Ratscalibur

March 23, 2015
In this playful retelling of the legend of Excalibur, a kingdom of city-dwelling rats is in crisis until a stranger frees the legendary Spork in the Scone to reveal himself as their foretold hero. But Joey is actually a human boy, transformed into a rodent by a Gondorff the Gray, a talking pet rat who happens to be a powerful Ragician. Joey’s quest to find Squirrelin the Squagician is his only hope to save Ravalon and return himself to human form. Pulling in references to The Lord of the Rings, The Three Musketeers, and more, Lieb (I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President) gleefully spoofs Arthurian legend, paying close attention to the keen sense of smell leading Joey on his rodent journey. Lintern’s elegantly drafted pen-and-ink drawings bring additional humor and suspense to the furry underbelly of the cityscape. First in the Chronicles of the Low Realm, it’s a charming take on an old favorite about overcoming life’s twists and finding strength inside oneself. Ages 8–12. Agent: Richard Abate, 3 Arts Entertainment.

March 1, 2015
A young New York City newcomer becomes a rat and then a hero in this tale of knightly derring-do.Transformed by the bite of dying Ragician ("Man does Magic. Rats do Ragic") Gondorff the Gray, Joey finds himself in the ankle-height kingdom of Ravalon, where he instantly earns widespread awe by pulling a plastic spork from a dried biscuit: "He's drawn the Spork from the Scone!" A quest into Central Park to seek help from the renowned but difficult mage Squirrelin the Squagician against a shadowy menace leads to furious battles with crows and Berzerker rats, devastating treachery, courageous acts aplenty, and even a kiss from princess/apprentice mage Yislene. Appearing on nearly every spread and ranging from small spot portraits to full-sized melees, Lintern's finely detailed drawings place Joey-intrepidly wielding his glowing utensil-and the rest in urban nooks and crannies only rarely noticed by crowds of human passersby. Along with the parodied names and puns, Lieb slips in gags of more than one sort with a ratcentric view of odors and foods ("Mmm, there's a cockroach leg stuck to the cheese. Bonus!") and a broad range of species-specific "-agics."A crowd-pleasing mix of quick action, true valor, clever wordplay, and gross bits. (Animal fantasy. 9-11)

May 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-A move to the city has Joey adjusting to new surroundings, but that's nothing compared to the changes to come. His favorite uncle, Patrick, brings him a rat for a pet and, much to Joey's surprise, the sickly rodent introduces himself as Gondorff the Gray and asks for his help. One magical, or rather "ragical," bite on the finger later, Joey is turned into a rat, escaping cats and crows as he attempts to deliver an important message to King Uther of the Low Realm. Once Joey pulls Ratscalibur, the mythical spork in the scone, he finds himself on a dangerous quest to see the powerful squagician Squirrelin who will hopefully help save the kingdom of Ravalon and turn Joey back into a human. Readers will root for Joey and his friends to prevail in this fast-paced and entertaining story about a magical world humans can't see. Short chapters and plenty of action keep the story moving, while Joey's worry and self-doubt make him a well-rounded character. Black-and-white illustrations further illuminate the details in Joey's new and exciting life. Readers will be pleased to see every indication of a sequel. VERDICT A great choice for those who prefer their unlikely heroes in animal form.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Grades 4-6 Joey's destiny takes an unforeseen turn when his uncle gives him a pet rat that is anything but ordinary: he is Gondorff, a ragician from the realm of Ravalon, which is in dire need of help. Gondorff, who is dying, magically turns Joey into a rat and saddles him with the task of delivering a message to his kingdom. Upon finding Ravalon, hunger leads Joey to pull a spork from a scone, and he is named the hero who will fulfill a long-told rat prophecy. Teaming up with the princess, a loyal guinea pig, a rat knight, and a herd of cats, Joey sets off on a quest to stop the evil Salaman from taking over Ravalon. Full of clever dialogue and hilarious puns, this is a delightful homage to Brian Jacques' Redwall series, Lord of the Rings, and Arthurian legend. While the plot holds few surprises, the play on the fantasy trope is well done. Expect more to come from Joey and Ravalon. Perfect for readers who enjoy animal fantasy brushed with humor and charm.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Having worked with many of television's comedy greats, Lieb has a strong handle on humor and parody. Don't be surprised if this novel achieves best-seller status like his first, I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President (2009).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)