Space Station Rat Book

This charming debut novel-which The Bulletin called "light-years ahead of the competition"- about the adventures of a boy and a genetically engineered rat on a space station is now available in paperback, coinciding with the release of its sequel, Rat Trap.

A lavender rat, which has escaped from harsh scientists in a laboratory, accidentally stows away on a space station. Besides the scientists, technicians, and astronauts on board, a lonely young boy attracts the rat's attention. When Jeff and Rat encounter each other, the boy discovers, much to his amazement, that the rat can communicate in sign language and by typing. The two misfits begin a friendship based on need, learning to trust each other as they fight off frightening efforts to discover and stamp out the stowaway.

Children's Literature

When Jeff, a lonely boy stuck on a space station with his scientist parents, starts receiving emails from an anonymous pen pal, he never suspects his new friend is a genetically modified, super-smart rat who wound up on the space station after escaping from the lab where she was created. Hungry for more than the apple cores and crumbs she's been finding, Rat uses her friendship with Jeff to learn how she can get some real food from the machines aboard the station. But when Rat steals too much food, the station's captain re-programs Jeff's nanny-robot to exterminate Rat! Now, Rat must make Jeff understand who she really is, or be hunted down by a disturbingly lethal robot. Performed by stage actor Daniel Bostick, this audio book version of Daley's Space Station Rat presents a bizarre but poignant tale about two lonely kids trapped in a place full of neglectful and self-absorbed adults. Kids will enjoy Jeff and Rat's e-mails, as Rat tells Jeff about herself while hiding her animal identity (her email about her "lavender coat" is especially funny). Bostick's vocal talents are remarkably versatile as he shifts from Jeff's high-pitched (and somewhat whiney) tone, to the nanny-robot's ominous mechanical voice, to Rat's animalistic yet articulate thoughts. It's significant that while most of the characters are female, one has no problem accepting Bostick as all the characters. Fans of this audio book may want to check out Daley's sequel, Rat Trap, and the upcoming Full Cast Audio book, A Dog on His Own, which is previewed at the end of this audio book. Reviewer: Michael Jung, PhD