words, it's not a fluffy tale but not overly rough either. Young readers who like a little animal adventure in a more real world setting will enjoy the mix.
There are wonderful illustrations thrown in—always a treat, especially when the books tend toward the thicker end like this one. The characters are pretty rich and there are ones to love...and others, not so much. The sense of friendship and community is inspiring and it's hard not to root for the rats as they try to save what they can. There are many exciting scenes, but other sections runs a bit on the slow side, making me wonder if this could have been compacted down just a bit. Still, it's a lovely read.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed this spunky squirrel's adventures enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
Pheonix is a pretty lucky squirrel...and sometimes not so lucky. He's the top of his siblings, but still, is jealous of another squirrels climbing skills. When Pheonix is snatched away from his park, he's sure his life is going to end as a meal to a nest of hungry birds, but then he's dropped...in a painful manner...and ends up in unexpected company. Not only does he need to learn to fit in and form new friendships, but soon learns it's time to step beyond his squirrel comfort zone and fight to save their home.
Pheonix is in for the adventure of a lifetime, and one that no squirrel could ever see coming. While the first chapters ground a warm, caring squirrel life, as jealousy comes and accidents happen, things take a not so nice turn. There is a death pretty early on, and while handled gently, the atmosphere around it struck me odd. But there's no time to consider that long as Pheonix finds himself in a deadly and life-changing situation. Again, he meets a bit of brutality, but it's this which molds him into the form to get sucked up into the world of rats. In other words, it's not a fluffy tale but not overly rough either. Young readers who like a little animal adventure in a more real world setting will enjoy the mix.
There are wonderful illustrations thrown in—always a treat, especially when the books tend toward the thicker end like this one. The characters are pretty rich and there are ones to love...and others, not so much. The sense of friendship and community is inspiring and it's hard not to root for the rats as they try to save what they can. There are many exciting scenes, but other sections runs a bit on the slow side, making me wonder if this could have been compacted down just a bit. Still, it's a lovely read.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed this spunky squirrel's adventures enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
July 22, 2019
Oh, Rats! is the charming tale of Phoenix the squirrel and his unlikely friendship with a colony of rats.
Phoenix was getting along just fine in his rural New Jersey home surrounded by friends and family. He had his own nest, a nice stash of food, and even the admiration of the prettiest squirrel, Giselle. That is, until a bird of prey swept him up to be a snack for his babies. Fearing the worst, Phoenix tried to talk is way out of being eaten, but he experienced a stroke of luck when the red tailed hawk dropped him to avoid a collision. Phoenix landed in a Manhattan construction site, worse for the wear. With the help of a pigeon, he found his way to the river where he was discovered by two young wharf rats, Lucy and Beckett. They pulled him ashore and nursed him back to health, with the help of Ms. P, the colony’s wise old rat. When they discover their pier is scheduled for demolition, the rats and Phoenix use their special skills to convince the humans to leave their pier in tact. It is action packed and full of excitement, with an ending that is both sweet and satisfying.
Tor Seidler did a fantastic job creating the world of rodents. Every little detail was thought out and he makes the rats and their situation seem plausible . All the human colloquiums slightly altered to be applicable to rats were cute, and I liked how even the most dislikable characters had their chance to come around and prove themselves in the end.
The cover art for this book by illustrator Gabriel Evans is adorable. Pleasingly simple and fresh, I am certain it will catch the attention of elementary students. Also a positive, there are black and white illustrations scattered throughout the book. I loved the simple style that still left plenty of room for imagination of the young reader.
Overall, I enjoyed this book from cover to cover, and I have full confidence that upper elementary students will feel the same way.
Phoenix was getting along just fine in his rural New Jersey home surrounded by friends and family. He had his own nest, a nice stash of food, and even the admiration of the prettiest squirrel, Giselle. That is, until a bird of prey swept him up to be a snack for his babies. Fearing the worst, Phoenix tried to talk is way out of being eaten, but he experienced a stroke of luck when the red tailed hawk dropped him to avoid a collision. Phoenix landed in a Manhattan construction site, worse for the wear. With the help of a pigeon, he found his way to the river where he was discovered by two young wharf rats, Lucy and Beckett. They pulled him ashore and nursed him back to health, with the help of Ms. P, the colony’s wise old rat. When they discover their pier is scheduled for demolition, the rats and Phoenix use their special skills to convince the humans to leave their pier in tact. It is action packed and full of excitement, with an ending that is both sweet and satisfying.
Tor Seidler did a fantastic job creating the world of rodents. Every little detail was thought out and he makes the rats and their situation seem plausible . All the human colloquiums slightly altered to be applicable to rats were cute, and I liked how even the most dislikable characters had their chance to come around and prove themselves in the end.
The cover art for this book by illustrator Gabriel Evans is adorable. Pleasingly simple and fresh, I am certain it will catch the attention of elementary students. Also a positive, there are black and white illustrations scattered throughout the book. I loved the simple style that still left plenty of room for imagination of the young reader.
Overall, I enjoyed this book from cover to cover, and I have full confidence that upper elementary students will feel the same way.
October 4, 2019
In this book, Phoenix, a young squirrel from the beautiful woods of New Jersey, experiences a series of mishaps that lead him to adventure, friendship, and heroism on a soon-to-be-demolished pier in Manhattan.
At its core, this is a story about letting go of stereotypes and assumptions that might keep us from truly appreciating one another. It’s also about working together as a group toward achieving a common good, and about the possibility of redemption, even for members of the group who may once have been selfish, cowardly, or badly behaved. It is also just plain delightful, with plenty of humor, a little chaste romance, and adorable illustrations.
There are some moments of real peril and unpleasantness (alcoholism, attempted murder, parental abandonment) - which, I think, are essential to the character development and the story arc - but those who share this story with very young readers might want to be aware.
Readers who have enjoyed E.B. White, Dick King-Smith, Eleanor Estes, and other sweetly old-fashioned animal adventures will like this one, too, though it takes place in the here and now. This is a great choice for kids who love animals, and for those who read at a stronger level than they are mature. It could be a good read-aloud at bedtime for mixed-age families. There’s enough excitement for older elementary school kids, and not too much to upset littler ones.
At its core, this is a story about letting go of stereotypes and assumptions that might keep us from truly appreciating one another. It’s also about working together as a group toward achieving a common good, and about the possibility of redemption, even for members of the group who may once have been selfish, cowardly, or badly behaved. It is also just plain delightful, with plenty of humor, a little chaste romance, and adorable illustrations.
There are some moments of real peril and unpleasantness (alcoholism, attempted murder, parental abandonment) - which, I think, are essential to the character development and the story arc - but those who share this story with very young readers might want to be aware.
Readers who have enjoyed E.B. White, Dick King-Smith, Eleanor Estes, and other sweetly old-fashioned animal adventures will like this one, too, though it takes place in the here and now. This is a great choice for kids who love animals, and for those who read at a stronger level than they are mature. It could be a good read-aloud at bedtime for mixed-age families. There’s enough excitement for older elementary school kids, and not too much to upset littler ones.
April 14, 2019
Phoenix is a lucky squirrel. His fur is lustrous, his tail bushy. Giselle admires him. But his luck runs out one day when he becomes "easy pickings" for a hawk. Fortunately (kind of) the hawk drops him over New York City and his fall is softened by hot asphalt--his glossy fur doesn't fare so well. Fortunately (kind of) he's taken in by rats, and so begins a whole new adventure with an unlikely hero. Tor Seidler's storytelling is delightful and surprising, full of heart and humor. Great for fans of The Royal Rabbits of London.
July 23, 2020
This kids' book was adorable and made for a great family read aloud. Even my eleven year old was caught up in the adventures of Phoenix, and my nine year old was beaming through the entire last chapter. It's not a classic story in the way that I'd hang on to it for years (the only reason I didn't give it five stars, though I was tempted) but it's an all-around solid and entertaining book, with really positive messages about friendship, taking risks, persistence, loyalty, and self acceptance. So cute and wholesome.
February 22, 2020
The story of how a squirrel gets taken by a hawk and thus begins his adventure of a lifetime. He meets two rats,a brother and sister and becomes a part of their community. Together he and the community of rats have to save their home from being destroyed.Read on to see how they do it and what happens with Phoenix.It is true, we make our own family.
July 3, 2019
Creative tale focused on a squirrel who gets carried from New Jersey to Manhattan by a hawk, and then ends up living with wharf rats. The animals work together to thwart gentrification of their old pier. Cute story for people who like the animal view of the world.
June 25, 2019
OMG that was adorable and scary and heartwarming!
July 29, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Oh. Rats!
An adorable and beautifully illustrated book!
An adorable and beautifully illustrated book!
January 30, 2020
So. Dang. Cute.
And impressive vocabulary words.
And impressive vocabulary words.
September 2, 2021
Read aloud to my 8 and 11 yr old kids. They really liked the pictures scattered throughout the book, and loved the story line. A cute, fun read.
November 6, 2022
Great fun book that I read to the kids we loved it!
January 14, 2023
This is a beautifully written book about what happens when a squirrel gets dropped in the middle of a busy city. This book is just right for kids ages 7-10
March 27, 2024
Super cute book. I gotta a little tired at the ending, but overall a super fun, cute read that brings back full appreciation for all that squirrels can do!
September 10, 2025
it was engaging but overall I didn't really like the idea of the rats using Dynamite to blow up Transformers to interrupt power
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2021
Check out my book review here for Oh Rats!
https://youtu.be/sSVJ-k16K8I
Hey guys. How are all of you doing?! Well if you asked me I am doing great because I have another book to share with you guys and it is called Oh Rats by Tor Seidler. So yes this book must look crazy to you guys because there is literally a squirrel flying or falling. Well the title page is one reason why I did pick this book because I just love stories about humor and especially cute little animals so this book was perfect for me. I definitely enjoyed reading this book because the main character a.k.a, a squirrel, goes through many adventures. So just stay tuned if you want to find out more about this sqirreltastic book.
So the main character in this book is a squirrel named Phoenix and he has always been lucky because he is the largest in his litter, he has the most lustrous fur, and he is the most sought-after squirrel in his part of New Jersey. Which makes his kidnapping by a hawk seem all the more unlucky. So it all started when Phoenix was admiring is reflection in this beautiful lake where is was not aware of his surroundings so all of a sudden a huge hawk came down for him and took him away. At that moment Phoenix was also with this other squirrel and she was shocked. Luckily the hawk doesn’t have the best grip. Unluckily, the hawk drops Phoenix from quite a height right onto a freshly tarred street in downtown Manhattan. And after he fell in there his whole body was burning of course and stripped of his gorgeous golden-brown coat, Phoenix now looks like and common sewer rat!
Enormously unlucky! So when he fell it was like he couldn’t see anything so Phoenix kept on bumping into things and finally he made his way to the dock. He jumped in the water to cool off which felt so much better than before but then the currents picked up very fast. Phoenix thought that he would die at that moment if it hadn’t been for these two rats named Lucy and Becket who saved him. The two rats took him to their place which was this old, abandoned pier filled with crates which were the rats little rooms. So many things do happen in the pier when Phoenix arrives. But I am going to leave that to you guys to read because I am sure you will enjoy this book a lot. So as Phoenix was getting used to the city life and rat life you could say, the rats discover that humans plan to tear down their beloved pier. And they are going to replace it with a tennis complex.
Well at this moment Phoenix was very good friends with the rats so he wanted to help them out. So since squirrels are such good climbers the rats used his help to climb on top of this big building. Yep, you guys may be wondering why Phoenix had to climb a building. Well how about you read this book to find out. And in this book the rats do something crazy to the whole city. They make the power go out! Yes, you heard that right! How you ask?! Well read this book and find out for yourself. I hope you guys enjoyed this book review and if you did then please go ahead and subscribe to my channel. If you have read this book then please leave a comment on my social media channels and tell me what you thought of it. Well have a great week and stay safe!
https://youtu.be/sSVJ-k16K8I
Hey guys. How are all of you doing?! Well if you asked me I am doing great because I have another book to share with you guys and it is called Oh Rats by Tor Seidler. So yes this book must look crazy to you guys because there is literally a squirrel flying or falling. Well the title page is one reason why I did pick this book because I just love stories about humor and especially cute little animals so this book was perfect for me. I definitely enjoyed reading this book because the main character a.k.a, a squirrel, goes through many adventures. So just stay tuned if you want to find out more about this sqirreltastic book.
So the main character in this book is a squirrel named Phoenix and he has always been lucky because he is the largest in his litter, he has the most lustrous fur, and he is the most sought-after squirrel in his part of New Jersey. Which makes his kidnapping by a hawk seem all the more unlucky. So it all started when Phoenix was admiring is reflection in this beautiful lake where is was not aware of his surroundings so all of a sudden a huge hawk came down for him and took him away. At that moment Phoenix was also with this other squirrel and she was shocked. Luckily the hawk doesn’t have the best grip. Unluckily, the hawk drops Phoenix from quite a height right onto a freshly tarred street in downtown Manhattan. And after he fell in there his whole body was burning of course and stripped of his gorgeous golden-brown coat, Phoenix now looks like and common sewer rat!
Enormously unlucky! So when he fell it was like he couldn’t see anything so Phoenix kept on bumping into things and finally he made his way to the dock. He jumped in the water to cool off which felt so much better than before but then the currents picked up very fast. Phoenix thought that he would die at that moment if it hadn’t been for these two rats named Lucy and Becket who saved him. The two rats took him to their place which was this old, abandoned pier filled with crates which were the rats little rooms. So many things do happen in the pier when Phoenix arrives. But I am going to leave that to you guys to read because I am sure you will enjoy this book a lot. So as Phoenix was getting used to the city life and rat life you could say, the rats discover that humans plan to tear down their beloved pier. And they are going to replace it with a tennis complex.
Well at this moment Phoenix was very good friends with the rats so he wanted to help them out. So since squirrels are such good climbers the rats used his help to climb on top of this big building. Yep, you guys may be wondering why Phoenix had to climb a building. Well how about you read this book to find out. And in this book the rats do something crazy to the whole city. They make the power go out! Yes, you heard that right! How you ask?! Well read this book and find out for yourself. I hope you guys enjoyed this book review and if you did then please go ahead and subscribe to my channel. If you have read this book then please leave a comment on my social media channels and tell me what you thought of it. Well have a great week and stay safe!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews