There's something very strange about the rats living under the rosebush at the Fitzgibbon farm. But Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with a sick child,...
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Dec 22, 2011
Osho
rated it: 
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 Preparation of the Lay Reader, Deals With the Life History of Typhus Fever More...
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 Preparation of the Lay Reader, Deals With the Life History of Typhus Fever More...
Feb 27, 2008
Kirsten
rated it:
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
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Dec 17, 2009
Jessica
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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 thei More...
There are really two stories going on at once; O'Brien cleverly brings the two together slowly by revealing thei More...
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Sep 26, 2010
Ty
rated it: 
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
rated it:
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.
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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Oct 25, 2011
"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
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Feb 22, 2012
I loved this book as a kid. It introduced science procedures since the rats were experimented on at NIMH which is how they became so smart. There are so many thrilling parts as mrs. Frisby tries to save her family. Often i put myself in her shoes, and viewed the book as an adventure and a mystery since it took so long for her to find out how the rats were so smart. I thought it taught alot about the importance of reading. the rats were able to live as well as humans with carpet, food, electricit
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Feb 19, 2012
Davis
rated it:
(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? He More...
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? He More...
Feb 05, 2012
Casey
rated it:
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 str
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Jan 17, 2012
Jennifer W
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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 Da
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Jan 08, 2012
Paul
rated it:
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 journ More...
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 journ More...
Jan 08, 2012
sondheim
rated it:
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 informe
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Dec 25, 2011
Rainbowgirl
rated it:
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 More...
Pour autant, le livre n'est pas fondamentalement meilleur. Il est prenant More...
Nov 27, 2011
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 More...
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 More...
Nov 01, 2011
Ashton
rated it:
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, More...
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, More...
Oct 25, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
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 More...
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 More...
Aug 30, 2011
Zakiah
rated it:
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
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Jul 01, 2011
Dominic
rated it:
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
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May 12, 2011
Becca
rated it:
Mrs. Frisby was a widowed mouse who lived underground in a garden which belonged to a man named Mr. Fitzgibbon. Before the farmer decides to do the spring tilling, Mrs. Frisby must move her small family of four children to their summer [house] or face certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy is sick in bed with pneumonia and must not be moved, or his life would be at a great risk. Mrs. Frisby seeks help and is told to ask assistance from the rats of NIMH—a highly intelligent breed of More...
Mar 29, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
I suggested this book to my stepdaughter. She read a few pages and declared it to be boring. Oof, shot right to the heart. I loved this book when I was kid. LOVED. I reread it to try to figure out if there was something wrong with me, with her, or with this book.
Decision--nothing wrong with any of us. I read the first few pages and realized why this doesn't appeal to her. It's a bit of a slow start and, my apologies to kids these days, I don't think most kids these days have the same More...
Decision--nothing wrong with any of us. I read the first few pages and realized why this doesn't appeal to her. It's a bit of a slow start and, my apologies to kids these days, I don't think most kids these days have the same More...
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Mar 26, 2011
Robyn
rated it:
Like most young children of my era I saw the animation based on this book several times, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I only managed to read the novel it was based on much later, and was pleased and surprised by what I found: a moving story which also tackled quite a few real life themes and problems. The depth of this book was wonderful, and it was just completely awesome to have some of the gaps from the movie filled in, and to see the subtlety and range that all of the characters have.
O'B More...
O'B More...
Feb 24, 2011
Janessa
rated it:
I just finished reading this with my kids ages 10, 8, and 6, and it was a huge hit.
In the opening chapters my kids were immediately drawn to the characters. They worried about Timothy,a little mouse suffering from pneumonia. And when his mother, Mrs. Frisby, went looking for help from an owl they sensed the danger and admired Mrs. Frisby's bravery.
In later chapters they were fascinated by the story of Jonathan Frisby and the rats of NIMH, their intelligence, daring, More...
In the opening chapters my kids were immediately drawn to the characters. They worried about Timothy,a little mouse suffering from pneumonia. And when his mother, Mrs. Frisby, went looking for help from an owl they sensed the danger and admired Mrs. Frisby's bravery.
In later chapters they were fascinated by the story of Jonathan Frisby and the rats of NIMH, their intelligence, daring, More...
Jan 17, 2011
Jill
rated it:
1972 Newbery Medal.
I remember really liking this as a kid. It was the first time I thought through the implications of animal testing and the impact technological advances can have on the natural world. I just finished reading it for the second time and loved it. This is one of a handful of books I could read over and over and not grow tired of. So many strong main characters--Mrs. Frisby, Justin, Jonathan Frisby, Nicodemus--they each have moments of bravery and calculated risk and th More...
I remember really liking this as a kid. It was the first time I thought through the implications of animal testing and the impact technological advances can have on the natural world. I just finished reading it for the second time and loved it. This is one of a handful of books I could read over and over and not grow tired of. So many strong main characters--Mrs. Frisby, Justin, Jonathan Frisby, Nicodemus--they each have moments of bravery and calculated risk and th More...
Nov 15, 2010
Marcie
rated it:
One day, while browsing in the children's section of my local book store, I came across Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. I was a huge fan of the movie The Secret of NIMH as a kid. This was one of those movies that I watched over and over again, driving my parents crazy. I bought this book hoping that my children would love the story as much as I did.
The verdict: We all loved this book. This was my first time reading it as well. I loved the story. Robert O'Brien wrote a fantastic story ful More...
The verdict: We all loved this book. This was my first time reading it as well. I loved the story. Robert O'Brien wrote a fantastic story ful More...
Sep 23, 2010
Veronica
rated it:
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh is a fantastic fantasy book written by Robert O'brien. The story's setting is at a farm. Mrs. Frisby is a widowed white mouse with four children. Her youngest son becomes extremely ill with pneumonia, and cannot leave his bed. This is a great problem because Mrs. Frisby must move her family to their summer quarters before the farmer plows the fields and wrecks their home. Mrs. Frisby is very worried until she encounters the Rats of Nimh, a highly intelligent gro
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Aug 27, 2010
Emily
rated it:
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
I picked this book up at a yard sale a while back, and it was promptly shelved. Hesitant to read it to my kids, there it sat. The hesitance stemmed from my memories of the rather creepy movie version I used to watch as a kid.
I was wrong to wait. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a delightful story, full of mystery, adventure, science, and compassion. In short, we loved this Newbery Award winning classic.
Mrs. Fri More...
I picked this book up at a yard sale a while back, and it was promptly shelved. Hesitant to read it to my kids, there it sat. The hesitance stemmed from my memories of the rather creepy movie version I used to watch as a kid.
I was wrong to wait. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a delightful story, full of mystery, adventure, science, and compassion. In short, we loved this Newbery Award winning classic.
Mrs. Fri More...
Nov 15, 2009
Anthony
rated it: 
So this month, I have read one of the most interesting books I have read all year so far. The title of the book is called Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. The book is very old, and in fact won the 1972 John Newbery Medal Award. The book is very well thought-out and has a unique writing style all its own.
The book is about a field mouse named Mrs. Frisby, who lives on a farm owned by a man and his family by the name of Mr. Fitzgibbon. Mrs. Frisby has a problem, however, involv More...
The book is about a field mouse named Mrs. Frisby, who lives on a farm owned by a man and his family by the name of Mr. Fitzgibbon. Mrs. Frisby has a problem, however, involv More...
Sep 21, 2009
Summer
rated it:
It has been forever and an age scine I've read this book but I still remmeber it being one of my favorites in fith grade.
Mrs. Frisby is a widower among mice, left with a sick child and questions from her husbands strange life that were never fully answered. But when she is is refered to the Rats of Nimh, with their intelligence, their siences, Mrs. Frisby seeks them out in hopes that they will have the answer to her sons illness. But there is more aloof in the grand skeem of things a More...
Mrs. Frisby is a widower among mice, left with a sick child and questions from her husbands strange life that were never fully answered. But when she is is refered to the Rats of Nimh, with their intelligence, their siences, Mrs. Frisby seeks them out in hopes that they will have the answer to her sons illness. But there is more aloof in the grand skeem of things a More...
Jun 24, 2009
Shanna
rated it:
This is a masterfully crafted science-fiction fantasy about a widowed mouse and her young family, who live life on the edge of hunger at the Fitzgibbon farm. They choose for their winter home a cinder block buried in the farmer's field, where they can glean the humans' leavings. When her son Timothy becomes ill, Mrs. Frisby must choose between risking his life by exposing him to the weather in the move to their summer home, or risking the entire family by being at home on plowing day. In desp
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