1. Does the brutal violence of Rats make it unsuitable for children? In your opinion, what should be the appropriate age for readers of this book?

2. How well does Zindel show what he means as opposed to telling what he means, especially when speculating on the rats' motivations?

3. How intense are the scenes in the rats' caves? Why would Zindel send Sarah and Michael into the caves? Did you enjoy those scenes?

4. Why would Zindel include scenes of goo and slime in Rats?

5. What is the point for having the rat leader examine Sarah the way Surfer was examined?

6. Why would workers at the landfill not realize that they had a serious rat problem, one much worse than usual for a dump?

7. What purpose does the absence of Sarah and Michael's mother serve in the plot of Rats?

8. When does it become apparent that Surfer...