Joe Rat

by Mark Barratt
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An rollicking adventure following a sewer-scavenger, Joe Rat, as he faces the challenges of life in crime-infested Victorian London.

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Synopsis

Set in the underbelly of Victorian London's East End, Joe Rat follows the fortunes of a tosher, Joe, who lives by scavenging in the sewers around the area of Whitechapel. It's a fast-paced and vivid tale of survival in a society which fosters neither friendship nor trust. But Joe comes to know both after a chance encounter with a runaway girl, Bess, and the 'madman' who inhabits Pound's Field. With gangs lurking round every corner and a life spent in the rat-infested tunnels below the streets, Joe needs more than a prime piece of tosh to change his fortunes . . .

Editorial Reviews

"This is a great book, full of mystery and the horror of Victorian low-life." - The Independent

"This is a very well told and quite gripping story of the underside of Victorian life. Four out of Five stars" - Books for Keeps

"Gritty, flawed characters, propulsive plot and brooding atmosphere yield a gripping mash-up of Dickensian tropes with an Adam Rapp-like concern for throwaway children. A chilling mystery that will haunt readers long after the final page." - Kirkus Reviews

"This book has the added advantage of appealing to both boys and girls, and is likely to find favour with teachers looking for novels set in this period to enhance the history curriculum at KS2" - Nikki Gamble, The Bookseller

"This exciting 'Dickensian' story has echos of Coram Boy...Keen readers over 10 who enjoy historical novels will definitely appreciate this one." - Alison A. Maxwell-Cox, School Librarian

"This is such a superb book" - Irish Times

"This journey through the underbelly of a corrupt city, with the constant fear of relentless pursuers, is a darkly atmospheric read" - Irish Examiner

"It gripped me from the start to the end" - Teen Titles

"A vivid and atmospheric story, with grapic descriptions of steaming sewers, that incorporates mystery with Dickensian overtones." - Jeniffer Taylor, The Bookseller

"The book is a real eye opener and a brilliant reminder of what we don't have to cope with in todays world." - www.bfkbooks.com

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