Jessie Treadway Review 2

O'Brien, Robert C. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1971. Print.

This Newberry winner is a fascinating story with multiple levels of interest for readers of all ages. It tells the story of a widowed mouse and her four children as they struggle for survival in their winter home as spring approaches. Despite her youngest song falling ill, Mrs. Frisby must move her family to their summer home or risk being plowed over by the farmer’s tractor. Looking everywhere for help, she turns to her late husband’s friends: the rats of NIMH.

I remembered the movie as a child and even then I remember the most basic lesson from the book: a mother’s love. Every child, human or animal, can relate to the never-ending love a mother has for them. The risks Mrs. Frisby takes time and time again while trying to save her family shows the great lengths parents will go for their children. Also the fact that the heroine of the story is a mother is unique since most protagonists are singular characters without ties to others and mothers are generally seen as side figures to the main character of the child in children’s literature. By showing the mother as a brave figure set out to save her children against terrible dangers, children may alter their perspective they have toward mothers.

As the reader matures they can now understand the concept of the rats of NIMH and their story. The description of the rats being captured and experimented on brings about real issues that are still being fought over today. Is it wrong to test on animals drugs we want to test on humans but are not sure if they are safe? Can animals feel pain the same way people do? Telling this story from the animals’ perspective brings about difficult questions and emotions within the reader upon the realization that experimenting on lab rats is common practice.

With regards to what age this novel would be appropriate for I feel that the youngest would be 4th or 5th grade but I feel even high school-aged students would be interested. It would fit in nicely in political science classes discussing animal rights. Or when learning about different kinds of rodents it would be fun to read a book from their perspective about what their lives are really like.

Overall this book brings about emotion in the reader. We learn about love, bravery, pain, death, and the sadness that come with. By making the characters animals, it distances the intensity of the story enough for the reader to feel empathy without depression.