Rat Rule 79

Gr 4 Up– Fred is sick of moving. Her math professor mother has moved them to five places in the last six years. On the eve of her 13th birthday, Fred’s lack of friends to celebrate with has made her angrier than usual. After storming off to her room, she is surprised when time passes without her mother coming to check on her. When she goes to investigate, she sees her mother dressed for a party and standing in front of a giant paper lantern—which she then walks into and disappears. Fred makes the momentous decision to follow her, and thus begins her journey in the land of impossibility. Following in the tradition of many nonsense tales, adventures ensue as Fred meets Downer, a depressed elephant, and a truculent mongoose named Gogo. Together they help Fred navigate a world where time is outlawed and residents live by the rules of the mysterious Rat Queen. Fred and her friends encounter a variety of odd creatures as they struggle to solve a riddle that could be the ultimate solution to their varying problems. A consistently droll tone carries the story along. Math and math-inspired tales are threaded throughout, along with amusing word play and many a meta moment. Megalos’s intricate illustrations lend beauty and expression to the story, offering a much-needed connection to the strange characters and setting.