Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry

Emmy #3

by Lynne Jonell, Jonathan Bean (Illustrator)

Emmy was not an ordinary girl. She could talk to rodents. She could shrink to the size of a rodent. And just a few weeks ago, she had even become a rodent to defeat her evil former nanny, Miss Barmy.

Emmy's parents, unaware of their daughter's other life, ship her off to visit two elderly aunts in Schenectady. Emmy figures her life will be ordinary at last, if rather boring. But she didn't count on her friend Ratty, whose search for his long-lost Ratmom brings him more than he bargained for.

Here is the third book in the acclaimed Emmy series, complete with a flip book feature (bats!).

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Adventure

384 pages, Hardcover

First published July 5, 2011

About the author

Lynne Jonell is an author (and occasional illustrator) of sixteen books for children, from picture books to novels for ages 8-12, all with an element of fantasy: magical hamsters, talking cats, tiny planes with a secret fuel, rodents with special powers, and more. Her novel Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat won the Minnesota Book Award; her latest book, The Sign of the Cat, is a swashbuckling sea adventure. Coming in 2018 is Far Sight, Deep Time, a time-travel novel set at her ancestral castle in Scotland.

Her books have received starred reviews in Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Sesame Street Parents, and have been published in nine languages. She teaches writing at the Loft Literary Center, is married and has two sons, and lives in Plymouth, Minnesota.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/lynnej...

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I loved the 1st book, loved the 2nd book too-but still loved the 1st book more. NOW I think I love this book-the 3rd & final book-the most! It was sooooo good! Can’t say much since it’s the 3rd book, but this was amazing! I’m going to miss Emmy, Joe, Rat, Sissy, the Professor, & just everyone so much! All the side characters-human AND rodent-are even as amazing, memorable, & important as the MC. Everyone adds so much to the story in their own ways. It was fun seeing old favs from the 1st book, then a fav we met in book 2, & then we meet some new favs in this as well. I absolutely love a new rat, some bats, & some aunts. The new rats power is incredible, & I loved everything that went into the story concerning that! There’s a whole new problem & danger, all linked to the original threat. I wanted to strangle the villain when they did a certain awful thing. They’re so evil! Plus, we have a change of scenery..So much adventure, danger, suspense, humor, & heart. Highly recommend the whole trilogy! Another stunning cover by Jonathan Bean too, w/illustrations at the top of every page again-& also a rat AND a bat too this time, on every right page! Love!💜

[Kristel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emmy and her friends (some human, some rodent) continue to encounter the evil plots of Miss Barmy (former nanny, now rat) and Cheswick, her devoted paramour (also a rat). Tricked by Miss Barmy, Emmy, Sissy and Ratty travel to Schenectady, New York and end up helping Emmy’s two elderly aunts, with most surprising results. Family connections once lost are restored and some new animal friends are made. Emmy’s parents are still unaware of her special rat-friends and their magical powers. Emmy acts with surprising independence, resourcefulness and mobility for a ten-year-old. Although third in the Emmy series, Jonell’s plot reminds readers of what happened in previous stories, so this book can work as a stand-alone. Jonathan Bean’s ink illustrations add a ghostly, eerie presence to the book, framing each page with charcoal gray and black bats, rats and castle-like walls. Although the story seems to drag in some places toward the end, the narrative unfolds steadily. Readers will still love to hate Miss Barmy, feel slightly bad for Cheswick, laugh with new characters Rocco and Manlio, and cheer on Emmy, Joe, Professor Capybara, Sissy and Ratty. Recommended for public/school libraries.

[Sandy Irwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute sequel, but not as strong as the first two.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, but I think that the series could have ended with two books. Similar story line as books one and two, but it was still enjoyable overall.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so wanted to choose "true crime" as my shelf note. I loved the authentic feel of the story and the characters, both human and rodent. Miss Barmy and Cheswick are both evil and hilarious. The extension of the rodent characters that helped on the way and the broadening of the characters abilities and feelings were well done. I don't know about visiting The Surly Tavern, but I would like to visit Mrs. Bindy's house under the steps to enjoy her hospitality and listen to her stories. She is quite an accomplished woman rat.

It is interesting to see the growth of the characters and the the intricacies of the plot as the book series progressed. There are some very inventive "gifts" that were introduced in this book and also in rodent transportation. Since neither Miss Barmy or Cheswick are dead, you never know what might happen in Miss Jonell's imagination that might extend to other stories that would involve some of the secondary characters. And , if not, I can always enjoy a second read and discussion with my grandchildren.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the richness of the characters, such as Manlio the postal bat or aunts Gussie and Melly. I found a good many aspects of the story to be appealing from the belfry caper to the Surly bar to the variety of extraordinary ratty powers. Given all that, how is it that I ended up with a 3-star book? Ultimately, I felt like the core of the book left some fundamental things to be desired. Both the protagonist (Emmy) and antagonist (Jane Barmy) felt flat. The other feeling I was left with was frustration that Emmy and her friends seemed to fail at every turn to anticipate the plans of their adversary, even when they had many heads together and Jane's plans weren't complex or hard to predict. Trying to grab/capture rodents is also not such an easy feat.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment of Emmy and the Rats is just as fun as what proceeded it. A bit formulaic, but that’s part of the fun. What’s great about Emmy, is that although she’s sometimes rescued, she also rescues herself and others a lot – through logic and thinking. A great role model for young girls of a certain age.

[Water Viper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though the characters were well thought out and rich I really didn't like this book. I'm not sure why. I think it's because I wasn't comfortable with the magical elements in the book. Thusly I have to say it is satanic.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is every bit as enchanting as Emmy’s other stories! I absolutely love the wonderful characters and the fantastic adventures they go on!

[Carrie Gaynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute series. We used it as a read-aloud for a 7- and a 5-year old. They loved it!

[Giovanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

uma órfã, uma não-órfã, vários ratos e um morcego italiano, todos muito simpáticos.

[Autumn Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!!!!!!!!!

[Ashley Rannikar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not amazing. Not bad. It’s just nice - younger juvenile.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in the series was our favorite but this was still entertaining and interesting.

[Kezermezer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in Jonell's Emmy series, Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry details the continuing adventures of Emmy and her rodent friends. This time, the evil Miss Barmy has arranged for Emmy to be sent away to her aunts' house as part of a scheme to get her hands on Sissy rat, whose special powers Miss Barmy wishes to harness.

Dependable Jonell continues in the same style as the first two books and produces another fun, interesting story with quirky characters and good action. Honestly, there's nothing WRONG with the story. It's just not GREAT. I definitely liked it a lot, but I always feel like Jonell's work could be even better, though I couldn't tell you how. Still, I highly recommend this series and hope she continues it. She also has a fourth unrelated novel, which my ten year old and I will be checking out next.

Also worth noting: Jonathan Bean does lovely illustrations for this whole series, consisting of beautiful covers with flip-n-move pictures in the margins of each page.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emmy and her rats of power at back, but so is Miss Barmy. This time, Miss Barmy plans to gain revenge on Emmy and make Sissy make enough "Sissy-patches" to make her human again. The evil plan involves sending Emmy to her strict great-aunts in Schenectady, NY and stealing Sissy. But what happens is that Emmy finds her aunts, they get turned back into children and Emmy, Joe, and Ana (from the previous book) not only have to find Sissy, but get the aunts out of a bell tower! Another solid offering, maybe not as delightful as the first, but fun none-the-less. Readers will need to be familiar with the series to really appreciate this book. But is this the last in the Emmy saga. I doubt it. SPOILER: Even though Miss Barmy and Cheswick Vole are taken to Rat Prison, I doubt we have heard the last of Emmy and her friends.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a fantastic middle-grade series - a little humorous, a little suspenseful, good guys to root for, villains it's fun to hate, a great protagonist & a very funny sidekick. In this third installment, Emmy is on her way to Schenectady, New York, to visit her strict great-aunts to learn a little responsibility. Things seem fine, but Emmy will soon learn that none other than the evil Miss Barmy is back & interfering in her life once again. At the end of the second book, Miss Barmy & her besotted henchman Cheswick Vole were both turned into rats as punishment for their evil ways, & now Miss Barmy is determined to turn human again, no matter who or what she has to hurt in the process - including, of course, Emmy & her rat friends.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Barmy is still out to seek revenge on Emmy Addison and to find a way to become human again. She comes up with a plan that sends Emmy to her great-aunts. When Emmy goes to the countryside, she brings a couple of rats and a friend. She finds that her great-aunts truly need her.

Reasons why I like this book-

Reason 1- I wanted to laugh out loud.

Reason 2- I could imagine what was happening.

Reason 3- I couldn't stop reading.

Reason 4- The book caught my eye visually, because on each page's edge there are illistrations that create a motion picture when you flip them.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel to Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat has me planning on going back to read that book! There is adventure for any and all to enjoy as this journey takes the reader and characters from one world to another and back again with a single (or double) bite and/or kiss by a pair of rats who just happen to be brother and sister! As one generation aids another, true friendships are formed and reinforced by overcoming the diabolic Miss Barmy and teaching us all the benefits of coming to someone’s aid and helping one another.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book in the series. Sometimes as the series goes on the books aren't just as good, but that was not a problem with this book. I really enjoyed the first two, and was kind of worried that this one would not live up to the standards of the other books, but thankfully I was proved wrong. However, i really hope that the whole "Ms. Barney is out to get revenge" plot is over with, but since Cheswick escaped, I fear that will not be the case. All in all though, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more.

[Amy Whipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Fantasy
Copyright Date: 2011
Last year, I read Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rate aloud to my students. We loved it!! This book is from the same series, and I enjoyed it as well. I felt the overall plot of the first book was deeper and took the reader on many different connecting paths that I didn't see as much of in this book, but it was still a fun and adventurous story with terrific characters! My only suggestion is that you read Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat first.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of more of the same, but if kids like the last books, this will be an easy sell. This time Emmy goes to Schenectady to visit her elderly aunts and help her rodent friends find their long-lost mother. But of course, the evil Miss Barmy has other plans...

[AquaMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professional review.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is still going strong. Amazed at how it makes rodents seem so wonderful and humans so pesty.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read...kept me reading...glad I read the past Emmy books....

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was really exciting!!

[J.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was my favorite in the series!

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun book about Emmy and her friends, rodent and human. This is an imaginative series for kids and entertaining enough for adults to enjoy. I definitely recommend it.

[Julie]

I thought it was kinda obvious that the bats KIDNAPPED Sissy, not kinda brought her to Ratmom. Ratmom is a mess. Best book of the series, I must admit.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very original series and lots of fun!