The Truth About Rats

by Jacqueline Pearce

Unlike his perfect older sister, Jenna, Conner hates his piano lessons and gets bad grades in math. Conner's really good at bike tricks and he loves animals, but his parents have a no-pets rule and they don't take his bike-riding seriously. When the local animal shelter gets overcrowded, everybody in Conner's pet club agrees to take in a foster pet. Conner has to hide his rat, Oscar, from his family, who would never believe that Oscar is smart and cute and pretty lovable. Or would they?

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jacqueline writes historical and contemporary fiction for children and teens, and is also a haiku poet. Her kids' books include Discovering Emily, about the childhood of artist, Emily Carr, Manga Touch, an easy-to-read YA novel that follows a teen girl's exchange trip to Japan, The Truth About Rats (and Dogs), a multi-cultural middle grade story about a boy who struggles against stereotypes and family expectations when he fosters a pet rat and prepares for a BMX bike competition, and Weeds and other stories, a short story collection in which the lives of urban teens intersect with nature in often unexpected ways. Jacqueline's non-fiction book, What Animals Want (written in consultation with the BCSPCA), is out fall 2021.

Jacquie's poetry can be found in a number of group collections, including A New Resonance 11: Emerging Voices in English-Language Haiku (Redmoon 2019). She is also editor of Last Train Home, an international collection of haiku, tanka, and rengay about trains and train travel (Pondhawk 2021). (Last Train Home, was written for adults, but middle grade and young adult readers will find many intriguing small poems within.)

Jacqueline lives on the edge of a ravine with her husband, daughter, dog and two cats, perched between nature and the city.

Reviews

[Joshua Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really my genre, but a really good book for kids, and glad to see one out there that challenges rat-stereotypes. Good story. Recommended for kids.

[Becky Carleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is a very sweet and heartwarming story for a child who would like to see what it's like to have a pet." --Katie, age 9