Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

Written by: Lynee Jonell

First line: Emmy was a good girl.

Why you should read this book: An evil nanny, a lovesick junkshop proprietor, a pair of negligent, globe-trotting parents, a horde of sassy rodents with magical powers, enough shrinking and growing back to satisfy fans of Lewis Carroll, and, in the center of it all, a little girl who simply cannot catch a break no matter how good she is, form a happy confluence for those who love stories of fantasy set in the real world. When Emmy realizes she can talk to rats, she begins to question other aspects of her life, such as why no one in her school seems to know she exists, and why her parents hardly ever come home anymore, or why her nanny makes her eat, drink, and wear strange potions while overscheduling her afternoons with activities she doesn’t enjoy and forcing her to make up stories to satisfy the nosy school psychologist. A really wonderful, imaginative, satisfying, and gripping tale with a classic reluctant hero, set in a realistic modern world that modern kids can relate to.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You’re going to get your hands on the old man’s fortune if it’s the last thing you do, and no legitimate heirs are going to get in your way.

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