Space Station Rat [Hardcover]

Michael J. Daley (Author), Ashley Mims (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

A lavender rat, which has escaped from a laboratory, accidentally stows away on a space station. In addition to the scientists, technicians, and astronauts on board, a lonely young boy attracts the rat's attention, and she watches him in an effort to get food. When the two encounter each other, the boy is amazed to discover that the rat has been trained to communicate in sign language and by typing. The two misfits begin a friendship based on need, as they fight off efforts to discover and stamp out the stowaway.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–When Rat escapes from the experimental lab, she accidentally stows away in a space-bound supply crate. Now she is marooned on an orbiting observation station. There are many intriguing tunnels and hiding places, but food is hard to come by. She can hide from the slow, clumsy humans, but not from the sniffer robots. Rat knows that the hunter machines can track her anywhere, and their long mechanical tendrils are deadly. Without help, she knows that she won't survive. Meanwhile, Jeff, the only kid on the station, chafes under the supervision of his Nanny robot. He is excited to receive an e-mail from a new friend. At first, he assumes his correspondent is on Earth, but then he discovers Rat at his computer. Wary at first, Jeff and Rat begin to trust one another. When a meteor strike endangers everyone onboard, they must work together to save the station. The point of view shifts between Jeff and Rat, often describing the same objects and incidents from both perspectives. The developing interspecies communication raises interesting questions about the nature of intelligence and individuality. A thoughtful and satisfying adventure for middle grade science-fiction fans.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. Jeff is the least popular resident on the space station: the son of scientists, he's the only kid on board, and he always seems to be in the way or getting into trouble. Even Nanny, his creepy robot babysitter, resents him. After a rodent damages vital wiring, Nanny is ordered to destroy it, and Jeff is allowed to join the hunt. But Rat isn't just any rodent; she's scientifically modified, highly intelligent, and trained to steal information and formulas. Unbeknownst to Jeff, Rat is also an escapee-stowaway posing as Jeff's pen pal to get information and food. Short, snappy sentences, appealing characters, and tension between Nanny and Jeff combine with constant threats of ship malfunctions and Rat's struggle to survive to create a fast-paced story sure to please sf buffs. Daley left several loose ends, so perhaps readers will be treated to more stories about Rat and Jeff. Chris Sherman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1 edition (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823418669
• ISBN-13: 978-0823418664
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,395,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars smart & intimate sci-fi fun, September 7, 2005

By 

John S. Gurney - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Space Station Rat (Hardcover)

My 11 year old son and I enjoyed this story about a boy, and his relationship with a genetically modified, highly intelligent, rat. The boy is staying with his scientist parents on a research space station. The rat is a stow-away who longs for freedom. The boy is bored and lonely. The science fiction elements are credible and believable, not comic book fantasy stuff. The relationships are tender, and the villian, a potentially killer robot named "Nanny" is delightfully evil. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Introduction to Science Fiction, June 19, 2007

By 

T. Deveson (MIAMI, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Space Station Rat (Hardcover)

My 8-year-old son loved this book. I read it to him over a few nights and he was enthralled with the story of a boy whose parents work on a space station and the stowaway Rat. The book is fast-paced and exciting. It has turned on my son to the wonders of science fiction. He wants more, more, more books.

5.0 out of 5 stars very scientific, March 18, 2011

By 

Gifted Kid - See all my reviews

This review is from: Space Station Rat (Paperback)

Space Station Rat is about a rat,a boy,the boy's dad,the boy's mom,a captain,and the boy's nanny who is a robot living in a space station.All the people didn't know the rat was living in the space station until one day the rat was spying on the people and the power went out because of the rat.The people were so angry they wanted to kill the rat.Will the rat survive,read this book to find out.