Ratfink is a fun story about Logan, a 5th grader who tries his best to keep his forgetful grandfather from embarrassing him and ruining his social life. Meanwhile, Emily the "Snot" becomes a major annoyance and problem for Logan at school that causes him to test his loyalty to his best friend Malik or risk becoming a ratfink (another word for snitch). This book is easy to read, easy to comprehend, and very relatable for a lot of children. The story isn't too simple and the writing is perfect for kids 3rd grade and up. This book delves into themes about friends, family, and portrays Alzheimers in a way that children can understand. I could see myself using this book to teach lessons about friendship and anti-bullying in a classroom.

This is a book most kids will be able to identify with. The fear of being laughed at is a universal fear.
Logan's grandpa is losing his memories. Logan is afraid he will doing something to embarrass him. It isn't long until Emily the new girl finds that embarrassing item and uses it to try to blackmail Logan into finding and divulging a secret his best friend Malik has. This would be a great book to read to a certain point and then pose the question to students, "What would you choose to do if you were Logan?" It also brings up the themes of friendship, family, and so many more. This is definitely a book to be added to my shelves. ( )

Logan's fifth grade year is complicated by the arrival of his forgetful grandfather and by a snotty new girl in class. Readers this age will appreciate the dilemma, though sometimes the way Logan and Emily treat each other crosses the line from annoying to mean. ( )