Joe Rat    by Mark Barratt Order:  USA  Can Eerdmans, 2009 (2009) Softcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Deb Kincaid London author Mark Barratt is a masterful storyteller who crafts a suspenseful Dickensian tale. Well-drawn depictions of London's underbelly in the 1860s combine with the author's intimate knowledge of the period's lower-class society norms and culture to create a rich sensory landscape. In it, he places Joe Rat and Bess: Joe, a tosher (sewer scrap salvager), and Bess, the daughter of a down-on-his-luck farmer. They discover they have more in common than they think, and wind up helping each other. This is a story of a boy yearning to escape his wretched state - as well as the clutches of Mother, a crime boss. Bess's mother has plans for her as well. Bess thinks she's going to London to be a servant in a prestigious home, but her mother has deceived both Bess and her father. A nasty gang under Mother's control; a madman who screams out in the night; and a shady crook in cahoots with Bess's mom, are a few of the powerful characters challenging Joe and Bess. Joe Rat is a compelling, can't-put-it-down book. Highly recommended. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews