stephanie6082's review against another edition
3.0
Read to my students. Cute and dorky — they really liked it. I kinda thought there could have been more of a climax, it ended a little early I felt ?
hoops_literary_life's review against another edition
4.0
Children's book that is still applicable to fourth graders today. Students will relate to the characters in the book as well as the feeling of being not quite grown but still wanting to be "little".
jamicuns01's review against another edition
4.0
This was an absolutely darling book. My 9 year old son recommended it to me. He thought it was a great book. It's a story about 2 friends who want to grow up and in the end realize it's better to stay a kid. It's particularly a great message for 3rd/4th/5th grade boys. It will resonate with them.
aconant's review against another edition
3.0
GRL Q -
I think both boys and girls would find this book interesting. Perhaps boys more so than girls. The two main characters are both 4th grade boys. Now that they are in 4th grade they are know as rats (moving up quickly from 3rd grade angles). This is all due to a silly school rhyme but one of the boys Joey takes it pretty seriously. He convinces his friend suds what a great thing it is to be a rat, how it's the path to being a man. Joey takes twinkies and pushes unsuspecting younger students from swings. Suds isn't convinced until of course, his crush starts to fall for the new 'rat' persona of Joey's. Suddenly convinced that becoming a rat is the only way to get noticed by Judy Suds goes all in.
I actually thought this was a fun read. I don't know if I'm looking at that from an adult perspective where Joey just cracked me up with some of the stunts he was pulling and the things he was saying about being a man. The dynamic of the characters was very cute.
There are good messages about peer pressure and what it can make you do. Also, there are some quick exchanges between Suds and mom about how it made Suds feel to be a rat.
Overall a decent pick and I think I will make it a group read. Super quick read.
*****spoiler*****
In the end, Joey realizes mom isn't standing for this rat stuff and cleans up his act. Both boys come clean. Suds realizes maybe Judy isn't the one for him.
I think both boys and girls would find this book interesting. Perhaps boys more so than girls. The two main characters are both 4th grade boys. Now that they are in 4th grade they are know as rats (moving up quickly from 3rd grade angles). This is all due to a silly school rhyme but one of the boys Joey takes it pretty seriously. He convinces his friend suds what a great thing it is to be a rat, how it's the path to being a man. Joey takes twinkies and pushes unsuspecting younger students from swings. Suds isn't convinced until of course, his crush starts to fall for the new 'rat' persona of Joey's. Suddenly convinced that becoming a rat is the only way to get noticed by Judy Suds goes all in.
I actually thought this was a fun read. I don't know if I'm looking at that from an adult perspective where Joey just cracked me up with some of the stunts he was pulling and the things he was saying about being a man. The dynamic of the characters was very cute.
There are good messages about peer pressure and what it can make you do. Also, there are some quick exchanges between Suds and mom about how it made Suds feel to be a rat.
Overall a decent pick and I think I will make it a group read. Super quick read.
*****spoiler*****
In the end, Joey realizes mom isn't standing for this rat stuff and cleans up his act. Both boys come clean. Suds realizes maybe Judy isn't the one for him.
ladyladyloveme's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
s_hay's review against another edition
4.0
Suds is a 4th grader now and according to the school yard rhyme that means he is no longer a 3rd grade Angel but a 4th grade rat. His best friend Joey is trying to convince him that they need to start acting like rats since that will help them grow into men. Suds isn't so sure, acting like a rat isn't very nice and doesn't seem like the way he wants to behave. Can Joey convince him to be a rat so they can terrorize the school together? And more importantly, will acting like a rat impress the girl that Suds has a big time crush on.
Classic message about figuring out who you are. This is a great story though a few bits are outdated as they boys talk about watching an ET video cassette and using the VCR.
Good one for boys ages 8-10.
Classic message about figuring out who you are. This is a great story though a few bits are outdated as they boys talk about watching an ET video cassette and using the VCR.
Good one for boys ages 8-10.
callidora7's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lizlogan's review against another edition
4.0
A quick and cute book about being yourself versus being what others expect you to be. Changing schools (or even grades) can be tough. I would recommend this to a child who is not quite so sure about the process.