Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1971). Summary of the book.

by

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1971)

Summary of the Book

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children’s book by Robert C. O’Brien. It tells the story of Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse, who lives in a cinder block with her four children and elderly rat neighbor, Mr. Ages. When her youngest son falls ill, she must find a way to move her home before the farmer plows the field. With help from the mysterious rats of NIMH, Mrs. Frisby embarks on a journey to save her family.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is an adventure-filled story that combines elements of fantasy, science, and morality. Through Mrs. Frisby’s journey, O’Brien conveys several important lessons about intelligence, responsibility, and courage.

Main Details about the Plot

Mrs. Frisby’s youngest son, Timothy, has fallen ill, and it becomes clear that the family must move their cinder block home to survive the farmer’s plowing. This task is made even more difficult when Mrs. Frisby’s older son, Jeremy, is drafted into service by the dangerous and mysterious rats of NIMH.

Mrs. Frisby turns to her neighbor Mr. Ages for help, and he helps her understand the secret of the rats: they are former lab rats who have been genetically enhanced with intelligence. They have escaped from the laboratory, and now they live in the rose bush, where they are constantly threatened by the farmer and his cat, Dragon.

Mrs. Frisby is determined to help her son and the rats, and she bravely faces off against Dragon and the rats’ enemies. With the help of the wise owl, she is able to save her son and the rats. In the end, Mrs. Frisby and her family are able to move their home to safety, and the rats are able to live in peace.

Interesting Facts about the Book

  • Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was the winner of the 1972 Newbery Medal.
  • The book was adapted into an animated film, The Secret of NIMH, in 1982.
  • Robert C. O’Brien wrote the book under the pseudonym Robert C. O’Brien, which he used to protect his identity as a CIA agent.
  • The book is often compared to George Orwell’s Animal Farm due to its themes of intelligence, responsibility, and courage.
  • The book has been praised for its complex characters and its portrayal of female heroism.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH about?

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children’s book by Robert C. O’Brien. It tells the story of Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse, who lives in a cinder block with her four children and elderly rat neighbor, Mr. Ages. When her youngest son falls ill, she must find a way to move her home before the farmer plows the field. With help from the mysterious rats of NIMH, Mrs. Frisby embarks on a journey to save her family.

What are the main themes of the book?

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH conveys several important lessons about intelligence, responsibility, and courage. It also explores themes of family, friendship, and the power of belief.

Who wrote Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?

The book was written by Robert C. O’Brien under the pseudonym Robert C. O’Brien, which he used to protect his identity as a CIA agent.

Has Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH been adapted into a movie?

Yes, the book was adapted into an animated film, The Secret of NIMH, in 1982.

What awards has Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH won?

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was the winner of the 1972 Newbery Medal.

Related books:

  1. From Rats to Riches by U. Morgan. Summary of the book.
  2. GENIUS INTELLIGENCE: Secret Techniques and Technologies to Increase IQ (The Underground Knowledge Series, #1) by James Morcan. Summary of the book.
  3. Mrs. Spring Fragrance by Sui Sin Far. Summary of the book.
  4. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1923). Summary of the book.
  5. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Summary of the book.
  6. Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mary White Rowlandson. Summary of the book.
  7. Mrs. Warren’s Profession by Bernard Shaw. Summary of the book.
  8. Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns. Summary of the book.
  9. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry. Summary of the book.
  10. Mrs Dalloway in Bond Street by Virginia Woolf. Summary of the book.
  11. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (1967). Summary of the book.
  12. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (1971). Summary of the book.
  13. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien (1990). Summary of the book.
  14. The Hiding Place by Corrie Boom (1971). Summary of the book.
  15. The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien. Summary of the book.
  16. The Book of Household Management by Mrs. Beeton. Summary of the book.
  17. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (1959). Summary of the book.
  18. Mastery by Robert Greene. Summary of the book.
  19. At-Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O’Brien. Summary of the book.
  20. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty (1971). Summary of the book.
  21. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter Thompson (1971). Summary of the book.
  22. Circle of Wisdom: A Path for Life, Mind and Leadership by Robert C. Stone. Summary of the book.
  23. Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary E Braddon. Summary of the book.
  24. An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. Summary of the book.
  25. My Search for Warren Harding by Robert Plunkett. Summary of the book.
  26. Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde. Summary of the book.
  27. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. Summary of the book.
  28. Max und Moritz: Eine Bubengeschichte in sieben Streichen by Wilhelm Busch. Summary of the book.
  29. Charlotte Temple by Mrs. Rowson. Summary of the book.
  30. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (1974). Summary of the book.
  31. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carre. Summary of the book.
  32. Camp Concentration by Thomas M Disch. Summary of the book.
  33. Institute Benjamenta by Robert Walser. Summary of the book.
  34. A Flag for Sunrise by Robert Stone. Summary of the book.
  35. The Good Earth by Pearl Buck (1931). Summary of the book.
  36. Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen. Summary of the book.
  37. Fatherland by Robert Harris. Summary of the book.
  38. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini. Summary of the book.
  39. Treasure Island by Robert Stevenson (1882). Summary of the book.
  40. The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. Summary of the book.
  41. Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens. Summary of the book.
  42. The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan (2009). Summary of the book.
  43. The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton. Summary of the book.
  44. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (1990). Summary of the book.
  45. The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers. Summary of the book.
  46. Unnatural death by Dorothy L. Sayers. Summary of the book.
  47. Behind the Scenes; or, Thirty years a slave, and Four Years in the White House by Elizabeth Keckley. Summary of the book.
  48. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. Summary of the book.
  49. The Secret (The Secret, #1) by Rhonda Byrne. Summary of the book.
  50. The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan (1992). Summary of the book.

Leave a Comment