The Rat Boy

Name: The Rat Boy
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain

The Rat Boy, written by Basil Hall Chamberlain, is a novel that tells the story of a young boy who is transformed into a rat after being bitten by a poisonous snake. The book follows his journey as he navigates the world as a rodent, encountering various challenges and obstacles along the way.

By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1914 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature · 740 words

First lines

In a certain village there lived a very rich couple; but they were childless. They were very anxious for a child. But one day, as the wife went to the mountains to fetch wood, she found a little boy crying beside a tree. Rejoiced at this, she took him down with her to the village. Thenceforth they kept the boy with them. It was a place where there was plenty of deer and also of fish; it was a place provided with all the things which people like to eat. But though they hunted the deer, they could not catch them; though they angled for the fish, they could not catch them. They were very hungry. Hearing that great quantities both of fish and of deer were killed in the village next to theirs, towards the mountains, the wife went off to buy food there, taking the child with her. She went to the village next to theirs, towards the mountains. She went to the house of the chief.

What this Textopian page supports

The Rat Boy is listed on Textopian as a short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1914 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain
Date: 1914 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature
Length: 740 words
Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Rat Boy by Basil Hall Chamberlain
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Rat Boy?
How does this short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The main character is a boy who has rat-like features, an element common in the fantasy genre.
Adventure — The story involves a series of events that require the protagonist to undertake a journey or mission, consistent with the adventure genre.
Children's Literature — The simplistic style of writing and the youthful protagonist are typical of children's literature.