by W. H. Beck
Flap Copy Description:
When Malcolm (a smaller than average rat) arrives as the fifth grade pet at McKenna School, he revels in the attention, the Pop-Tart crumbs, and his new Comf-E-Cube. He also meets the Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that keeps the nutters (kids) out of trouble. After all, everybody knows "a lot happens in a school when the teachers aren't looking."
There's just one problem. Have you heard? Rats have a terrible reputation! So when the Academy assumes that Malcolm is a mouse, he doesn't exactly speak up. Then the Academy's leader, a glasses-wearing iguana named Aggy, disappears and the Academy smells a rat...a dirty rat fink, to be specific. Now Malcolm must use all of his ratty persistence to prove his innocence, get Aggy back under her heat lamp - and find out if it's possible to be a critter of valor and merit even if you're a rat.
My Thoughts:
Ms. Beck's debut novel - Malcolm at Midnight - is a delightful adventure story with anthropomorphic animals. The little main character, Malcolm, must stand up for himself and in the process learns the importance of being true to who he really is. This whimsical tale is full of twists and turns with loads of laughs; the wonderful character development really shines in this middle grade story. I would highly recommend Malcolm at Midnight to readers from the ages of eight to twelve.
To learn more about the author - W.H. Beck - click here: http://www.whbeck.com/
