# Fourth Grade Rats

**Author:** Jerry Spinelli
**Grade range:** Grades 4–6
**Age range:** 9–11
**First published:** 1991
**Page count:** 90
**Genre:** Realistic Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9780590442442`
**ISBN-10:** `0545359848`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/fourth-grade-rats
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

A fast, fun, friendship read from the Newbery-award winning author of Maniac Magee. Fourth graders are tough. They aren't afraid of spiders. They say no to their moms. They push first graders off the swings. And they never, ever cry. Suds knows that now that he's in fourth grade, he's supposed to be a rat. But whenever he tries to act like one, something goes wrong. Can Suds's friend Joey teach him to toughen up...or will Suds remain a fourth grade wimp?telling

## Themes

- conduct of life
- schools
- friendship
- school stories

## Where this book is assigned

### Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award — Maryland's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-63-520): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.maslmd.org/past-winners)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award — Maryland's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-63-520): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.maslmd.org/past-winners)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award — Maryland's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-63-520): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.maslmd.org/past-winners)

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