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The Rescuers #4
Miss Bianca in the Salt Mines
In her fourth adventure, accompanied by the adoring Bernard (and a couple of professorial mice, more trouble than anything else), Miss Bianca ventures into the sinister reaches of a salt mine, in a response to a call for help from Teddy-age-eight—no child ever calls Miss Bianca in vain!
148 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
About the author
Margery Sharp
80 books186 followersMargery Sharp was born Clara Margery Melita Sharp in Salisbury. She spent part of her childhood in Malta.
Sharp wrote 26 novels, 14 children's stories, 4 plays, 2 mysteries and many short stories. She is best known for her series of children's books about a little white mouse named Miss Bianca and her companion, Bernard. Two Disney films have been made based on them, called The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under.
In 1938, she married Major Geoffrey Castle, an aeronautical engineer.
Sharp wrote 26 novels, 14 children's stories, 4 plays, 2 mysteries and many short stories. She is best known for her series of children's books about a little white mouse named Miss Bianca and her companion, Bernard. Two Disney films have been made based on them, called The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under.
In 1938, she married Major Geoffrey Castle, an aeronautical engineer.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 9, 2022
Before I get any smoke, please give me a chance to defend myself: literally how was I supposed to read Cry, the Beloved Country when this was my alternative!?
This book was delightful in every way. They just don't write em like this anymore.
This book was delightful in every way. They just don't write em like this anymore.
May 21, 2014
Off on another grand adventure, this time to rescue Teddy-age-eight from the salt mines (better known as an underground prison). This time Miss Bianca and Bernard take two, very old, and unwanted, traveling companions along; an old professor and a geologist mouse – and a pair of human-sized mittens as well, lovingly knitted by the mice of the Ladies Aid Society.
A fun little story, not as exciting as some of the others, but still unique and full of fun mousey quirks. It was fun to see the relationship and friendship between Bernard and Bianca growing a bit in this story, and Miss Bianca to finally give Bernard some credit for being as wonderful as our little hero truly is. :) The scetches, as always, were delightful, and I loved the miniture salt constructions left from the prisonors. I also enjoyed the creativity, and the usage of some very large words in this series...very appreciated by an avid reader such as I that the old books didn't used to dumb words down for little kids. ;)
A fun little story, not as exciting as some of the others, but still unique and full of fun mousey quirks. It was fun to see the relationship and friendship between Bernard and Bianca growing a bit in this story, and Miss Bianca to finally give Bernard some credit for being as wonderful as our little hero truly is. :) The scetches, as always, were delightful, and I loved the miniture salt constructions left from the prisonors. I also enjoyed the creativity, and the usage of some very large words in this series...very appreciated by an avid reader such as I that the old books didn't used to dumb words down for little kids. ;)
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November 20, 2020Read-aloud and gift for an eight year old who has thoroughly enjoyed the first three in the series. This one continues with the more cartoon-like qualities that have marked the series since the second book, but it also keeps up the rich and endearing characterizations of Miss Bianca and Bernard. My child listeners were intent on loving it, and they are hardly critical readers, but even they noticed and commented on the hurried ending and the out-of-nowhere resolutions. They enjoyed the book, but I think everyone can tell that the quality is going down with each installment.
February 11, 2023
I believe this to be my favorite read thus far in this series. So much amusing wit and humor that I especially feel children/teens would appreciate regarding academia and professors! I laughed and laughed! At least I did manage to discover this series as an adult!
January 17, 2008
I had this book ages ago. I think this was my favorite as a child (I read several from this series). I just loved the idea of the carved salt mansions and structures.
February 20, 2025
Rating: 2.6 / 5
I'm...not sure what to make of this one, as it is decidedly ODD.
The setup this time around is much more in line with the usual Rescuers bit: an odd little note is found in Miss Bianca's salt of all things, from Teddy-Age-Eight imploring someone to get him out of the salt mines. Naturally, the heroic Miss Bianca wants to undertake this task, and poor Bernard is getting dragged along as well because he jolly well will NOT let Miss Bianca go alone, thank you very much!
This time around, the pair also have two companions with them: the elderly Professor of Mathematics mouse, and an even older Geologist mouse. These two...are mostly a hindrance, complaining and moving slowly and saying how the mission is doomed to failure from the start; but, to give them credit, they do contribute at the end in the final rescue, so ultimately I guess they do have a purpose.
Now, to be honest, I'm not sure what I was expecting or that I was really expecting anything in particular from this; but in any case, it's a strange sort of story by the end of it, and the tone is decidedly more grim. Maybe it's the setting, but there are a few questionable details that come out near the end that...I didn't know what to think of. (Spoilers ahead.)
- at one point, Bernard tries to drown himself after receiving a critique from Miss Bianca regarding his first attempt at a poem. (This being a holdover from how Miss Bianca composes poetry during all of her missions.) That was...well, unsuccessful of course, though not for lack of trying--the water in the salt lake was too salty, and therefore did not allow Bernard to successfully take his own life--and altogether a bit odd in the context of the overall plot, as well as Bernard's character. I really thought he was much more sensible than that, and felt that this came just...out of nowhere.
- the treatment of the boy, making him want to die as well. Like...I get that this is maybe a cruel world in which the mice live, where poets are imprisoned and little girls are forced to work as servants in large, diamond houses; but forcing a boy to be a servant in the salt mines and even having him be beaten when he displeases the Governor just...I don't know, just went a step too far. This is made even worse by the fact that...
-even though the boy's uncle reports him missing, the police still don't do anything about it; and, as Miss Bianca guesses, this is due to them not wanting to expose the truth of the salt mines and have that come to light. Um...okay?!
-add to that the fact that all the adults in the human world are either ignorant or cruel. I mean, just look at this illustration below, when the guard of the salt mines is trying to handcuff Teddy and send him back:
I'm not the only one that sees this, right? That there's a brutality present here that just wasn't as prominent in the previous books, and definitely not as grim? (Okay, maybe for Mandrake in book 3, but that was slightly more acceptable, since he was a villain in his past and whatnot.)
Ahem, but anyway, to conclude, I'm not sure that this book is as good as the other ones in the series, and certainly not as satisfying. The conclusion itself, which I won't give away, was quickly wrapped up and...more a matter of absolute luck rather than Miss Bianca or Bernard really doing anything. Not as much of a 'rescue' effort as it could've been, in other words.
So...*sighs* while I will be continuing the series, I do hope that some of the other reviews I've read that mention a decrease in quality as you go through the books...doesn't turn out to be right. I really love these characters and think that they're charming, both in the books and especially in the Disney movies adaptations so...just please. *fingers crossed*
I'm...not sure what to make of this one, as it is decidedly ODD.
The setup this time around is much more in line with the usual Rescuers bit: an odd little note is found in Miss Bianca's salt of all things, from Teddy-Age-Eight imploring someone to get him out of the salt mines. Naturally, the heroic Miss Bianca wants to undertake this task, and poor Bernard is getting dragged along as well because he jolly well will NOT let Miss Bianca go alone, thank you very much!
This time around, the pair also have two companions with them: the elderly Professor of Mathematics mouse, and an even older Geologist mouse. These two...are mostly a hindrance, complaining and moving slowly and saying how the mission is doomed to failure from the start; but, to give them credit, they do contribute at the end in the final rescue, so ultimately I guess they do have a purpose.
Now, to be honest, I'm not sure what I was expecting or that I was really expecting anything in particular from this; but in any case, it's a strange sort of story by the end of it, and the tone is decidedly more grim. Maybe it's the setting, but there are a few questionable details that come out near the end that...I didn't know what to think of. (Spoilers ahead.)
- at one point, Bernard tries to drown himself after receiving a critique from Miss Bianca regarding his first attempt at a poem. (This being a holdover from how Miss Bianca composes poetry during all of her missions.) That was...well, unsuccessful of course, though not for lack of trying--the water in the salt lake was too salty, and therefore did not allow Bernard to successfully take his own life--and altogether a bit odd in the context of the overall plot, as well as Bernard's character. I really thought he was much more sensible than that, and felt that this came just...out of nowhere.
- the treatment of the boy, making him want to die as well. Like...I get that this is maybe a cruel world in which the mice live, where poets are imprisoned and little girls are forced to work as servants in large, diamond houses; but forcing a boy to be a servant in the salt mines and even having him be beaten when he displeases the Governor just...I don't know, just went a step too far. This is made even worse by the fact that...
-even though the boy's uncle reports him missing, the police still don't do anything about it; and, as Miss Bianca guesses, this is due to them not wanting to expose the truth of the salt mines and have that come to light. Um...okay?!
-add to that the fact that all the adults in the human world are either ignorant or cruel. I mean, just look at this illustration below, when the guard of the salt mines is trying to handcuff Teddy and send him back:
I'm not the only one that sees this, right? That there's a brutality present here that just wasn't as prominent in the previous books, and definitely not as grim? (Okay, maybe for Mandrake in book 3, but that was slightly more acceptable, since he was a villain in his past and whatnot.)
Ahem, but anyway, to conclude, I'm not sure that this book is as good as the other ones in the series, and certainly not as satisfying. The conclusion itself, which I won't give away, was quickly wrapped up and...more a matter of absolute luck rather than Miss Bianca or Bernard really doing anything. Not as much of a 'rescue' effort as it could've been, in other words.
So...*sighs* while I will be continuing the series, I do hope that some of the other reviews I've read that mention a decrease in quality as you go through the books...doesn't turn out to be right. I really love these characters and think that they're charming, both in the books and especially in the Disney movies adaptations so...just please. *fingers crossed*
February 22, 2015
Thanks to a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift, I've been revisiting one of my favorite childhood book series - the Miss Bianca series by Margery Sharp. After seeing the 1977 Disney film based on these books (The Rescuers), I got the first 5 books as Christmas and birthday gifts and nearly read the words off the pages. While my original copies are probably long gone, my husband found copies of the Dell Yearling paperbacks with the Garth Williams illustrations, and I spent a couple pleasant hours reacquainting myself with the stories.
This, the fourth book in the series, has our heroes travelling underground in search of Teddy-Age-Eight, being held in the titular location. Bernard and Miss Bianca are saddled with two aged professor mice as part of their mission, and face some narrow escapes, but, with the help of their distant cousins, the bats, assist young Teddy in gaining his freedom.
There's definitely a formula to these books; but the details of each prisoners' situation, along with the trials and tribulations the two mice face, manage to keep things somewhat fresh. Miss Bianca is easily the star of these novels, with Bernard playing the (usually) loyal sidekick. The supporting cast of characters vary from book to book, but are sufficiently well-drawn to fulfill their roles. The objects of rescue are a little less-well-defined; and the villains are also somewhat two-dimensional. The Garth Williams illustrations are utterly charming; although I enjoy Erik Blegvad's interpretations of the characters as well.
The style of writing is a bit dated, and rather British at times; but its gentle humour and generally engaging plotlines make these books good candidates for late elementary readers who enjoy "talking animal" stories with a bit of adventure thrown in. Miss Bianca is a fairly good role model; despite being a mouse of class and breeding, she demonstrates intelligence, loyalty and bravery throughout the series. I quite enjoyed revisiting this series and may pass them along to my nieces (and/or nephews) at some point.
This, the fourth book in the series, has our heroes travelling underground in search of Teddy-Age-Eight, being held in the titular location. Bernard and Miss Bianca are saddled with two aged professor mice as part of their mission, and face some narrow escapes, but, with the help of their distant cousins, the bats, assist young Teddy in gaining his freedom.
There's definitely a formula to these books; but the details of each prisoners' situation, along with the trials and tribulations the two mice face, manage to keep things somewhat fresh. Miss Bianca is easily the star of these novels, with Bernard playing the (usually) loyal sidekick. The supporting cast of characters vary from book to book, but are sufficiently well-drawn to fulfill their roles. The objects of rescue are a little less-well-defined; and the villains are also somewhat two-dimensional. The Garth Williams illustrations are utterly charming; although I enjoy Erik Blegvad's interpretations of the characters as well.
The style of writing is a bit dated, and rather British at times; but its gentle humour and generally engaging plotlines make these books good candidates for late elementary readers who enjoy "talking animal" stories with a bit of adventure thrown in. Miss Bianca is a fairly good role model; despite being a mouse of class and breeding, she demonstrates intelligence, loyalty and bravery throughout the series. I quite enjoyed revisiting this series and may pass them along to my nieces (and/or nephews) at some point.
October 7, 2014
The first Miss Bianca I ever read, back when I was about Age 8 myself, and still my favourite. That was before the (ugh) Disney film, and when I was given the book as a reward for good behaviour on a very long road trip, I was delighted. Garth Williams is uneven as an illustrator (see the combination of poorly scribbled vs. marvellously detailed drawings in the Little House series), but in this volume he comes into his own. I loved the way he made the Professors look rather moth eaten, but so humourous, and the expressions of dear faithful Bernard.
Margery Sharp's magical world of mice who rescue political and other prisoners is always a cracking good read, even in the battered second-hand copy I borrowed. There were a couple of rather vital pages missing but the story is so well told I was able to fill in the gaps.
An excellent tale to read aloud with a child you love. I recommend ages 6-8; they may not "get" some of the plays on words but they will be willing to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story.
Margery Sharp's magical world of mice who rescue political and other prisoners is always a cracking good read, even in the battered second-hand copy I borrowed. There were a couple of rather vital pages missing but the story is so well told I was able to fill in the gaps.
An excellent tale to read aloud with a child you love. I recommend ages 6-8; they may not "get" some of the plays on words but they will be willing to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story.
March 28, 2014
Not my favorite of The Rescuers books. It was a little dull, what with them just lazing around for weeks and the escape being rather easy with no planning, just luck. Plus, Bernard was a little weird haha
[SPOILER ALERT] The story was basically, Bernard/Miss Bianca found a note....got volunteers after a long Meeting. They camped out in a cave for 3 weeks until some bats told them where to look for the boy who needed rescuing. Miss Bianca fell in a hole and found the boy and gave him courage to run.
they all escaped, almost got caught on the train ride back....train crashed, and they found the boys relative in the crowd that gathered.
End of story haha
All told in two paragraphs lol
Some of the scenery descriptions were really beautiful, though. :)
[SPOILER ALERT] The story was basically, Bernard/Miss Bianca found a note....got volunteers after a long Meeting. They camped out in a cave for 3 weeks until some bats told them where to look for the boy who needed rescuing. Miss Bianca fell in a hole and found the boy and gave him courage to run.
they all escaped, almost got caught on the train ride back....train crashed, and they found the boys relative in the crowd that gathered.
End of story haha
All told in two paragraphs lol
Some of the scenery descriptions were really beautiful, though. :)
December 20, 2011
This was one I remembered fondly from childhood, but upon reading it as an adult wasn't nearly as impressed. The langauge is very stilted, and the story is, well, kind of boring. There are so many books written for children with mice as the central characters - and probably better than this.
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June 12, 2009Miss Bianca in the salt mines by Margery Sharp (1966), [1st ed.]
May 6, 2009
The series is beginning to run out of steam here, but it's still a book I'm happy to have.
April 26, 2022
I was pleased to have bats added into this tale. ( I taught the Silverwing series in my class.) Tossing in two elderly professors was also an amusing addition.
Bernard is having lunch with Miss Bianca, when the salt shaker ends up empty. When Bernard goes to refill it, he finds a note from a boy locked in the salt mines. Of course, Miss Bianca immediately wants to save him. She and Bernard are shocked when she asks for volunteers, and the antagonistic Mary professor offers to come along!
Bernard is having lunch with Miss Bianca, when the salt shaker ends up empty. When Bernard goes to refill it, he finds a note from a boy locked in the salt mines. Of course, Miss Bianca immediately wants to save him. She and Bernard are shocked when she asks for volunteers, and the antagonistic Mary professor offers to come along!
July 29, 2018
With the 3rd & 4th installments of the Rescuer series, Margery Sharp hit her stride in establishing main characters Miss Bianca & Bernard. The two professors are an entertaining addition in Miss Bianca in the Salt Mines. While the story as a whole was fun, I felt the ending to be a bit of a letdown.
July 16, 2018
Garth Williams has a filigree pen. His illustrations simply sparkle, his textures beg to be touched. Add an adventure with Miss Bianca, Bernard, and two cranky old professors and you've got a happy read ahead.
April 19, 2020
Probably my favorite of the Miss Bianca books. I think it's the setting in the salt mine. The series just isn't the same after this one, possibly because Garth Williams stopped doing the illustrations.
August 5, 2024
This may be a children’s book but the writing is as clever and amusing as any grown up adventure story. I fell in love with Miss Bianca and the other mice in this story. I’ll have to get the other books in this series.
June 4, 2017
Sharp's writing is as charmingly proper as always, but I wanted a little bit more danger and excitement during this adventure. Things came much too easily for Miss Bianca and Bernard.
September 7, 2021
Another wonderful tale of mouse heroism.
September 3, 2024
Hilarious. Not a five, because some of it is nonsensical in resolution.
October 23, 2025
Miss Bianca triumphs again-with grace, diplomacy, bats, 2 doddering professors, and of course, her faithful Bernard!
August 13, 2016
this book is the best memory I have of this series. I think I was struck by the image of the salt mines.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews