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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Rats of NIMH #1)

by Robert C. O'Brien, Zena Bernstein (Illustrator)

4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 · rating details · 77,584 ratings · 1,547 reviews

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up w...more

Paperback, 233 pages

Published March 1st 1986 by Aladdin Paperbacks (first published 1971)

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Dec 22, 2011 Osho rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

BEFORE:
The serendipitous and simultaneous purchase of Rat Girl: A Memoir and Rat Island: Predators in Paradise and the World's Greatest Wildlife Rescue at the National Discount Rituals to Mark the Death of Borders was neither unremarked (by others) nor uncelebrated (alas, by me alone). I realized that I had other rat books at home, enough for a thematic rat shelf. Zinsser's Rats, Lice, and History: Being a Study in Biography, Which, After Twelve Preliminary Chapters Indispensable for the Prepara ...more

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Feb 27, 2008 Kirsten rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-pre-12-07, own

This was one of my all-time favorite books when I was a kid; I must've read it eight times. So I was pleased to find that it holds up well, and I still found it very entertaining (although it seemed a shorter). I did notice some things that I don't think really registered when I was younger. For one, I was thinking as I read that Mrs. Frisby is a pretty unusual character for a children's book. She's an adult, which is not common to children's novels; usually the protagonist is the same age or a...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WARNING!!! CONTAINS SPOILERS:

1. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH mostly takes its place in Mr.Fitzgibbon farm. Mrs. Frisby who is a widow has 4 children. One day, one of her brightest kid Timothy becomes sick. The plowing was soon starting, but Timothy couldn't move out of his bed. Even after eating the medicine Mr. Ages gave, Timothy had a big chance that pneumonia will recur. That is when Mrs. Frisby started to find ways they could move without getting Timothy sick again. She went to her neigh...more

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Oct 21, 2007 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fivestars

This book captivated me from start to finish when I read it - for the first time - as an adult. It's such a beautiful story of courage and morality and heroism. It's hard to imagine anyone not being moved by "The Rats of Nimh" and its characters are well-developed and not easily forgotten. I thought about this book for days afterward, and I was sad when it ended.

There are really two stories going on at once; O'Brien cleverly brings the two together slowly by revealing their connection detail by...more

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Sep 26, 2010 Ty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A lot like Watership Down but slightly less important and infinitely easier to finish. It's probably been ten years since the last time I read this which is weird to think about. If you live in Springfield, I'm starting a book club and this is the first book we're reading; come to the downtown library tomorrow evening if you wanna be in it. You don't have to have a copy or have started reading it yet.

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Nov 27, 2011 Efe Sahinol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dear Ms. Dansky,
this book is about a mouse called Mrs. Frisby and her four baby children. They have to move to their summer quarters but one of the babies gets sick and must not be moved. Now they have to face death and struggle to find food.

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Apr 08, 2009 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-and-youth

My son read this for third grade and loved it, so now he's hooked on the series and making me read it. What a great mouse/rat adventure!

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Oct 25, 2011 El Templo de las Mil Puertas added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 04-eltemplo, libros-olvidados

"La señora Frisby y sus hijos son una familia de ratones que pasa el invierno en su casa subterránea en una granja. Cada año, cuando se acerca el calor, vuelven al campo antes de que el granjero empiece a arar el campo. Por desgracia, su hijo Timothy ha caído enfermo, y este año el calor ha empezado antes que de costumbre. La señora Frisby deberá encontrar el modo de evitar que el arado triture su casa antes de que Tim esté en condiciones de viajar, pero para ello necesitará la ayuda de las rata...more

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May 09, 2013 Angie Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this with my son for his reading/writing class. It was really fun to be taken back to memories of when I first heard this story. I'm not sure I read it when I was young or if I just watched the movie, which is vastly different from the book. There is no magical necklace that helps Mrs. Frisby save her house. I have heard of movie makers changing the story of a book a little for the screen, but the book is so different from the movie, I was confused. As always, the book is better.

As for wh...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great Book. It is both wonderful and unexpected. I remember seeing the movie as a child, the book follows much the same plot, but is so much better for so many reasons.

It is the story of a young mouse family. The mother has been widowed, and her young son is sick. She knows that "moving day" is approaching because they've been living in a cinder block in the farmers field all winter so they could find easy food left over from harvest. But spring is coming, and she knows the farmer will plow righ...more Great Book. It is both wonderful and unexpected. I remember seeing the movie as a child, the book follows much the same plot, but is so much better for so many reasons.

It is the story of a young mouse family. The mother has been widowed, and her young son is sick. She knows that "moving day" is approaching because they've been living in a cinder block in the farmers field all winter so they could find easy food left over from harvest. But spring is coming, and she knows the farmer will plow right over her little home and smash it to bits. She needs to move, but her son is too weak, and the move would likely kill him.

She needs help.

The story then weaves a wonderful tapestry of events and characters including her befriending of a crow, seeking help from the wise yet predatory owl, daring to challenge a cat, and her need to meet with the mysterious Rats of NIMH. They are strange rats. They seem coordinated, defensive, intelligent. They steal things from the farmer, like electrical wiring. What are they doing? What are they building? Why did the owl tell her to seek their help? What can they do?

The book has two very different halves. The first half is all about Mrs. Frisby. Then when she finally talks to the rats, the author goes into flashback mode and spends a great amount of time discussing the rats, where they came from, what they're doing, and why.

When I figured out what NIMH stands for I had to laugh at myself. I should have known all along, it was right in front of my face.

When I think back to the movie I am disappointed. The beauty and wonder of the book is both in Mrs. Frisby's daring love for her family, and in the rats.

The movie ruined the rats. It took what they really are and where they came from (which makes sense)- and replaced it with something mythical and magical. The rats suddenly have magical powers and give Mrs. Frisby a magical amulet. They aren't scientifically advanced with amazing minds. They aren't able to figure out complex ideas like electricity - no, the movie gives them magic.

It ruins it. It ruins the whole point of the rats, who they are and how they got that way.

The book is marvelous.

The movie, though cinematically advanced for 1982, is disappointing in comparison.
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Mar 22, 2013 Gale rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: animal-heroes-young-adult

“Courage of Maternal Love/Honor among Thieves”

This story has long been one of my favorites and deserves to be ranked
a modern classic. O’Brien introduces many serious issues into his
fascinating and charming tale about a mother field mouse who desperately negotiates and performs heroic acts to save her family. When Farmer Fitzgibbon prepares to plough his field, it proves an annual Day of Judgment for all the little creatures living therein. Mrs. Frisby’s determination to save her invalid son’s l...more “Courage of Maternal Love/Honor among Thieves”

This story has long been one of my favorites and deserves to be ranked
a modern classic. O’Brien introduces many serious issues into his
fascinating and charming tale about a mother field mouse who desperately negotiates and performs heroic acts to save her family. When Farmer Fitzgibbon prepares to plough his field, it proves an annual Day of Judgment for all the little creatures living therein. Mrs. Frisby’s determination to save her invalid son’s life precipitates a perilous quest during which her maternal devotion and personal courage are sorely tested.

To voluntarily enter the home of a dreaded owl, to approach the feared rats who live under the rosebush, to expose herself to a hungry cat—this lady field mouse proves equal to all despite the tremulous beating of her tiny heart. Her late husband, Jonathan Frisby, would have taken pride in her dedication to the family, for he had earned the respect of all the local animals--including the formidable owl and the secretive rats. His timid wife gradually discovers that her children are unique in ways she never could have dreamed.

So who Are these rats who possess so much knowledge and engineering skill—who can read and write, and plan to outwit Farmer Fitzgibbon? What is their mighty dream and grandiose goal? And what role will she play in their success? Why are they alone among rats “Mechanized” and why do they consider themselves “civilized” unlike their sewer rat forebears? How and where does a private rat Society fit in with (or clandestinely parallel to) normal human activity? Do these clever plotters and planners need her help; more importantly, can she trust them to come to her rescue? O’Brien reminds readers of the danger of genetic tampering in the name of Science. What will happen when two dissimilar species come to share the same values and weaknesses, when it comes to issues like power, greed, theft, fame--as well as nobler virtues like courage, faith, sacrifice, and hope. Not just for kids this novel proves a deeply-enjoyable and thought-provoking story.

(July 7, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

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Jan 18, 2013 Corinne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mrs. Frisby is a widowed field mouse and she's got a problem. She has a very ill child that must stay in bed but if she doesn't get her family to a safer place, their home with all of them in it will be destroyed. With the help of a few interesting characters, she finally gets in contact with the one group of animals that might be able to help: the rats that live under the rose bush.

Of course, they aren't just ANY rats and a good part of this story is theirs, learning about how they came to be s...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Keegan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chap-book-boy, chap-book-courage, chap-book-girl

Just read this book with my four-year-old son. It's hard to know what percentage he understood, but as long as he is still interested and asks me to read another chapter then I keep going and don't worry too much about comprehension since I figure it develops by reading and discussing. He was even more motivated to read it when we picked up the movie (The Secret of NIMH) from the library and I told him we could watch it after we finished reading the book.

I know I've read the book before, but I d...more Just read this book with my four-year-old son. It's hard to know what percentage he understood, but as long as he is still interested and asks me to read another chapter then I keep going and don't worry too much about comprehension since I figure it develops by reading and discussing. He was even more motivated to read it when we picked up the movie (The Secret of NIMH) from the library and I told him we could watch it after we finished reading the book.

I know I've read the book before, but I didn't remember it very well. I also know I loved the movie as a kid (and I think I was exposed to the movie first), but as an adult I much preferred the book to the movie, especially watching it with my four-year-old.

Comparisons:
1. The book was really all about science and the movie had magical elements that seemed totally unnecessary to the story. -- The glowing eyes on Nicodemus and the owl: SO CREEPY! (My son asked me at the beginning if Nicodemus was a bad guy.) The swirly ink at the beginning: cool but pointless.

2. The movie was a lot scarier in places where I didn't feel the need for extra drama: it was okay with me that Jenner never actually makes an appearance in the book, and it was okay with me that the scientists and NIMH weren't made out to be cruel. Even Mr. Ages was so much more pleasant in the book; I don't know why they made him such a grouch in the movie. I think in general the pace of the book is sort of slow, so I suppose that's why they threw in the extra conflicts, but I think they could have been truer to the book and still made a good (better even) movie.

3. In the book, I liked that while the rats were being injected with drugs, they were also being taught while in the laboratory and it wasn't just a spontaneous thing that they could read. And then I liked that they had a season of library study to help give them the knowledge that they had.

4. One bonus for the movie was that I love that Mrs. Frisby gets herself out of the bird cage in the movie. I mean, I love Justin and it's lovely that he comes to rescue her in the book since there isn't a way for her to escape, but I remembered that scene before watching it this time and I remember how clever and brave I thought she was when she got out.(less)

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Dec 05, 2012 Gavin Yee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to read this book cuss a review i watched http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/vide...

said The Secret Of Nimh movie was pretty different from the book.. and ever since i took script writing class.. i have wondered how things were changed from book to movie... ( and good ones...)and yea... the book and movie are pretty different... and is interesting to see why they did change the stuff they did in the movie to make it more movie like...

Trying to think of the book on its own is a little har...more

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Aug 26, 2012 John rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this once as a child, but my primary memories involved the movie, which I had seen numerous times, and with which I have a strong attachment. Suffice it to say that while I continue to enjoy the movie as a piece of nostalgia from days gone by, I was pleasantly surprised by the book, which doesn't include the worst and most non-sensical parts of the movie (i.e. anything to do with magic or medallions). Instead, the book offers what to me reads like something of a parable, as one group of c...more

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Jun 30, 2012 E.A. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, childrens

I would like to say I actually read MRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien when I was a child, but that isn’t true. I have heard about it for years, and I’ve seen the movie but it was until a couple of weeks ago that I read it. I loved it. It will be one that I read to my children. There is a very good reason why this story won a Newberry award. Though it is written for children between 8-12 it is suitable for all ages.

The movie THE SECRET OF NIMH does a fair representation of pa...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Year: 1971
Reading Level: Intermediate
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Plot Summary: It's early spring and for newly-widowed Mrs. Frisby and her small (mice) children, it means they have to move out of the farmer's garden before he plows it. Unfortunately her youngest son, Timothy, falls seriously ill and she cannot move him before the plowing. Mrs. Frisby finds help in unexpected places, but nowhere more unexpected than from a mysterious group of rats living under a rose bush. Where did the rats come from?...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Jenna T 8 Reading added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: any one looking for a good read

Recommended to Jenna T 8 Reading by: Mrs. Olnes

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was a great book! Its about this mouse that has four children and one of them became ill with pneumonia. Moving day was comming and Timothy, the boy that became ill, was too weak to move. So Mrs. Frisby set out for her husband's friend Mr. Ages. Mr. Ages gave her three packets of medicine to help Timothy. On the way back, Mrs. Frisby saw farmer Fitzgibbon getting his tractor ready. She also met a crow that got caught in some string. She saved the crow that then t...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Rosa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids-thumbs-up-or-down

The ideas underpinning the story are thought-provoking, the heroine (and the fact that there's a heroine front and center who is all the more heroic for her maternal qualities) badass, the bare outlines of the plot are interesting - but the actual narrative and writing style are quite "deliberately paced". Four and Half flew the coop about 2 pages in, preferring instead to bash toys against the wall in the near vicinity. Seven and Half sat through the whole thing and seemed reasonably interested...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Davis Dunavin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(spoilers)

Will I ever find a talking animal book to equal "Watership Down"? Doubtful. And that's okay.

But in my latest jaunts through the great kid lit of the 20th century, "Mrs. Frisby" is a standout. O'Brien sets up a talking-animal world with what seem at first some loose conventions, and while his young audience may not notice, the genre-savvy reader immediately notices something is up. Mrs. Frisby and her family can read? They can use medicine? Heck, they know what a postcard is? Then O'Bri...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Casey Lindstrom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: eced-221

What a great novel! The story opens up to a mother mouse (Mrs. Frisby) and her four children. She is widow and lives out the outskirts of a farmer's garden. Her youngest son Timothy, falls sick which was not a surprise due to the fact that he has always been weak. Mrs. Frisby is now on a journey to find a way to help cure her son and move them safely before the farmer's plow comes and ruins them and their home. The adventure tells Mrs. Frisby a lot about her husband and her permissional strength...more What a great novel! The story opens up to a mother mouse (Mrs. Frisby) and her four children. She is widow and lives out the outskirts of a farmer's garden. Her youngest son Timothy, falls sick which was not a surprise due to the fact that he has always been weak. Mrs. Frisby is now on a journey to find a way to help cure her son and move them safely before the farmer's plow comes and ruins them and their home. The adventure tells Mrs. Frisby a lot about her husband and her permissional strengths as well. It always unfolds to Mrs. Frisby developing trust for the ones who are assumed to be untrustworthy, and helping the ones who are helping her.

The story is very well written. As you read the story you reach a point where you can not put it down. Once the unexpected begins to unfold the story gets better and you start to want to read it more and more. I feel as though the theme of the story is compleling to readers in a "real world" in the sense that Mrs. Frisby was rather nevous and did not know where to turn. She found herself going again the average stereotype and meeting the creatures that her fellow friends did not trust. As a result of this she proved the assumptions wrong, kept her children and herself safe, and learned more about her late husband and these unpopular creatures. This story is most certainly a fantasy but the elements are definitely convincing and well-developed. The issues in this novel are faced many times in real life, and it shows the best way to deal with these situations. It also allows for some imagination when reading and realizing that the main characters are rodents. Robert C. O'Brien maintains a sense of logic and order when you think about the issues and that these are real life scenarios. In O'Brien's created world he allows your imagination to grow and keep the issues that people often face in the same story.

My reaction after finishing this book was very surprised. I was definitely not expecting things to fold out the way they did, and I personally love that in a book. This book was a very easy ready and I found myself reading it for pleasure. What struck me the most out of this novel was the irony. The way certain little things led to major breakthroughs, and meeting creatures led to learning more than she ever could have imagined was very ironic. I related it to my life definitely through the stereotyping. Rats, and crows, and owls in this story are the creatures mice should stay away from. But whe it comes down to protecting something you love you have to take the chance and go against what people think and find out for yourself. You just might find out that these stereotypes people are made up and assumed are completely false. I would use this is my classroom is we were talking about the different types of people, and what the students think about someone who may be different than they are. I would also use it when talking about bravery and how sometimes you have to do scary things to persue your goals and keep the things in your life you care about most safe.(less)

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Jan 17, 2012 Jennifer W rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

One of my all-time favorite children's movies is "The Secret of NIMH," which was based on this book. I watched it repeatedly as a child, and can still enjoy it as an adult. I know as a kid I owned this book, but I don't recall reading it entirely. I did read this book as a college student for a Children's Lit class and enjoyed it. However, I had the same reaction to it then as I did rereading it now: this is so different from the movie. The basic plot is the same, sick mouse, Moving Day, super s...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Paul Darcy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

by Robert C. O’Brien, published in 1971.

I really liked “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH”, but found that it had one irritating sort of flaw. There is a back story about half way through the book which lasts around sixty pages. It’s too much. But don’t let that deter you, this really is a must-read-to-your-child book.

Well written and full of adventure, we follow Mrs. Frisby a mouse, as she does what needs to be done to save her son Timothy who is sick and can’t make the journey to the summer hom...more

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Jan 08, 2012 sondheim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book when I was about six years old, having plucked it off the shelf at the school library because it had a mouse on the cover, and because I had wanted to challenge myself to read a really thick book (200-odd pages of course being like a fantasy epic to a six-year-old). I loved it even though it was a bit sad, and I was so proud of myself for having finished it that I boasted about it to everyone. I learned all sorts of new words, like "pneumonia", which I was only informed halfway...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Rainbowgirl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jeunesse, roman, fantastique_fantasy, science-fiction

J'ai revu le dessin animé (Brisby et le secret de Nimh) il y a quelques jours. Les légères incohérences du scénario ainsi que les allusions trop superficielles à l'univers des rats m'ont donné envie de lire le bouquin pour voir de quoi il retournait. Et j'ai eu exactement ce que je voulais : tout s'explique ! Tout ce qui ne colle pas dans le film, c'est quelque chose qui était différent dans le livre ou mieux expliqué.
Pour autant, le livre n'est pas fondamentalement meilleur. Il est prenant, ori...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Sara Hannon added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

1. Fantasy

2. Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four children, works to keep her youngest son safe when he is too sick to move before the plow comes through and destroys their winter home. On her journey to accomplish this, she discovers a great deal about her late husband and some very special rats that live nearby.

3. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the emphasis on courage and intelligence overcoming size and strength, which for children can be a really great lesson to learn. On a side...more 1. Fantasy

2. Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four children, works to keep her youngest son safe when he is too sick to move before the plow comes through and destroys their winter home. On her journey to accomplish this, she discovers a great deal about her late husband and some very special rats that live nearby.

3. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the emphasis on courage and intelligence overcoming size and strength, which for children can be a really great lesson to learn. On a side note, I watched the movie "Secret of NIMH" after reading the book and they completely miss the point. The movie adds in magic, the rats are sorcerers and magicians instead of being intelligent and resourceful. I believe that is the strength of this book, is the fact that the rats manage to supply their needs and help Mrs. Frisby by using their brains, not magic. When the rats are experimented on, they begin to think for themselves, and manage to escape after studying their environment and learning a great deal. They then solve their need for electricity and running water, and eventually manage to start a colony all their own, independent of humans. They do all of this using their brains, being resourceful, and having courage. Not only are the rats courageous, intelligent, and resourceful, so is Mrs. Frisby though she has none of the benefits the rats do due to their status as escaped lab rats. She befriends a crow who helps her find an owl who tells her about the rats who can help her. And even though she does not understand who the rats are, and is not sure whether they are dangerous or not, she still does everything in her power to save her son, which includes being captured by the farmer while drugging the cat, and running through the more dangerous areas of the farm.

4. This is a great book to introduce students to the fantasy genre in a more applicable way. It is not some far-away magic place, it is an ordinary farm with an almost plausible colony of escaped lab rats that are smarter than your average rats due to the experiments preformed on them. This book allows for a great discussion on the moral dilemma faced by the rats: do they continue to steal from the human farmer because they are smart enough to or is that wrong? It also could lead to a class discussion on the question: could this happen in real life? Could there be rats made so smart by experimentation that they would know how to use and build electric lights, elevators, and plumbing? (less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Ashton Livsey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Genre: Science Fiction
Summary: This story tells of Mrs. Frisby’s dilemma that comes when her son falls sick and can’t be moved for moving day. To solve the problem she has to ask help from the wise owl, Mr. Ages and the rats. Along the way she learns of her husband’s past, death and connection with the rats of NIHM.
Critique: a) This book really comes together with the focus of the setting.
The author uses descriptive words to talk about the home of Mrs. Frisby, the farmer’s house, the farmer’s y...more Genre: Science Fiction
Summary: This story tells of Mrs. Frisby’s dilemma that comes when her son falls sick and can’t be moved for moving day. To solve the problem she has to ask help from the wise owl, Mr. Ages and the rats. Along the way she learns of her husband’s past, death and connection with the rats of NIHM.
Critique: a) This book really comes together with the focus of the setting.
The author uses descriptive words to talk about the home of Mrs. Frisby, the farmer’s house, the farmer’s yard, the woods, and the rats home. This is done for the reader’s benefit. The setting ties in to the story because it is the cause of the main problem. Mrs. Frisby has to move her home because spring is coming and that farmer will need to plow. The description of the setting in the woods and with the owl gives a more ominous feel to the story which helps to depict the feelings of Mrs. Frisby at this moment. The descriptions of the rat’s home also adds to the story. Their home being in the rose bush allows them privacy and a close place to enter near the farmhouse. This aids in their stealing from the farmer and his family. The descriptions of inside the rat’s home show how intelligent they are. The setting adds to the story and helps the reader to understand the conflicts and characters in the story.
Mrs. Frisby describes her home and the surrounding farm area to show the seasons and their effect on her life. “The asparagus roots were frozen into stone”, how it was “not so warm” in her living room and the “white frost thick on the ground and on the dead leaves at the edge of the wood” (pgs 4 & 5).
Curriculum Connection: This book can be used in science class to talk about animal testing and the negatives of doing so. This book could also be used to talk about the seasons and their effect on farmers and general life. This book is a book that can be used in many different subjects. In Social Studies this can apply to communities and learning to be self-sufficient, like the rats. (less)

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Oct 25, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: junior-chapter

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
By: Robert C. O'Brien
Illustrated by: Zena Bernstein

Genre: Fantasy

Mrs. Frisby, a recently widowed mom of 4 mice, would love nothing more than to keep her son, who has recently come down with pneumonia, warm and safe but Moving Day is soon arriving. She employs the help of many unusual animals around the Fitzgibbon's farm: a crow, an owl, a family of unusually smart rats, and other mice. The story is completely fantasy-based with some realistic problems. The determi...more Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
By: Robert C. O'Brien
Illustrated by: Zena Bernstein

Genre: Fantasy

Mrs. Frisby, a recently widowed mom of 4 mice, would love nothing more than to keep her son, who has recently come down with pneumonia, warm and safe but Moving Day is soon arriving. She employs the help of many unusual animals around the Fitzgibbon's farm: a crow, an owl, a family of unusually smart rats, and other mice. The story is completely fantasy-based with some realistic problems. The determination and love felt by Mrs. Frisby is great and proves to be what is needed to keep her family together.

Critique:
A. The humanistic characteristics given to the animals in this story are amazing. The names also provide some insight into the characters and the story.
B. Animals communicate with each other in a way that humans cannot always decipher. I have no doubt that the animals in the wilderness have an extraordinary amount of respect for each other. While I doubt that a mouse would have sought the advice of an owl, the communication is real. I was a little disappointed in the fact that the author never revealed what NIMH stood for or what happened to the rats after they moved. A sequel may have been an excellent way to sum up this information. Humans can barter, steal or pay for goods and services. The animals in this story acted just like humans. They worked together in their own little communities.
The story even included a doctor. What story wouldn't be complete without a way for the sick to be cured?
C. The name given to this doctor is cute: Mr. Ages. It is as if his name gives all insight needed into his character. He is an older mouse but wise. He is also white, unlike that of the other mice on Mr. Fitzgibbon's farm. The color white can signify a few things: Peaceful, gentleness or age (old).
The names given to the rats are also significant. Nicodemus is the insightful, intelligent, and leader quality rat in the rat community. When I see the name "Nicodemus" I think of scientist, leader, genius and the like. Mrs. Frisby's children all had normal names: Cynthia, Martin, Teresa and Timothy. When I read of Timothy, I think of "Little Timmy" from the Scrooge. Little Timmy was sickly and weak in the Scrooge and he is in this story as well. The cat's name is Dragon. That sounds ferocious and befitting for a cat in a mouse's eyes. Another rat's name is Brutus. That sounds muscular and strong. And that is the characteristics that "Brutus" portrayed in the story.
The rats had running water and electricity. They were hiding out from the doctors at NIMH. It's like they are escaped prisoners that are constantly looking over their shoulder for fear of being captured or discovered. Indeed, these rats were far more intelligent than any rat I have ever come across. The animals in the story live as the humans do. They have beds, they search for food, and they get sick as humans do.

Curriculum Connection:
This is a great novel for students to read. I would use the novel in my English class for fifth graders. Trelease states that the book is acceptable for fourth through sixth graders but I think it may be a bit complex for some fourth graders. I was also very surprised to find the amount of study guides and curriculum connection guides that are found on the internet for this novel. (less)

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Aug 30, 2011 Zakiah Hines rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: classmates

Recommended to Zakiah by: my aunt

The book Mrs.Frisby and the Rats of Nimh is about a mouse named Mrs. Frisby whose husband died and left her with four small children to take care of. One day one of her children became sick with pneumonia and could not get out of bed. This was a big problem because moving day was coming. So, Mrs.Frisby goes on these wild and dangerous journeys to save her son.I think the point the writer was trying to get across to the reader is that Mrs.Frisby is the kind of mother that would do anything for he...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Dominic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children

There is something so magical about a really good children's book. And lately I've been thinking I should write one of these myself (I have some good ideas), and not a YA novel like I once thought. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is exactly that kind of really good children's book. It is full of wonder and suspense that appeals to both children and adults; it opens an adult world even so slightly, filling the young reader with awe. Plus, it is well-written, which I find lacking in a lot of YA f...more

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