Firmin by Sam Savage

Books are the most welcome Christmas presents in my family. Now is the time to be choosing them. One lovely little volume almost jumped off the shelf. You’ll see what I mean when you read it!

Firmin is an enchanting little rat. He was the runt of a litter of thirteen and as his mother had only twelve teats, Firmin frequently had to content himself with eating the pages of the book that the nest was made of. The rat family lives in the basement of Pembroke Books, in Scollay Square, Boston, so Firmin soon graduates to greater things.

This little literary rat develops a taste for the low life he reads about in the books. He has a passion for the bookshop owner, Norman Shine, but Norman’s attempts to poison poor little Firmin with warfarin put an end to that love. Boston’s burlesque theatre and low life are the joys of Firmin’s adventuring into the city.

Firmin’s second love is returned, though Jerry never recognises his little mate’s reading skills.

Sadly Scollay Square, Boston, is scheduled for demolition but, before his short life ends, Firmin’s imagination allows him to achieve his dreams. Sam Savage’s Firmin is a gem of a book.

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