Reviewed by Kylie Buckley
In 1665 in a small town in France, twelve-year-old Marie is set to become a
maid, an arrangement by her strict working-class parents. She longs for freedom
and adventure and often dreams of another life for herself. Marie’s situation
worsens when an unfortunate incident sees her disgraced and sent out of town as
punishment. Filled with fear and humiliation, Marie is forced to leave her parents
and her beloved twin brother to become an apprentice to the enigmatic ratcatcher.
Now, life as a maid seemed much more appealing compared to the ‘undignified and
dirty’ job of a rat-catcher’s apprentice. Despite a shaky start, Marie settles
into her new role and works hard to earn money for her parents back home. Little
does she know that her new life will bring a new sense of purpose along with plenty
of adventure, a myriad of challenges and a surprising friendship.
The Rat-Catcher’s Apprentice is a middle-grade historical fiction narrative
featuring a strong female protagonist and uplifting themes of resilience, hope,
courage and belonging. However, younger readers should be aware that it also contains
some heavier themes, including mass deaths from the plague. The
Rat-Catcher’s Apprentice is a fantastic debut novel from Maggie Jankuloska
and is highly recommended for readers aged 10 years and older.
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