{"product_id":"9781481445344","title":"The Christmas Rat","description":"He is one weird Christmas visitor -- his hair and moustache an unearthly white-blond, his voice a gruff rumble. He fills the apartment doorway. From two metal cases he produces what a boy would expect from an exterminator: Toxic roach powders and poisonous fog bombs. \u003cbr\u003e But a crossbow? \u003cbr\u003e Eric is fascinated at first. He's been bored this snowbound vacation, and has already zapped about a zillion Zergs. Antsy, he's even sneaked a look at the Christmas presents hidden beneath his parents' bed. Then Anje Gabrail, this exterminator, appears, talking a little madly about his war against rats -- about killing them. \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e\"The\u003c\/i\u003e worst,\" Anje says. And if Eric sees one in the Eden Apartments, he is to call Anje's twenty-four-hour cell phone immediately. Later that Monday, the fourth day before Christmas, a rat \u003ci\u003edoes\u003c\/i\u003e appear in the building's basement -- and Eric finds himself suddenly, frighteningly swept into Anje's vengeful army. \u003cbr\u003e As either partner...or victim. \u003cbr\u003e With only a flashlight.","brand":"Atheneum Books for Young Readers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47130038599920,"sku":"9781481445344","price":6.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781481445344_p0.jpg?v=1763622029","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781481445344","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}