It's a story about mice and rats - but they're very human little things.
Mrs Frisby is having a worrying time bringing up her young family since she lost her husband. Her youngest, Timothy, is a bit of a weakling and falls rather seriously ill just at the beginning of spring. This is bad timing because in the spring the mice have to leave their winter home in the vegetable garden, and go to live in the woods well away from all the human activity. So what can Mrs Frisby do when she realizes that Timothy is not well enough to move?
Well, first of all she seeks the advice of the wise old owl. This involves a hair-raising flight on the back of a crow, straight to the owl's home in the trunk of an old tree in the woods. It's a bit of a nerve-wracking visit because mice are, after all, known to be a tasty tit-bit for a hungry owl. The owl advises Mrs Frisby to seek the help of the rats.
Now, the rats who live under the old rose bush are a very special breed of rat. Mrs Frisby can see that as soon as she is allowed into their hole. These rats, they have electric lights and lifts and they teach their young to read! To her surprise, they seem perfectly willing to help her with her problem - they'll simply move the whole concrete block that the Frisby family live in, to a more suitable place. The only thing is, Mrs Frisby can't understand why the rats should go to any trouble at all to help her.
It's out of loyalty to her dead husband, Jonathan Frisby. Actually, it seems that the rats knew Jonathan better than Mrs Frisby did herself. What is the great secret of the rats of NIMH? You'll only find out if you read the book because I'm not going to tell you. But it is a great adventure.
What do you think about ‘Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH’?
Turtles Girl, girl, age 9, from Canberra, Australia, on 13th January 2009. Rating:
This is a amazing book, I do not know where to start, I would easily give it 10/10! I want to know so many things like what happened to Justin and that girl called Isabell and who where the to dead rats they found? Robert O'Brien knows how to write a story, and write it well! i am so confussed about the ending. I guess he wanted to make us think.
Bob, boy, age 52, from Caglary, Canada, on 26th June 2008. Rating: 10/10
I loved this book. The story in side the book that Nicodiums tells is really interesting. I would have never guest that about them. Thanks for making this book. I would recomend it if your looking for a good book to read over the summer. Have fun reading and enjoy Mrs. Frisby and the rats of NIMH.
nick, boy, age 12, from prince albert, Canada, on 12th June 2008. Rating: 10/10
it was a ok book we read it in my class we read the book then watched to the movie but the book is way better i realy want to no if justin died is wat i think is just came and saved isabella because mabe she snuck out but i hope justin servived
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If you enjoy this book you will be pleased to know that there are two more books about the adventures of the Rats of NIMH. They weren't written by Robert C O'Brien. They were written by his daughter Jane Leslie Conly, but don't let that put you off! Have a look at:
If it's the rats that you like, you might enjoy this one by Alan Temperley:
Or this bit of fun by Philip Pullman:
Also any books by Stephen Elboz might interest you:
