Ratscalibur is a Story with Heart, Soul, and Magical Sporks
I can already imagine the Hollywood pitch for a film adaptation of Ratscalibur, the newest middle grade novel by New York Times best-selling writer Josh Lieb, author of I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President.
Ratscalibur
Hardcover $16.99
Ratscalibur
By Josh Lieb
Hardcover $16.99
“Think of it as King Arthur meets Ratatouille,” the slick agent will say. “It’s The Secret of NIMH meets The Sword in the Stone. And there’s a dash of Spider-Man too.”
Yes, Lieb’s middle grade novel takes a few cues from each of those. But it puts everything together in a most sparkling, fun way, in the process creating something entirely fresh.
Ratscalibur is the story of Joey, an 11-year-old boy who moves to a small apartment in the city with his mom. The live on the bottom floor, and in the oppressive summer heat, the scent of garbage wafts in from the sidewalk. Joey feels frightened, friendless and very much out of place.
When an elderly rat bites Joey, magically transforming him into a rodent, Joey suddenly sees the city in an entirely new way—and not just because he’s only 3 inches tall. Formerly foul odors have become tantalizing. The streets at night no longer seem scary. Alley cats, however, are terrifying.
Joey, following his nose through the maze of the city, ends up in the rat kingdom. He’s hungry, so when he pulls a spork from a scone, Joey doesn’t even realize he has actually unleashed the legendary sword Ratscalibur. This boy-turned-rodent is the hero that the rat kingdom of Ravalon has been waiting for. A crowd gathers, sweeps Joey off his claws, and carries him directly to the king.
Joey, like every reluctant hero, doesn’t have faith in his own power and is hesitant to accept so much responsibility. As the king’s officials explain the importance of Ratscalibur, the boy insists, “Stop telling me about prophecies or whatever. Seriously. I’m not a hero. I’m just a kid. A human kid. And I need somebody to turn me back.”
Alas, Joey realizes that if he ever wants to be human again—more importantly, if he ever wants to see his mom again—he has little choice but to band together with his new friends. He must help protect Ravalon from the evil crows that want to destroy it. He must stay and prove his worth.
Josh Lieb has created a story with both sporks and substance. Ratscalibur is an epic adventure story, and children will relish its wit and whimsy. Joey makes a charming and believable protagonist, and he proves that even those who feel isolated and awkward can show extreme courage, demonstrate fierce loyalty, and be a force for good. All he needed was the right rattitude.
Ratscalibur is in stores this month.
“Think of it as King Arthur meets Ratatouille,” the slick agent will say. “It’s The Secret of NIMH meets The Sword in the Stone. And there’s a dash of Spider-Man too.”
Yes, Lieb’s middle grade novel takes a few cues from each of those. But it puts everything together in a most sparkling, fun way, in the process creating something entirely fresh.
Ratscalibur is the story of Joey, an 11-year-old boy who moves to a small apartment in the city with his mom. The live on the bottom floor, and in the oppressive summer heat, the scent of garbage wafts in from the sidewalk. Joey feels frightened, friendless and very much out of place.
When an elderly rat bites Joey, magically transforming him into a rodent, Joey suddenly sees the city in an entirely new way—and not just because he’s only 3 inches tall. Formerly foul odors have become tantalizing. The streets at night no longer seem scary. Alley cats, however, are terrifying.
Joey, following his nose through the maze of the city, ends up in the rat kingdom. He’s hungry, so when he pulls a spork from a scone, Joey doesn’t even realize he has actually unleashed the legendary sword Ratscalibur. This boy-turned-rodent is the hero that the rat kingdom of Ravalon has been waiting for. A crowd gathers, sweeps Joey off his claws, and carries him directly to the king.
Joey, like every reluctant hero, doesn’t have faith in his own power and is hesitant to accept so much responsibility. As the king’s officials explain the importance of Ratscalibur, the boy insists, “Stop telling me about prophecies or whatever. Seriously. I’m not a hero. I’m just a kid. A human kid. And I need somebody to turn me back.”
Alas, Joey realizes that if he ever wants to be human again—more importantly, if he ever wants to see his mom again—he has little choice but to band together with his new friends. He must help protect Ravalon from the evil crows that want to destroy it. He must stay and prove his worth.
Josh Lieb has created a story with both sporks and substance. Ratscalibur is an epic adventure story, and children will relish its wit and whimsy. Joey makes a charming and believable protagonist, and he proves that even those who feel isolated and awkward can show extreme courage, demonstrate fierce loyalty, and be a force for good. All he needed was the right rattitude.
Ratscalibur is in stores this month.