It's 1665. Rats have infested homes and alleys in Marie Perrin's provincial French town. Twelve-year-old Marie is set to become a maid, although she hungers for adventure. However, one mistake alters her fate and as punishment she is forced to apprentice for an intimidating rat-catcher. Away from her parents and twin brother, and handling gnarly rat traps under Gustave Renard's unusual mentorship, Marie must overcome a new set of challenges which come after a plague enters her town. Are rats responsible for the spread of the illness? Can Marie find a way out of the bubbling danger around her? This story depicts non-traditional families, belonging and female bravery in an atmospheric historical setting. An intrepid heroine, a perilous time in plague-ridden France, a society cleaved by class division. This book is full of heart and hope with a young girl who dares to dream of a life unrestrained by her gender.