Hector the rat is a disgrace to his family. He should be dirty, lowdown and mean - instead he is clean, kind and hard-working.

He never bites anyone, and when he takes to reading books, it's the final straw.

Hector is thrown out of the family sewer into the world above ground.He then meets Charlie, who would love to have a pet rat - especially one that can talk - but can he get his Mum to agree?

Charlie's efforts to keep Hector secret are the cause of much amusement, before the young rat manages, eventually, to bring events to a tidy conclusion.