Space Station Rat

by
Michael J. Daley

Holiday House, April 2005, 182 pp.
ISBN: 0-8234-1866-4 

Genre: Young Reader

Subgenre: Science Fiction
Reviewed: 6/12/2007

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Excerpt

The Rat

Nanny regained its wheels and rushed to the bed, grippers extended as it moved. It ripped the grating off the vent. Something fell onto the bed, bounced, rolled off

The rat? But it couldn't be, because Nanny paid no attention to it. Nanny seized the edge of the vent and hauled its body up so that its eye could see inside. Zizz-zizz. Zizz-zizz.

Nanny dropped onto the bed. Rattle-bump-ping. A sniffer popped out, jaws snapping madly. Nanny lifted in into the vent, then somersaulted to the floor.

"Get out of the way," Nanny said.

"That was the rat! What was it doing here?" Jeff asked, scrambling to his feet.

"Get out of the way," Nanny said.

"Where are you going?"

"It is ninety percent likely the animal will flee to its nest. I will be there."

Jeff picked up his gun. "Me too!"

"No. You will stay here."

"That's not fair! I would have blasted it. It's just . . . well, I thought rats were brown!"

"You are an ignorant boy. Move aside."

"No!"

"Yes!" Nanny seemed to get bigger, like a porcupine raising its quills. Dozens of mechanical arms poked out of hidden holes in Nanny's black armor and waved and clattered. Nanny lurched forward.

Jeff meant to hold his ground, but the instant before Nanny touched him, he flinched and let Nanny scoot past.

Synopsis

Rat escapes from a laboratory on Earth where she had been genetically modified by scientists. Rat knows how to read, use a keyboard, and use sign language. One day, Rat is able to escape out an open window and ends up hiding inside a crate that gets loaded onto a shuttle that is bound for a space station.

On the space station, Jeff's parents are scientists that are working on a way to save the Earth. Jeff is left alone a lot and has a robot named Nanny that looks after him. Jeff doesn't like Nanny. She is very bossy and treats him badly. Meanwhile, Rat is always hungry. She has made a nest, explored part of the space station, and found the best way to get food was to be near Jeff, as Jeff is a sloppy eater and often leaves food lying around.

One day, Rat learns where the food processors are and starts to gather a lot of food. Unfortunately for Rat, the computers recognize that food is disappearing. Rat then accidentally chews through an electrical wire and the lights go out in the space station. Realizing that they have a rodent problem, the captain of the station sends Nanny after the rat. You see, Nanny isn't just a nanny robot, she is a prowler, a fixer of all sorts of problems.

Jeff soon comes to realize that the rat is intelligent and wants to save her. But with Nanny on the warpath, Jeff doesn't know how to stop the metal beast. After all, Nanny isn't quite the robot he thought it was.

Space Station Rat by Michael J Daley is the story about a genetically modified lavender-colored rat and a boy struggling to survive on a space station. This book is intended for young readers ages 8 to 12.

Review

Space Station Rat is a fun science fiction book that kids will enjoy. After all, what's not cool about a genetically engineered rat with lavender hair? Heck, I want one! As for the story, it is quick and entertaining. There is a lot of action in the story and it is interesting seeing the world through a rat's eyes, even if they have been genetically engineered.

As for Nanny, the menacing robot, there is obviously something wrong with it and it is not firing on all circuits. But if you look at it like she is just doing her job, then she really isn't evil, just thorough. It just so happens that her job is to kill the rat and save the space station from any more damage. Her other main job is to fix the space station when it is hit by a small meteor, which happens quite a bit. As for Jeff, he is a highly likable character that just needs something to do. The poor kid doesn't have anyone else to play with and sometimes finds himself in trouble because of it.

Overall, Space Station Rat is a great story that boys will love. So, if you are looking for a really cool science fiction story with a lot of action, pick up a copy of Space Station Rat today.

I rated this book an 8 out of 10.