The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

Rating

Winner of the 2001 Carnegie Medal One rat, popping up here and there, squeaking loudly, and taking a bath in the cream, could be a plague all by himself. After a few days of this, it was amazing how glad people were to see the kid with his magical rat pipe. And they were amazing when the rats followed hint out of town.

They'd have been really amazed if they'd ever found out that the rats and the piper met up with a cat somewhere outside of town and solemnly counted out the money.The Amazing Maurice runs the perfect Pied Piper scam. This streetwise alley cat knows the value of cold, hard cash and can talk his way into and out of anything. But when Maurice and his cohorts decide to con the town of Bad Blinitz, it will take more than fast talking to survive the danger that awaits. For this is a town where food is scarce and rats are hated, where cellars are lined with deadly traps, and where a terrifying evil lurks beneath the hunger-stricken streets....Set in Terry Pratchett's widely popular Discworld, this masterfully crafted, gripping read is both compelling and funny. When one of the world's most acclaimed fantasy writers turns a classic fairy tale on its head, no one will ever look at the Pied Piper -- or rats -- the same way again!

Reviews

"For this outrageously cheeky tale, Pratchett pairs a dynamite plot with memorable characters."--Publishers Weekly "Clearly destined for great things...deeply pleasurable and a wonderful and entertaining read."--The Bookseller (Great Britain) "Manages to be hilarious, moving, scary, impishly vulgar and wickedly wise, sometimes all at once."--Locus Magazine "Pratchett's absorbing, suspenseful adventure is deepened by a willingness to tackle the questions of existence."--Horn Book Magazine "Pratchett leaves none of his wit behind in this exploration of Discworld for younger readers."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (recommended) "Pratchett rethinks a classic story and comes up with a winner. A not-to-be-missed delight."--School Library Journal (starred review) "This is his first Discworld novel aimed specifically at YA readers, and it should win him new fans."--KLIATT "Pure, unadulterated fun. The action is fast paced, the dialogue witty, unforgettable."--Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) "Delves into weighty issues but keeps its sense of dark humor."--USA Today "Excruciatingly funny, ferociously intelligent."--Kirkus Reviews (starred Review)