Sadie and Ratz

Sonya Hartnett's Sadie and Ratz is a funny little story for 8 year olds about a girl whose hands have names, personalities and a serious grudge against her little brother.

What happens

Hannah tells the story herself. Sadie is the boss, and she's the meaner of the two. Ratz does whatever Sadie tells him. When Sadie grows up, she wants to be a dragon. Ratz just wants to be a bigger Ratz.

Dad calls them wild beasts. Mostly they go after Baby Boy, who is four. When he annoys Hannah, Sadie and Ratz pounce and do their best to rub both his ears right off. He bellows like a banshee bull. Hannah gets sent to bed. As usual.

Then something strange happens. Baby Boy starts blaming Sadie and Ratz for everything. A black line of marker pen on the clean white wall? Sadie and Ratz. Spilt milk? Sadie and Ratz. A grazed knee? Apparently they pushed him.

And because everyone knows how naughty Sadie and Ratz can be, everyone believes him.

So there's a little mystery to solve, and Hannah needs to prove her hands didn't do it. Her plan is brilliant in the way only a child's plan can be (it involves Sadie and Ratz going on holiday).

Hannah's voice is the best thing about it. She's fierce and funny and very, very fair-minded, the way kids are when they've been blamed for something they didn't do. Who hasn't watched a little brother or sister get away with everything?

It's short, with simple sentences and lots of repeating patterns, so it's easy to fly through. The grown-ups are gently funny too. Mum thinks Sadie and Ratz should try yoga to help them relax.

If your reader is the oldest in the family and sometimes feels like they get all the blame, they'll be on Hannah's side from the very first line.

What to read next

For more big-sibling outrage, Horrid Henry's Stinkbomb has Henry up against Perfect Peter, the little brother everyone thinks is an angel.