A spot on the International Space Station (ISS) has opened up, and Mortimer, the journal-keeping lab rat, is not about to miss his chance to become an intergalactic space rat. And that’s just the first step in his master scheme to prove that rats are much better suited than humans when it comes to colonizing Mars.
Mortimer sets out to expose the impracticality of human astronauts by conducting experiments and recording the evidence for YouTube. As far as he’s concerned, pellet-eating rats are much easier to feed than fussy humans, and just think of all the unwashed underthings floating around the galaxy — especially when compared to the versatile rattail!
But when Mortimer’s schemes go awry, he is forced to face new truths about dreams, friendship, and choosing the right thing to do. Maybe not everything is a rat race.
“Mortimer’s story is a ridiculous tale filled with rat puns, pranks, and a whole lot of fun. Readers who have a love of space will find well-researched facts spread throughout the story in a way that is informative but not overwhelming. It’s clear that Galat has a love for space and science, and she shares that love with her readers through Mortimer’s adventures.”
– CM Reviews
“It’s a beautiful combination of storytelling and non-fiction. Joan Marie Galat seamlessly integrates so much fascinating information about astronauts and the ISS while telling an engaging story about a determined little lab rat.”
– Storytime with Stephanie blog
“Details about the space station come alive as the story unfolds. A fun read and the 27 chapters move along at a quick pace. A perfect addition to the middle grade shelves.”
– Always in the Middle blog
