The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, Terry Pratchett's first young-adult novel set in the enchanting Discworld, offers a delightful twist on the classic Pied Piper tale. At the heart of this adventure is Maurice, a cunning talking cat, and his band of unusually intelligent rats, who have names as unique as Big Savings, Nourishing, and Dangerous Beans. Together with a simple yet clever lad named Keith, they concoct a moneymaking scheme that involves infesting towns with their rat gang, only to later offer their "services" to rid the town of the problem for a fee.

Their plan seems foolproof until they encounter the town of Bad Blintz, which already has a rat problem of its own, complicated further by the presence of a young girl named Malicia, who possesses a wild imagination and a talent for finding trouble. Underneath the town lies a deadly maze of traps and poisons, and even more horrifying, a monster that not even Malicia could have envisioned. As Maurice and his educated rodents fight for survival, they encounter themes of life after death, good versus evil, and the sacrifice of the few for the many. While filled with Pratchett's trademark wit and humor, the story also explores darker undertones, making it a profoundly engaging read for young adults and older fans of the Discworld series alike.