Book Description

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service. ... Read more

Reviews (182)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH-- a report by 8th grader
Mrs. Frisby is a widowed, lady mouse caring for four small children. She faces a dilemma, that is that spring is creeping up on them and she needs to move to her summer home immediately before the plow comes to tear up the garden she and her family live in. They must move straight away or face almost certain death. What makes this so difficult is that her youngest son, Timothy, lies dreadfully ill with pneumonia, and he will not be well in time to make the long journey through the woods, to the stream. Fortunately, she is, after many exciting encounters with other wild animals, able to find a solution to her problem. She seeks help from the rats of NIMH and learns a great deal of their history throughout the book.

This book was quite enjoyable; , it is a winner of the John Newbery Medal. Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH was full of adventure, sadness, and cheerfulness. But most of all, The Rats of NIMH had a wonderful, intriguing storyline. As you read, you wonder, how could someone think up such a creative, charming, and pleasant, plot? Another thing I enjoyed was how each of the characters was so individual, that you can't help but love each and every one of them.

There was not much to dislike about this novel, except for maybe one thing. That factor being, that mostly the whole book is in dialogue, except for the beginning and the end. This meaning, that during most of the book, it is not extraordinarily descriptive. One more thing that is more of a disappointment then a dislike is that, in the end, the author leaves you hanging, you never find out something that is very important. It is meant to make you crave to know the answer, but you can't have it. I think that that is actually just fine because you then get to make up your own ending.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was one of the absolute greatest books i have ever read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and is looking for an exciting book to read. I certainly enjoyed this novel immensely and I hope that I have encouraged you to read it.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
The book I read was "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH". The main charecter is Mrs. Frisby, she has four children. There are two boys and two girls. The two boys are Martin and Timothy, and the two girls are Cynthia and Teresa. Timothy has pneumonia, and in five days it is going to be moving day. Mrs. frisby goes on quest to get the house moved and to get Timothy better.
I liked this book because it was emotional as well as a exciting book. The charecters go on adventures and meet all kinds of talking animals. If you saw the movie, you should still read the book because the movie is so much different then the book. The type of people who would like this bookwould be people who like science fiction,and people that like fun easy reading.
I would give this book **** four star because it is a good book and I have no complants about it. It is more of a fairytale put in 12 year old words. It is all in all a good book and you should read it.

An Interesting Adventure (written by sixth grader)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a great book. It is interesting, adventurous,and fits my age group. I was assigned this book as a Novel Study project and therefore thought that it would be boring. As I read on I found out that I was very wrong. This book had a lot of adventure, and was very interesting. But this book also has a lot of descriptive detail and sometimes became boring. I do like a bit of detail because it helps me understand the book more. Some people do like a lot of detail, but that is not my style. Therefore I gave the book 4 stars. Though I like animals, this is not why I liked this book, because I am terrified of rats and mice, though some people call them cute. I liked this book because the author used a device call personification on the characters (the animals) which made it interesting because they now posessed human qualities. I like this device because it means the we can relate to the characters though they are animals. I recommend this book to everyone. Try the book out. It may be boring at first but keep reading, it has a lot of adventure. It turns about to be very exciting.

Mrs.Frisby and The Rats of NIMH
This is a a great book for medium size kids. My favorite character is Martin because he is very brave talking at the end.
This is a good book because it keeps you wanting to read more and more. I

had a hard time not going ahead of the schedule.

My Thoughts On Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
This was a very good book about a widowed mother mouse with a child,Timothy who is sick with pnemonia and gets overcomes many problems and fears because of Timothy. First,Mrs. Frisby runs through the cold and darkness to find some doctor(Mr. Ages)to give advise or medicine needless to say Mr. Ages gives her medicine and now another problem occurs it's the end of the winter and it's moving day I think you'll enjoy finding out what comes of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

‘Racso, a brash and boastful little rodent, is making his way to Thorn Valley, determined to learn how to read and write and become a hero.His bragging and lies get him off to a bad start, but a crisis gives him the opportunity to prove his mettle.A worthy successor [to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, a Newbery Medal winner by the author's father].' 'BL.

1986 Children's Editors' Choices (BL)
Children's Choices for 1987 (IRA/CBC)
Notable 1986 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
1986 Children's Books (NY Public Library)
Best Science Fiction/Fantasy 1986 (VOYA) ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A great book for children.
Racso and the Rats of NIMH was a great book it actually was my favorite utill I read another great book. I would recommend reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH before you read Racso and the Rats of NIMH. ( Read Racso's name backwords)

racso and the rats of nimh
This would be one of the best books I have read in a long time, and I am pretty picky about what I read. After reading Robert C'obrians "Mrs.Frisby and the rats of nimh" I was very inspiered and felt I wanted to read the next book. I like the charecter, Racso so much I bought a black birre (hat)to look like him. Jane Leslie Conly did such a good job on continuing the story, that I thought it was the same author. I started out thinking that Mrs.Frisby and the rats of nimh would be boring, and I ended up loving the book. I have started to read RT, Margaret and the rats of nimh and think I will enjoy it very much.

Search for the computor mannual.
This was no doubt the most intelligent and fun book I have ever read. I believe that anyone would like this book. Anyone above the age of 6 could read it and understand it

Justin Russell's review of Racso and the Rats of Nimh
I read the book Racso and he Rats of Nimh.Iliked this book because it is about a field mouse who decides to walk to school.The school is a long way from the field the mouse live in.Along the way he follows another animal he doen't know what it is.One day he found the animal floating in the creek he pulled it in to shore.It was Racso he was a rat they became good friends and went to school at Nimh with the other rats together.

very enjoyable read
My children (ages 4,5, and 7) and I really enjoyed this sequel to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. I admit that I didn't expect this book to be as good as the original, but was pleasantly surprised. While the story was not as focused on some of our old friends (Mrs. Frisby, Nicodemus, Mr. Ages), the new characters were loads of fun to read about. We liked meeting Racso and hearing all about life in Thorn Valley. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first one as much as we did. ... Read more

Reviews (115)

About Being Alone
Ann Burden is alone and she is scared. The world as we know it has ended and Ann has managed to survive and build a life for herself. She has always assumed being alone was how it would be for the rest of her life. Now there is someone else and she's not sure how she should feel about him. Will they survive together or will she remain alone. Robert C. O'Brien is the master of writing about surving alone and of his three major books, this to me is the best. I have not only read it several times myself but it seems to cycle through my family as well. It's one of those books where you say to yourself, "It's time to read Z for Zachariah" again. The book is a page turner which is evidence of how well O'Brien knows his craft. One final, good thing about this book is that it is a great book for introducing people to post-apocalyptic science fiction. Especially those who are a bit wimpy and would not survive such classics as "No Blade of Grass" by John Christopher or "Earth Abides" by George R. Stewart or newer works such as "Shade's Children" by Garth Nix. Although dark, "Z For Zachariah" is more palatable. The awful things have happened almost before you realize what has gone down.

A must read type book
Z for Zachariah is a book that deals with what it would be like to be the last person left on earth. After a nuclear war there is only one person left a 16 year old girl named Anne. Somehow the radiation passed over her home that sits in a small valley. When one day she sees smoke of in the distance, she realizes that she is not the only left. From there the book explodes into a fast action plot. Should she trust the scientist in his "safe suit" because he is the only person left with her? Even after he swims in the contaminated river and starts acting different, meaner? I recommend this book to people of all ages. Its makes you feel like you were right there and keeps you sitting up at night to finish the book to see how it will it.

Second reading was a flop!
I don't know what happened. I read this book about 3 years ago, and thought it was one of the best, most exciting books I'd ever read. So, a few days ago, I went to the library and checked it out to read it again. I started reading ... and fell asleep! What a snooze-fest! The descriptions were tedious, and in some instances, hard to visualize. I really didn't like Ann Burden at all, in fact. I didn't even finish it. I just got fed up with the way-off-base characters and boring farm description. In conclusion, read it if you're in the 9-12 age group, but beware, it doesn't hold up in a second reading.

Z for Zachariah
Listened to this book on tape. I thought it was the most fantastic story I had ever heard. Felt the author's imagination was outstanding. I am a senior citizen and use these novels to fall asleep - this is one that would not let me sleep!

thrilling
Somebody in my science class reccommended this book to me. It sounded pretty intersting, so i checked it out from the library. i started reading it and i really liked it. But the cover really scared me.

Ann Burden is a 15 year old, trying to survive on her own after a nuclear bomb that never touched the valley that she lives in. Her family went to see what happened, and the radiation from the nuclear fire killed them. so she is all alone, living in her house with the farm animals. She thinks she is the only left in the world. Until one day, a scientist named John Loomis comes to her valley, wearing a "safe suit" that helped him survive. He becomes sick, and Ann helps him recover. But his behaior is very odd, and Ann runs away to her cave the Mr. Loomis doesn't know about. He becomes more and more dangerous as the days go by. He even tries to rape Ann. This is a great book, and i reccomend it to everyone over the age of 12. ... Read more

Book Description

Ellen awakens one morning with a mysterious silver frown on the pillow beside her. What magic powers it possesses she has not yet discovered, but the sudden changes in her life are unmistakable: her house is burned down, her family has disappeared, and a man in a dark uniform is stalking her. Can Ellen ever find her family? Can she use the power of the silver crown to thwart the powers of darkness? What diabolical force hides inside the mysterious castle in the woods? ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Fond Remembrance
This book was read to our 5th grade class by...I wish she knew how today I am still affected by the different world of "reading for enjoyment" she opened for me. I, like many others reviewing this book, looked for it on several occasions and thought I had the title wrong or I had imagined the book; and am glad to know that I can easily obtain it now. (For years I looked for "Mystery of the Silver Crown")

Silver Crown is so well written, it's great for readers of all ages who are ready for adventure. It opens worlds of wonder, stimulating the imagination. I remember the anticipation and not being able to wait until the designated time the teacher would read the coming chapters. I wanted to get a copy for myself to go ahead and finish it, she was taking too long--a chapter or two at a time was not enough. How disappointed I was when the book ended...the entire class wanted more, and so will you. I think that's why if you have your own copy, you will read it time and time again...I've ordered and am waiting for my copy now!!

If you can obtain a copy, get it and share with the young ones in your life...read it together with the whole family or lend it to a teacher you know to share with his/her class...they will love you for it. Everyone you introduce to this classic will remember you fondly for years to come when they think of this book (and they WILL think of it time and time again!)...it's one they and you will never forget (IT'S BEEN 27 YEARS FOR ME!!). Get it and enjoy!!

Worth waiting for
I read this book when I was--gosh, I was either eleven or twelve at the time, and I still remember it now that I'm eighteen going on nineteen. Not in detail, mind you! *L* However, I recall it well enough to let you know that this book is definitely worth waiting for. "The Silver Crown" by Robert C. O'Brien starts out innocently enough with a young girl waking on her birthday to find the mysterious gift of a silver crown waiting for her. From there, however, it goes from strange to downright creepy as the girl (forgive me, I can't remember her name) returns from an errand only to find her home burning and her parents missing. Now it is a race against time as she runs from unknown enemies who want to use her--for only she can harness the power of the crown. Along the way, she meets a younger boy who becomes her companion...as well as a target. Can she save herself and her friend? Are her parents really dead? Is there more at stake than what she originally thought? Perhaps...but the only way for you to really find out is to read the book, right? Trust me, this is a great book, and I myself intend to purchase a copy of "The Silver Crown". You'll like this book, boy or girl, young or old. Well, maybe not too young; "The Silver Crown" might be too intense for children younger than ten, because some of it IS scary. But overall, this is a must-addition to your library, as it will be to mine.

Still captivating after all these years
Like many of the people who have written reviews here, "The Silver Crown" was read to our class by my third grade teacher when I was 10 years old. I was absolutely fascinated by the story -- completely enthralled with it -- and once we finished reading it as a class I immediately went to the school library, checked it out, and read it again. In my mid-20's I suddenly remembered the book and the tremendous impact it had on me as a child, and I embarked on a campaign to find a copy of my own that I could someday share with my children. Easier said than done! But it was heartwarming to see that so many people have had a similar experience with this remarkable book. Fortunately I now own a copy and have re-read the story several times. Even as an adult I still find it full of mystery, excitement, and intrigue.

Not our favorite
While the general plot is intriguing and some of the characters are appealing, this book starts out with far too much unexplained violence prior to setting the stage and providing context for events. We are non-TV watchers, so haven't grown accustomed to senseless murder and arson! Because of the starkness of the violence, we found the beginning of the book disturbing. Maybe the point, but we did not enjoy it. The travel adventures of the two children are better written, and the characters Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mr. Carver are sympathetic (whatever happens to Mrs. Fitzgerald?). We found the final chapter of the American version to be poorly written and unsatisfactory. The several-page monologue explanation of possible events by Mr. Carver seems totally out of character and not in the same tone of earlier chapters. Our edition (the one sold here) has a second alternate ending that was used for the British edition of the book. We definitely prefer this much shorter wrap-up, but still found it lacking. Also surprising were the number of typos in the book. We much prefer "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH," and would choose Edward Early, Cornelia Funke and Rowling over any more of this author's books.

This book made me be a writer
I read this book shortly after it came out. I loved it so much I stole it from the school library (I eventually 'fessed up and donated some money to replace it). Now I have the joy of reading it to my eight-year-old - and it reminds me of why I became a writer. I would recommend this to all children third grade or older, even though it definitely has some frightening and sad moments. It also has a strong female lead character - something the book world needs more of.

(...) ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A mixture of Sci-Fi and Adventure.
Mrs Frisby is a widow mouse. She has four children and she lives in a brick house in farmer Fitzgibbon's field. One day her youngest child , Timothy falls sick with pneumonia. She meets up with a crow named Jeremy. He takes her to see the wise owl who tells her to see the rats. When meeting the rats she find out the secret of the rats of NIMH. If you want to know if she can move her house and children before farmer Fitzgibbon ploughs the field read this epic adventure book.

Exciting story about a mouse trying to save her son's life.
Mrs Frisby is the mother of four children and trying to save her son who is suffering of Pneumonia. They have to move before the farmer ploughs the garden where they live. She takes her problems to the rats who are super intelligent and live under the rosebush. They solve her problems and she finds out how they know her deceased husband. In return she saves them. To find out what happens read the book for yourself.

Mice and Rats
"The Secret of Nimh" is an exciting fantasy that pulls you in. This book is full of twists and turns. Everything is so clear you'll feel like you're really, there- watching everything that happens. As you get farther, and farther into the book you get more and more attached.

Mrs. Frisby is worried about her youngest son Timothy. Moving day is coming, and with Timothy sick in bed with a pneumonia she can't move him. It seems like there is no hope, until Mrs. Frisby meets a crow named Jeramy. He tells her to see the Owl. The Owl tells her to go to the rats. Mrs. Frisby is puzzled but does as she is told. It turns out that the rats knew her husband, Johnathon Frisby. They decide to help her move the cinder block (her home) to safety. Everything seems to be going great until Mrs. Frisby has an unplesent visit with the farmer's son.

Mice, rats, Nimh, all it takes to make a great story by Robert C. O'Brien. You'll love the funny, likeable characters. You'll love reading this book, and as you learn more about the charaacters, the more you love the story.

Just about perfect
This is a children's book, but adults will enjoy giving it a read now and then. I. It is not a book about magic, but it has magical and somewhat mystical elements woven into it, seamlessly blending with a believable reality. It is good writing, plain and simple, and while the story is anything but plain and simple, it is easy to follow. The complexity is useful in furthering the story and only adds to the suspense, believability and exciting pace of the tale. Even younger children, say, 8 or 9 year-olds, will stay glued to this book like I did some 15 years ago.

Secret of nimh RULES*!
The story is about a lady mouse named Mrs Frisby. There was a movie called the secret of nimh but it hardly was close to the book. Well back to stuff about the book. The plow comes so the mouse asks the rats of nimh to help. I loved that book because it was FULL of adventure! BYE ... Read more