by Miska Miles
First published 1972
A young boy discovers a wounded rat near the wharf and decides to nurse it back to health. Against the expectations of adults who see rats as nothing but pests, he creates a makeshift home for the creature and tends to its injuries with quiet determination. The boy faces skepticism and outright opposition from those around him who cannot understand his compassion for such an unlikely companion. As he cares for the rat day after day, feeding it scraps and protecting it from harm, an unexpected bond forms between them. The boy learns that showing kindness requires courage, especially when others dismiss the value of a life they consider worthless. Through his dedication to this small, vulnerable creature, he discovers something important about responsibility, empathy, and standing up for what he believes is right.
Genres: fiction, animals, 20th-century, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Setting: Wharf
Period: 20th-century
Library Binding · Little Brown & Co