Rat Catchers

A fast-moving and exciting story set in 1863, about Joe, who is eleven. He is lucky to have a job, working on an old leaky barge transporting grain, ice and other goods up an down the Regent Canal, in London. But the job won't last long. Vinnie, who owns the barge, is old and ill and has no money to do the repairs.Then Joe meets Emily, a flower seller, and tries to help her, but that same day he is attacked in a dark alley and pressed into service to catch rats for the men who enjoy the sport of ratting. That night he must go into the stinking sewers to catch rats and Emily insists on going with him. And if they don't catch the required two dozen, he'll be in big trouble ...