'The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents' is a whimsical and philosophical tale that puts a unique spin on the Pied Piper story. The book follows Maurice, a clever talking cat, and a group of intelligent rats who team up with a boy to run a scam in various towns. As they encounter new challenges, including an evil rat king and corrupt rat catchers, they must navigate moral dilemmas and work together to overcome obstacles. Terry Pratchett's writing style combines humor, wit, and depth, making this book both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Characters:

The characters are vibrant and diverse, with the rats and Maurice taking center stage, showcasing distinct personalities that undergo growth and development.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is both entertaining and thought-provoking, characterized by humor and a sharp wit that resonates with both younger and older audiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot combines elements of comedy and darker themes as it follows a talking cat and intelligent rats in a con scheme centered around the Pied Piper legend.

Setting:

Set in the fantastical world of Discworld, the story's setting varies from light-hearted towns to darker underground spaces that enhance the narrative's tension.

Pacing:

The pacing evolves from a slower start to a more thrilling rhythm as the story unfolds, effectively engaging readers in the narrative.

One day, when he was naughty, Mr. Bunnsy looked over the hedge into Farmer Fred's field and it was full of green lettuces. Mr. Bunnsy, however, was not full of lettuces. This did not seem fair. —From ...

Notes:

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents is a young adult novel in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

It is loosely based on the Pied Piper of Hamelin story.

The book features a talking cat named Maurice who leads a band of intelligent rats that gained awareness after eating magical rubbish.

The rats have unique names, such as Dangerous Beans, Hamnpork, and Darktan, derived from food labels they read.

The narrative explores themes of consciousness, ethics, and societal structures through the rats' perspective.

Unlike many Discworld novels, this book contains chapters, making it easier for readers to find stopping points.

The story is notably darker and has significant philosophical depth compared to typical children's literature.

Pratchett’s humor and satire shine through as he critiques human greed and moral ambiguity.

The Amazing Maurice won the Carnegie Medal, highlighting its acclaim in children's literature.

This book is often recommended as a starting point for readers new to Terry Pratchett's work.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include themes of animal cruelty, dark humor, and situations involving danger and violence towards characters, which might be unsettling to some readers.

From The Publisher:

Book Sense Pick

New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

Carnegie Medal

VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults

Carnegie Medal Winner * New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age * VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror * ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * Book Sense Pick

The Amazing Maurice runs the perfect Pied Piper scam. This streetwise alley cat knows the value of cold, hard cash and can talk his way into and out of anything. But when Maurice and his cohorts decide to con the town of Bad Blinitz, it will take more than fast talking to survive the danger that awaits.

For this is a town where food is scarce and rats are hated, where cellars are lined with deadly traps, and where a terrifying evil lurks beneath the hunger-stricken streets....

Set in Terry Pratchett's beloved Discworld, this masterfully crafted, gripping read is both compelling and funny. When one of the world's most acclaimed fantasy writers turns a classic fairy tale on its head, no one will ever look at the Pied Piper-or rats-the same way again!

Ratings (37)

Incredible (8)
Loved It (15)
Liked It (9)
It Was OK (4)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (52):

Read It (37)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (10)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (3)

2 comment(s)

cpowl713

Loved It

4 months

I loved the characters, and I'm a big fan of Terry Pratchett's writing style. I also enjoyed the themes about what makes a society, and I found the plot really interesting.

briane441

Incredible

5 months

Maybe I'm just in a really good reading mood lately but I think this is one of my favorite discworld books yet. Guess you can't go wrong with a book about a cat and a bunch of intelligent rats with names like Dangerous Beans and Additives :D

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The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

Terry Pratchett

Book 28 in the series:Discworld