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I Was a Rat! Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of I Was a Rat!


One night a strange little boy shows up at the door of elderly Bob the Cobbler and his wife Joan, who is a washerwoman. The strange kid is nice and obliging, but he doesn't know his name and insists "I was a rat." He says he is only 3 weeks old. The couple take him in and name him Roger, but the boy clearly knows nothing about table manners, not tearing up his bedclothes, or much else about proper human behavior. Placed in school, he eats the pencils. The Philosopher Royal hears about Roger and tests him, but the irritated boy runs away and ends up a freak exhibit in "Professor" Oliver Tapscrew's street show. Busted out by a boys' street gang, Roger gets in trouble with the law, hides in the sewers, and eventually ends up on trial as a "monster" destined for execution while Bob and Joan search for him. Roger's fate will ultimately hinge on the actions of Lady Aurelia Ashington, the mysterious girl that playboy Prince Richard has taken for his bride. This is another delightful fantasy tale for children by the marvelous Philip Pullman.
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The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus



Chapter Analysis of I Was a Rat!

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence 20%planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 40%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 30%Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places 10% Tone of book    -   humorous or laughable FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?    -   fantasy story on current Earth Lifeform altered?    -   Yes Kind of alteration:    -   Magically turned into another being Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Kid's book (ages 7-14) Cultural problems, alien culture    -   Yes Culture clash-    -   feelings as an alien growing up among humans

Main Character

Identity:    -   Male Profession/status:    -   unemployed Age:    -   a kid

Setting

Earth setting:    -   19th century Takes place on Earth?    -   Yes

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   no torture/death How much dialogue?    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like I Was a Rat!

Philip Pullman Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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