The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett

• 01/16/2014
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The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
Terry Pratchett
HarperCollins Publishers (2003)
ISBN 9780060012359
Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 11) for Reader Views (11/08)

Whoever heard of an intelligent rodent? Aren’t rodents just dumb little creatures that scavenge for food and frighten many people? How can a rodent be educated, unless of course, he lives in school?

The pied piper of Hamelin has been around for many years. “The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents” is based on the classic story. Maurice is a pretty smart cat who leads a bunch of rats on a journey to capture their fortunes by visiting different cities. It’s a con for a cat and his accomplices. The plan works marvelously as it seems just as the city is being ravaged by these rats, the “solution” appears; Maurice, who will help the city dwellers rid themselves of these rodents. Maurice shares his wages with his accomplices and on they move. However, all good things must come to an end. The next city they plan on fleecing is Bad Blintz. Only one thing, they already have their own city “solution” to a rat problem. Will this be the end of their wealthy ride?

In downtown Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, there is a clock which tells the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin every hour. It doesn’t matter how many times I have seen the clock portray the story, I always want to see it again. I love “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” I was excited to read this take on that loved story. “The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents” is hilarious page after page. However, there are still some lessons to be learned from it. I fell in love with these colorful characters, the names of the rats and the way they came up with them makes it funnier too. It is very easy to see why this book won a Carnegie Award for outstanding literature. It’s written with a junior-high perspective.

“The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents” by Terry Pratchett is not your ordinary cat and rats adventure!!