Review- RT, Margaret, and the rats of NIMH

RT, Margaret And The Rats Of Nimh by Jane Leslie Conly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The third and concluding book in the rats of NIMH trilogy tells the story of Arthur (RT), and Margaret, a brother and sister who become lost in a valley, and are helped to survive by the colony of intelligent rats that were the subject of the first two books in the series. Margaret is an unpopular, overweight child, who finds purpose in the Tolstoyan colony, where hard work and plain food are favoured. RT is a boy who has some kind of learning difficulty, possibly autism, that makes speech difficult. Although initially afraid, they soon make friends with the rats, and each benefits from the experience in different ways.

The book has the same flaws as the first sequel, in that the rats are effectively magical creatures, able to overcome all difficulties at will. It is also glaringly illogical in places- one can only presume that a loaf of bread baked by a rat would fit on a human palm, and would not be big enough for any meal. For these reasons, it is perhaps for the best that most of the story is told through the children, who are sympathetically portrayed. There are many instances of casual petty cruelty, such as when Margaret's mother tells her that other children wouldn't pick on her as much if she lost weight. There is a stark realism about such episodes that provides an effective contrast with how the rats behave, and also helps to focus the plot around a child's eye view.

The book has an end of series feel to it, with one of the central characters facing death, and decisive changes at the end for both rats and children. Although not as good as the first book in the series, both adults and children could enjoy the conclusion to the story.



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