Published by uclan, 2024.

A General Election is looming. There’s a buzz in the air. 12-year-old Natalie knows something BIG is happening, especially in her house where people stream in and out with their glossy leaflets and red jackets – “The Revolutionaries” as her Mum calls them. Nat wants to be a part of it, but if she can’t vote what can she do? She strikes up a friendship with Bernard, one of the older campaigners, and her Revolutionary training begins…

It starts with a quest to smile at ten strangers on the way to the park and ends with chaos, fifty curious rats and a team of passionate kids inspiring their school to change the world – one small step at a time. Bernard encourages Nat to find a cause that she is passionate about and then build her campaign around this. Nat chooses rats. Nat has a pet rat of her own but is all too aware that most people don’t share her love of these creatures and many even go so far as to be repulsed by them. With a small team of friends, Nat sets about trying to persuade people to change their minds.

The publication of How To Be A Revolutionary in 2024 has coincided perfectly with the year of the UK and US elections and will help to demystify political campaigning for a younger audience. We and Nat learn about engaging with people who disagree with you without pushing them into fiercer opposition and about teaching people to look through their prejudice. I loved the character of Bernard who is defined by his kindness and wisdom. We’d all do well to live by the guidance offered in his Revolutionary Code.

In addition to the political themes, the book is set against the domestic backdrop of parental separation and blended families. I thought this was handled realistically and truthfully, showing how messy and confusing such changes can be. There’s also a wonderful sibling relationship at the heart of the story; Nat and her younger sister Lily are fabulous together.

And I can’t finish this review without mentioning the fabulous cast of rats – all brilliantly named – and including Captain Furry, Iron-Paw and The Hulk-Rat while not forgetting Pearly Sparkle Avalina, Coco and Chanel!

Rating: 💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 9+

Thank you to uclan for sending me this book to review. I reviewed it as part of the How to be A Revolutionary blog tour. Check out all the other posts on the tour for more exclusive content.