In the tunnels beneath the city, the rat colony led by the Chairman is getting ready to go to war against the Two-Legs. The rats are tired of being baited, killed, afraid and living on scraps. Fin, the Chairman's nephew, wants to help with the destruction of the Two-Legs after seeing a rat destruction chamber, the Two-Leg research facility where rats are kept and tested. Fin and the Chairman decide to unleash the Plague on the Two-Legs in revenge. On the surface, Ananda is a young girl starting at a new school. Before her first day, a rat scurries across the market, scaring everyone. Her dad tries to kill the rat, but Ananada connects with him and can hear his panic. As the rats unleash the Plague, not all of the rats agree and two factions develop in the tunnels. Fin is directed to unleash the Plague in Ananda's household, but her kindness makes him rethink. The Two-Legs begin to die off, Ananda's school shuts down and fear and panic sets in for both the Two-Legs and the rats.
The Great & The Small is about a modern Bubonic Plague. Told from both the rats and humans point of view, there is a unique tone as we see why the plague was released and the effects when it spreads. The rat's political system was a mirror for Stalin's Communist Party where Fin's uncle, the Chairman, rules with authority and the rats in the upper tunnels have plenty whereas the lower tunnel rats suffer. Fin's character was well thought out, I liked that he was physically different and a deep thinker. Although he follows his uncle's plan, he is always thinking how these actions will affect the other rats. Fin is loyal and wants the best for the rats, but is able to change his thoughts about how to do that best. Ananda's character is interesting, she is a very typical middle grade girl with big emotions and worries about how she appears to others. I wish her ability to hear animals was either explored more or left out, I'm not sure how necessary it was for her to hear Fin in order for her to have compassion towards him. It also seemed that Ananada was fighting something with her mental health that was never fully explored. I do wish her experience with the Plague was detailed more from her point of view. With many tense moments and difficult decisions, The Great & The Small bridges two different worlds to see the immense ramifications that happen when we can't live peacefully together.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
In the tunnels beneath the city, the rat colony led by the Chairman is getting ready to go to war against the Two-Legs. The rats are tired of being baited, killed, afraid and living on scraps. Fin, the Chairman's nephew, wants to help with the destruction of the Two-Legs after seeing a rat destruction chamber, the Two-Leg research facility where rats are kept and tested. Fin and the Chairman decide to unleash the Plague on the Two-Legs in revenge. On the surface, Ananda is a young girl starting at a new school. Before her first day, a rat scurries across the market, scaring everyone. Her dad tries to kill the rat, but Ananada connects with him and can hear his panic. As the rats unleash the Plague, not all of the rats agree and two factions develop in the tunnels. Fin is directed to unleash the Plague in Ananda's household, but her kindness makes him rethink. The Two-Legs begin to die off, Ananda's school shuts down and fear and panic sets in for both the Two-Legs and the rats.
The Great & The Small is about a modern Bubonic Plague. Told from both the rats and humans point of view, there is a unique tone as we see why the plague was released and the effects when it spreads. The rat's political system was a mirror for Stalin's Communist Party where Fin's uncle, the Chairman, rules with authority and the rats in the upper tunnels have plenty whereas the lower tunnel rats suffer. Fin's character was well thought out, I liked that he was physically different and a deep thinker. Although he follows his uncle's plan, he is always thinking how these actions will affect the other rats. Fin is loyal and wants the best for the rats, but is able to change his thoughts about how to do that best. Ananda's character is interesting, she is a very typical middle grade girl with big emotions and worries about how she appears to others. I wish her ability to hear animals was either explored more or left out, I'm not sure how necessary it was for her to hear Fin in order for her to have compassion towards him. It also seemed that Ananada was fighting something with her mental health that was never fully explored. I do wish her experience with the Plague was detailed more from her point of view. With many tense moments and difficult decisions, The Great & The Small bridges two different worlds to see the immense ramifications that happen when we can't live peacefully together.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Great & The Small is about a modern Bubonic Plague. Told from both the rats and humans point of view, there is a unique tone as we see why the plague was released and the effects when it spreads. The rat's political system was a mirror for Stalin's Communist Party where Fin's uncle, the Chairman, rules with authority and the rats in the upper tunnels have plenty whereas the lower tunnel rats suffer. Fin's character was well thought out, I liked that he was physically different and a deep thinker. Although he follows his uncle's plan, he is always thinking how these actions will affect the other rats. Fin is loyal and wants the best for the rats, but is able to change his thoughts about how to do that best. Ananda's character is interesting, she is a very typical middle grade girl with big emotions and worries about how she appears to others. I wish her ability to hear animals was either explored more or left out, I'm not sure how necessary it was for her to hear Fin in order for her to have compassion towards him. It also seemed that Ananada was fighting something with her mental health that was never fully explored. I do wish her experience with the Plague was detailed more from her point of view. With many tense moments and difficult decisions, The Great & The Small bridges two different worlds to see the immense ramifications that happen when we can't live peacefully together.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
In the tunnels beneath the city, the rat colony led by the Chairman is getting ready to go to war against the Two-Legs. The rats are tired of being baited, killed, afraid and living on scraps. Fin, the Chairman's nephew, wants to help with the destruction of the Two-Legs after seeing a rat destruction chamber, the Two-Leg research facility where rats are kept and tested. Fin and the Chairman decide to unleash the Plague on the Two-Legs in revenge. On the surface, Ananda is a young girl starting at a new school. Before her first day, a rat scurries across the market, scaring everyone. Her dad tries to kill the rat, but Ananada connects with him and can hear his panic. As the rats unleash the Plague, not all of the rats agree and two factions develop in the tunnels. Fin is directed to unleash the Plague in Ananda's household, but her kindness makes him rethink. The Two-Legs begin to die off, Ananda's school shuts down and fear and panic sets in for both the Two-Legs and the rats.
The Great & The Small is about a modern Bubonic Plague. Told from both the rats and humans point of view, there is a unique tone as we see why the plague was released and the effects when it spreads. The rat's political system was a mirror for Stalin's Communist Party where Fin's uncle, the Chairman, rules with authority and the rats in the upper tunnels have plenty whereas the lower tunnel rats suffer. Fin's character was well thought out, I liked that he was physically different and a deep thinker. Although he follows his uncle's plan, he is always thinking how these actions will affect the other rats. Fin is loyal and wants the best for the rats, but is able to change his thoughts about how to do that best. Ananda's character is interesting, she is a very typical middle grade girl with big emotions and worries about how she appears to others. I wish her ability to hear animals was either explored more or left out, I'm not sure how necessary it was for her to hear Fin in order for her to have compassion towards him. It also seemed that Ananada was fighting something with her mental health that was never fully explored. I do wish her experience with the Plague was detailed more from her point of view. With many tense moments and difficult decisions, The Great & The Small bridges two different worlds to see the immense ramifications that happen when we can't live peacefully together.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
