Oh, Rats!

Phoenix the squirrel is used to being "the pick of the litter... the biggest of the bunch, with the most lustrous fur." But after being snatched by a red-tailed hawk, haughty Phoenix finds himself battered and furless in Manhattan, far from his forest home in N.J. After being unceremoniously dropped in hot tar, then nearly drowned in the Hudson River, he is rescued by two wharf rat siblings: inquisitive Lucy and brainy Beckett. Though he initially holds some stereotypical opinions about rats, the squirrel, an excellent climber with a unique knowledge of electricity, soon finds himself center stage in the rats' battle against gentrification and the approaching demolition of their pier. Seidler (Firstborn) convincingly portrays rodent-human parallels; the rats' diverse community is passionately united as they fight to save their home, sabotaging electrical grids to raise awareness and sending strongly worded letters (written by Beckett) to voice their dissent. Soft black-and-white spot illustrations by Evans (the Little Paws series) add further charm to this animal adventure with direct social commentary. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)

Gr 3-7--Phoenix is a lucky squirrel. He was the largest in his litter, has the most luxurious tail, and can climb the tallest trees of all the squirrels in New Jersey. His luck runs out when he is kidnapped by a chatty red-tailed hawk named Walter. But Walter doesn't have the best grip, and with Phoenix being so large, Walter drops Phoenix across the river...in Manhattan. This turn of events finds Phoenix dealing with hot tar, which burns off his fur. Then he falls into the Hudson River. Facing certain death, he is rescued by Lucy and Beckett, sister and brother rats. They take pity on Phoenix, and soon the community of wharf rats accept him as one of their own. When the rats discover that a New York developer is tearing down their home to build tennis courts, they organize themselves into a resistance movement. With his talent at climbing tall things, Phoenix is enlisted to sabotage the electrical grid. The results are surprising, even to Phoenix. When Walter returns and offers Phoenix a ride back home, Phoenix must choose the life that has the most purpose. Seidler develops engaging characters for whom readers will root. VERDICT This is a charming tale of finding oneself and choosing one's own destiny. A solid purchase for most libraries.--Amy Caldera, Dripping Springs Middle School, TX