I Was a Rat!: Or, the Scarlet slippers

This book is beautifully written story with the backdrop of a Royal wedding. The main character Roger insists he was a Rat, when he is found abandoned on the doorstep of Bob and Joan. But what is he now? A terrifying monster running wild in the sewers? A victim of Rodent Delusion? A lucrative fairground freak and more. Or is Roger just an ordinary boy with ratty habits.

I was a Rat is a magical weaving of humour, fairy tail and adventure.

So funny when he thinks he is a rat

It didn't tell you the answer it let's you find it in the text. My mom will like it because she likes this types of books.

Very very funny

This book introduces a boy called Roger,who says he was a rat.One day,Bob and Joan (who are an old couple) find Roger standing at the door dressed up in a page boy's clothes.All he said is "I was a rat!"Bob and Joan decide to take the poor boy in until the next day.When Bob and Joan woke up,they found that Roger had nibbled all his bedsheets and the bed itself!I would recommend this book as it makes you question what will happen next.

Great story about Roger, a rat who gets changed into a boy when Mary Jane goes to the ball, but doesn't change back into a rat at midnight. A good read for children. My class loved it!

A bit scary but also kind mean. I liked it because it was very exciting and hard to put down!

It was perfect!

I liked when the prince saved roger. My favourite character was roger

I was not particularly keen to pick up this book as the cover did not appeal but used it to plan an English unit as it was recommended on a published scheme of work. I was pleasantly surprised.

The story starts with an old couple who discover a boy on their doorstep late one night. Dressed as a bell boy or porter, they question where he has come from but he can only respond by saying, "I was a rat!"

The poor boy is taken in and the old couple are puzzled by his lack of understanding of the human world and his ratty behaviour - tearing up the bed sheets to make a nest is a highlight!

The couple begin to seek help for the boy but nobody wants to know. As a result of his innocence, the boy is taken advantage of and tricked to join a criminal group.

He ends up in a freak show and after some very ratty behaviour, the town hold a trial to determine if he really is a boy or a rat.

The boy has a fascination with the new princess who has just married the prince and her story is told via small and humorous newspaper reports throughout the book. Will the princess realise who the rat boy is and rescue him from extermination?

A very clever book that uses the fairy-tale Cinderella told by the perspective of one of the rats who was turned into a footman but did not turn back as he ran off to play football with the other servants at the ball.

Excellent opportunities for wanted posters, newspaper reports and even your own trial of the rat boy!

Suitable for Year 3- 4.

I enjoyed this book. You felt for the main character and despaired at times about how he was treated by others due to his naivety, but ultimately good hearted people made the most positive impact on him. A good story for lower phase children to read.

Super read. Clever links to real events and an ending that I didn't expect.

Really enjoyed it. Like a fairytale

I liked it very much Philip Pullman is a very talented writer, I also really liked Clockwork and The firework maker's daughter I have given Philip's books all a 5 out of 5 because he can really make you feel the emotions of the characters in the book. My favourite part is when you discover that Roger really had been a rat and that the Princess' name really was Mary Jane!

I really enjoyed it and my favourite character was Bob. It was great. You should read this book.

I found this book really entertaining. I particularly liked the way we knew where Roger had come from throughout the book but it was never explicitly said. Great capacity for prediction work, character description and development. The mix of text types with newspaper articles scattered throughout was excellent. Although Roger was the main character and he was very likeable my own favourite characters were Bob and Joan. They were such kind hearted people who wanted to do their best for this little boy that falls into their lives.
I would recommend this book, not just for the joy of reading it as a class novel, but also for the massive amount of writing opportunities that come from it.

I think this book is exciting. It's about a boy who worked in a palace.

I liked this book but I've read better.

I enjoyed it a lot. It Reminds me of a fairy tale!
It is a fictional story.
My favourite character was Princess Aurelia.
Yes, I recommend this book!

It is funny but kind of wierd

it is all about a rat that gets turned into a boy and still acts like a rat

I loved the adventure in this book and I also like the twist at the end!!!

A really good book that has lots of exciting twists and opinions.

"I was a rat" is about a boy that thought he was a rat.

this is a good book because it is very interesting and it has some mysteries in it.

Good book really good description

I really enjoyed reading I was a rat because he kept on getting in trouble and he didn't know anything was. I would recommend this book to year 3s to year 5s.

it is ok

it is a story a mystery because this boy thinks he's a rat . Bob and Joan visit the main hall, orphornage, school and other places. So it is a book that is full of questions.

Terrifying travels in victorian london with a strange boy who says he is a rat