After 80 (!) Book Club Spotlights, I am still finding hidden gems in our collection. As a huge horror reader I always thought our collection was lacking in that genre, until I stumbled across Rats by Paul Zindel and was instantly sucked into his macabre world. Known for book titles with unique names such as ‘The Pigman’, ‘Pardon Me, You’re Stepping on My Eyeball!’, and ‘My Darling, My Hamburger’, Zindel, dubbed the “Avatar of Teen Angst” by The School Library Journal, is best known for ushering in the realistic teen fiction revolution along with contemporaries like Judy Blume. The late author was never one to sanitize his work and spoke directly to an audience that was neglected by the publishing industry. Whether that was in his general YA fiction, or his action/horror adventure series, Zindel will give the truth to his readers in all their glorious and gory details.
On a hot summer day in the forgotten borough of New York, 30 years of rotting trash is being slowly buried under mountains of asphalt, trapping and poisoning the landfills’ rat denizens with methane gas. The unsuspecting citizens of the quiet Staten Island suburb are in the fright of their lives as hordes of mutated rats burst from the seams, with a taste for blood. Self-proclaimed rat expert Sarah and her little brother Mike must race to stop the murderous infestation before it takes over New York City. But little do they know, they have a mole amongst the rats.
“The dread of rats had been programmed into her young genes, into centuries of being human. Into mankind’s long evolution and deep, deep, cry to survive”
– Paul Zindel
Rats is a part of Zindel’s “The Zone Unknown Series” which are stand-alone horror/thriller books featuring young teens fighting to survive a mutated and perilous natural world. Teachers and librarians are always looking for the perfect book to get through to their reluctant readers, books that are engaging and exciting stories written with non-readers in mind. Since Halloween is only two months away, maybe you’re looking for a gnarly and visceral horror novel to hook your reluctant readers. In Rats, Zindel weaves his gross-out descriptions with prose that, at times, is startlingly evocative. It contains both emotional and environmental messages that can lead to good discussion. Students can learn about proper Landfill Capping, and the harmful effects of pollution. They will also read about personal and family strife. How to reach out for help and to not hide their problems from those who love them, letting it poison and fester until it’s too big to control.
If you’re a school librarian or are leading a preteen to teen book group, I do recommend giving Rats a look-over first to see if the graphic images and scenarios are right for your particular students. Some readers will be too squeamish while others will be thoroughly captivated. It takes all kinds!
In 1969 I quit teaching altogether. I felt I could do more for teenagers by writing for them. I started reading some young adult books, and what I saw in most of them had no connection to the teenagers I knew. I thought I knew what kids would want in a book, so I made a list and followed it. I try to show teens they aren’t alone. I believe I must convince my readers that I am on their side; I know it’s a continuous battle to get through the years between twelve and twenty — an abrasive time. And so I write always from their own point of view. – Paul Zindel
If you’re interested in requesting Rats for your book club, you can find the Request Form here. There are 11 copies (A librarian must request items)
Zindel, Paul. Rats. Hyperion. (1999)
