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The Secret of NIMH
(Rats of NIMH #1)
by
Mrs. Frisby, a field mouse, asks the rats of NIMH to help move her family's home from the path of the farmer's plow.
...more
Paperback, 249 pages
Published
August 1st 1995
by Scholastic Paperbacks
(first published 1971)
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I am very fond of extraordinarily handsome rats. <3 Even better than I remembered, and now I have to read the sequel to find out what happened to everybody.
Reread for our monthly classics readalong--discussion on the blog this Friday!
Reread for our monthly classics readalong--discussion on the blog this Friday!

Oct 28, 2019
Ahmad Sharabiani
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
classics,
literature,
adventure,
fantasy,
fiction,
animals,
20th-century,
young-adult,
united-states
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Rats of NIMH #1), Robert C. O'Brien
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children's book by Robert C. O'Brien. the story was adapted for film in 1982 as The Secret of NIMH.
Mrs. Frisby is the head of a family of field mice. Her son Timothy is ill with pneumonia just as the farmer Mr. Fitzgibbon begins preparation for spring plowing in the garden where the Frisby family lives.
Normally she would move her family, but Timothy would not survive the cold trip to ...more
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children's book by Robert C. O'Brien. the story was adapted for film in 1982 as The Secret of NIMH.
Mrs. Frisby is the head of a family of field mice. Her son Timothy is ill with pneumonia just as the farmer Mr. Fitzgibbon begins preparation for spring plowing in the garden where the Frisby family lives.
Normally she would move her family, but Timothy would not survive the cold trip to ...more

Feb 27, 2008
Kirsten
rated it
it was amazing
·
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

Feb 12, 2020
¸¸.•*¨*•♫ Mrs. Buttercup •*¨*•♫♪
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned
“When you’ve lived in a cage, you can’t bear not to run, even if what you’re running towards is an illusion.”
I grew up watching Don Bluth's animation movie The Secret of NIMH, and I had no idea this was a book. Then I found this little second-hand book on Amazon and I knew I had to read it! This story is just so much fun. I love those children's books told from the perspective of animals, because it really forces you to change your point of view when approaching a story (those poor mice really ...more

I grew up watching Don Bluth's animation movie The Secret of NIMH, and I had no idea this was a book. Then I found this little second-hand book on Amazon and I knew I had to read it! This story is just so much fun. I love those children's books told from the perspective of animals, because it really forces you to change your point of view when approaching a story (those poor mice really ...more

Rats are the better humans maybe.
When I read this story aloud to students a few years ago, I remember thinking it is one of these crossover novels that speak to children and adults on different, but equally satisfying levels.
There is the human intrusion into the natural state of biology.
There is the inevitable fallout.
There is the fable.
There is the fantasy about community building.
There is the hardship and the there is the perseverance to deal with it.
There is good old adventure and storytelli ...more
When I read this story aloud to students a few years ago, I remember thinking it is one of these crossover novels that speak to children and adults on different, but equally satisfying levels.
There is the human intrusion into the natural state of biology.
There is the inevitable fallout.
There is the fable.
There is the fantasy about community building.
There is the hardship and the there is the perseverance to deal with it.
There is good old adventure and storytelli ...more

Apr 01, 2016
The Captain
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
younger-readers
Ahoy there me mateys! Here I take a second look at a previously enjoyed novel and give me crew me second reflections, as it were, upon visitin' it again . . .
In the last couple of days, I had to take a road journey and decided to listen to an audiobook on the way. I wanted something I had previously read before and saw this one was available from the library. The First Mate had never heard of it and I was appalled. I adored the 1982 movie and the book when I was little but hadn't read or wat ...more
In the last couple of days, I had to take a road journey and decided to listen to an audiobook on the way. I wanted something I had previously read before and saw this one was available from the library. The First Mate had never heard of it and I was appalled. I adored the 1982 movie and the book when I was little but hadn't read or wat ...more

Mar 01, 2018
Paul E. Morph
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-in-2020
I approached this with the usual trepidation you get when going back to a childhood favourite after nearly four decades away... deep breath... but I needn’t have worried. This book is every bit as charming, moving and, let’s be honest, a teeny bit scary as I remembered. If you like an intelligently written children’s book that provides some food for thought, you could do a lot worse.
I can’t help but wonder if James Herbert read this before he wrote ‘The Rats’, though... brrr...
I can’t help but wonder if James Herbert read this before he wrote ‘The Rats’, though... brrr...

I loved this book so much as a young teen, I read it over and over and over. This is probably the book that started me off on my lifelong love of fantasy, together with Watership Down.
I re-read this as part of my MacHalo Reading Challenge 2016, 4. Re-reading a childhood favourite.
The beginning was a little boring and the very traditional gender roles of the mice annoyed me a bit at first. But once Mrs. Frisby met the rats and they told her their story, the book picked up a lot. I had forgotten ...more
I re-read this as part of my MacHalo Reading Challenge 2016, 4. Re-reading a childhood favourite.
The beginning was a little boring and the very traditional gender roles of the mice annoyed me a bit at first. But once Mrs. Frisby met the rats and they told her their story, the book picked up a lot. I had forgotten ...more

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

I think it was my second-grade teacher who read this to us in class, like a chapter a day, or something.
I was so into this book, I made my mom take me to the library where I checked it out so I could read ahead to find out what was coming. But I didn't want the entire thing spoiled, so I only read a chapter ahead.
In fifth grade, this was available through RIF and I remember seeing the copy on the folding table among all the many other free books. I snatched it up so fast, grabbing up from under ...more
I was so into this book, I made my mom take me to the library where I checked it out so I could read ahead to find out what was coming. But I didn't want the entire thing spoiled, so I only read a chapter ahead.
In fifth grade, this was available through RIF and I remember seeing the copy on the folding table among all the many other free books. I snatched it up so fast, grabbing up from under ...more

How is it these rats can illuminate their entire underground nest with Christmas lights, but every year thousands of Americans cannot decorate their trees???

If you are looking for a specific brand of children’s book that is simultaneously wholesome, while containing legitimate sci-fi horror elements, then look no further than Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.
I’ll admit, I recently found myself re-watching Don Bluth’s film adaptation The Secret of NIMH, which peaked my curiosity to seek out the source material. While I first saw this film as an adult, I cannot say that this story evokes much childhood nostalgia for me as it does for the many others ...more
I’ll admit, I recently found myself re-watching Don Bluth’s film adaptation The Secret of NIMH, which peaked my curiosity to seek out the source material. While I first saw this film as an adult, I cannot say that this story evokes much childhood nostalgia for me as it does for the many others ...more

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
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

Feb 10, 2018
Laura
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya,
toppler-finished-read,
2018,
overdrive,
first-of-a-series,
on-ipad2,
classics,
fantasy,
scifi,
animal-perspective
This one was just ok for me. I enjoy a story from an animal's perspective, so that part was cool. But the sci-fi aspect of this turned me off a bit. I love how the rats banded together to help the mice, and the backstory behind that (although that's the bit that brought in the sci-fi aspect).
I also alternated between reading and listening to this. Am I the only one who finds Barbara Caruso's narration prissy and annoying lol. Not sure, but I think when I go back to reread the first three Anne o ...more
I also alternated between reading and listening to this. Am I the only one who finds Barbara Caruso's narration prissy and annoying lol. Not sure, but I think when I go back to reread the first three Anne o ...more

I read this as a kid a long time ago. I was probably 10 or 11, but I don’t remember really. I also had only very vague memories of the book and 2 odd specific ones: that the mice had to move their house to the lee of the stone, and of the hysterical shrew. I also knew I had really loved it.
I’m really glad I decided to read this to my son and that they had it at the library.
It’s quite exciting as stories go and the rats’ story within a story was wonderful. It is so well written that it was a pl ...more
I’m really glad I decided to read this to my son and that they had it at the library.
It’s quite exciting as stories go and the rats’ story within a story was wonderful. It is so well written that it was a pl ...more

Dec 03, 2012
Stefan Yates
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kids-room,
stefan-dusty-bookshelf-2013
This is a book that I had fond memories of from originally reading it in the 4th grade. I was considering buying it as a gift for my niece, who's that age, so I thought that I should read it again myself first. Naturally, I was a bit concerned that my memory of the book would be let down by the passage of time. Thankfully, I was wrong.
This is a great story full of memorable characters and plenty of adventure that keeps the pages turning. Children and adults alike will enjoy this award-winning no ...more
This is a great story full of memorable characters and plenty of adventure that keeps the pages turning. Children and adults alike will enjoy this award-winning no ...more

Jan 16, 2018
Rachel Aranda
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobooks,
owned
This is the Newberry Award winning book for 1973, and this was there main reason I wanted to read it. Normally it's a mixed bag with books that win this award for me, but this time I can say this book deserved the award. This is a really good book.
This is an interesting introduction to science-fiction for young readers. I mean rats and a few mice with special intellectual properties that want to build their own successful community... What's not to be interested in? The story has aged really wel ...more
This is an interesting introduction to science-fiction for young readers. I mean rats and a few mice with special intellectual properties that want to build their own successful community... What's not to be interested in? The story has aged really wel ...more

This is my very own book order copy from back in Ye Olden Tymes, when I was a wee Jessie.
One of my favorite movies then, and still much loved, I also loved this book. My kids really loved it, too, and got super into it. But I have to say, this is one of those that did have improvements made for the movie. The character of Jeremy Crow, who is only briefly in the book, is much more fun in the movie. And the bulk of the book is Nicodemus describing NIMH, rather pedantically.
Also, the book ends wi ...more
One of my favorite movies then, and still much loved, I also loved this book. My kids really loved it, too, and got super into it. But I have to say, this is one of those that did have improvements made for the movie. The character of Jeremy Crow, who is only briefly in the book, is much more fun in the movie. And the bulk of the book is Nicodemus describing NIMH, rather pedantically.
Also, the book ends wi ...more

The Jason Pettus 2020 Autumn Reading Challenge (join us!)
#16: One of your favorite books as a child
I read some advice recently that said that to lessen the burnout and stress so many of us are feeling during the pandemic right now, it can be helpful to re-read a beloved book from childhood and wallow in the pleasant nostalgia the experience creates; and this is why I thought it'd be nice to add this task to my 2020 Autumn Reading Challenge, because I know there's a lot of other people suffering ...more
#16: One of your favorite books as a child
I read some advice recently that said that to lessen the burnout and stress so many of us are feeling during the pandemic right now, it can be helpful to re-read a beloved book from childhood and wallow in the pleasant nostalgia the experience creates; and this is why I thought it'd be nice to add this task to my 2020 Autumn Reading Challenge, because I know there's a lot of other people suffering ...more

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 level of p ...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 level of p ...more

Jul 01, 2018
Kusaimamekirai
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction-america
When I was a college student, I remember that a local, independent theater (remember those?!) was screening “The Goonies”. As a child it was one of my favorite films. In addition to being able to quote it from memory I had Goonies figures, a board game, and other assorted paraphernalia associated with it. Visibly excited, I asked my girlfriend at the time to come with me to this seemingly seismic event. While she seemed somewhat less impressed than I was (might have been a cultural thing) she a
...more

This was always one of my favorite movies as a child, though I still love it now, and I was very excited to read the book. I wasn't disappointed. This book was thoroughly entertaining and extremely amusing. I loved it from the very beginning. Mrs. Frisby and her family were loving, resourceful, and easy to like. I loved reading about the rats and their adventures
This was a wonderful story about heroism and courage and it will worm it's way into your heart. The story is very well written and the ...more
This was a wonderful story about heroism and courage and it will worm it's way into your heart. The story is very well written and the ...more

I forgot how much I love this book. I was a little nervous re-reading it because I hadn't read it since I was a kid and I was worried that it wouldn't hold up well, but I needn't have worried. The book is just as wonderful now as it was then.
One of the things I find very interesting now is the way that humans are portrayed. Not bad or good, but just very human. Going about their lives not really appreciating how they affect everything around them. But also not entirely clueless.
This book will al ...more
One of the things I find very interesting now is the way that humans are portrayed. Not bad or good, but just very human. Going about their lives not really appreciating how they affect everything around them. But also not entirely clueless.
This book will al ...more

I thought this was the best book about rats and mice I have ever read!!! It was fun and the story line was great. I kind of feel bad for them now.... (not that bad where I want to save them or have one as a pet) Great characters and a mommy mouse that loves her family so much she will put her life in jeopardy to save them. Feel good book full of imagination.

3.5 stars

‘When you’ve lived in a cage, you can’t bear not to run, even if what you’re running to is an illusion.’
🐀
Isn’t that quote just beautiful? What a fun, sweet and informative little book Mrs Frisby and The Rats of NIMH was. Robert C. O’Brien, creates such a lovely tale about Mrs Frisby’s family being in dire danger from Farmer Fitzgibbon’s plough and how she has to enlist a group of rats to help her solve her dilemma. These were no ordinary rats though, as they held an incredible secret.
🐀
There is s ...more
🐀
Isn’t that quote just beautiful? What a fun, sweet and informative little book Mrs Frisby and The Rats of NIMH was. Robert C. O’Brien, creates such a lovely tale about Mrs Frisby’s family being in dire danger from Farmer Fitzgibbon’s plough and how she has to enlist a group of rats to help her solve her dilemma. These were no ordinary rats though, as they held an incredible secret.
🐀
There is s ...more

One of my favorite books as a kid; it was a nice feeling to have it stay golden when reading it as a adult. It goes to show you that a well written book with strong characters and an intriguing plot is good no matter who the "intended audience" is. The story is still as exciting and intriguing as it was back then; between this and Watership Down (and others, so many others), an imaginative child could see secret societies of animals everywhere. I had two disappointments as an adult. One is small
...more
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Classic Trash: Mrs Frisby and the Rats if NIMH: Finished (Spoilers) | 4 | 4 | Dec 06, 2019 01:33PM | |
Classic Trash: Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH: IN Progress (No Spoilers) | 4 | 7 | Dec 04, 2019 09:53PM |
Robert Leslie Conly (better known by his pen name, Robert C. O'Brien) was an American author and journalist for National Geographic Magazine. His daughter is author Jane Leslie Conly.
For more complete information on this author, please see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_... ...more
For more complete information on this author, please see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_... ...more
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“When you’ve lived in a cage, you can’t bear not to run, even if what you’re running towards is an illusion.”
—
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“I have lived in this tree, in this same hollow," the owl said, "for more years than anyone can remember. But now, when the wind blows hard in winter and rocks the forest, I sit here in the dark, and from deep down in the bole, near the roots, I hear a new sound. It is the sound of strands of wood creaking in the cold and snapping one by one. The limbs are falling; the tree is old, and it is dying. Yet I cannot bring myself, after so many years, to leave, to find a new home and move into it, perhaps to fight for it. I, too, have grown old. One of these days, one of these years, the tree will fall, and when it does, if I am still alive, I will fall with it.”
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