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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
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NIMH: Book 1

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971) (edit title/settings)

by Robert C. O'Brien (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

There's something very strange about the rats living under the rosebush at the Fitzgibbon farm. But Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with a sick child, is in dire straits and must turn to these exceptional creatures for assistance. Soon she finds herself flying on the back of a crow, slipping... read more

Summary edit see section history

Every year Mrs. Freisby moves her family from its winter home in a cinder block in the farmer's field to their summer home in the woods. But this year, her youngest child is stricken with pneumonia and is too weak to make the move; and the farmer is making plans to plow the field.

Mrs.... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Every year Mrs. Freisby moves her family from its winter home in a cinder block in the farmer's field to their summer home in the woods. But this year, her youngest child is stricken with pneumonia and is too weak to make the move; and the farmer is making plans to plow the field.

Mrs. Frisby summons all her courage and guile to seek help from other animals living in the area. She discovers a group of very curious rats living on the farm. The rats were once subjects of intelligence experiemtns at NIMH, the National Institutes of Mental Health. Armed with superior intelligence the rats escaped NIMH and set up a home on the farm. At teh time that Mrs. Frisby appeals to them they planning to move to a secluded area where they can establish a self-sustaining lifestyle, free of the need to steal from the farmer.

Mrs. Frisby discovers family connections to the rats of NIMH, and the rates assist Mrs. Frisby in saving her family.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Mrs.Frisby: The mother of Martin, Teresa, Timothy, and Cynthia. Wife of Jonathan Frisby. A mouse
  • Justin: One of the original rats of NIMH, close friend of Nicodemus; key to helping the rats escape from NIMH
  • Mr. Ages: white mouse on the other side of the house, somewhat of a doctor.
  • Mrs. Fitzgibbon: The human matriarch on the farm where the rats and Mrs. Frisby live.
  • Jenner: A friend of Nicodemus, wise, intelligent, didn't agree with THE PLAN, broke away and started his own group, was hinted at to have died and got electricuatee with six other rats (his followers)
  • Jeremy: The crow, not that bright, but helpful and loyal.
  • Timothy: Youngest son of Mrs. Frisby; physically frail, it is Timothy's health that forces Mrs. Frisby to seek help from the Owl.
  • Dr. Schultz: One of the neurologists at NIMH that did the experiments
  • The shrew: One of Mrs Frisby's neighboors.
  • The owl: Makes the suggestion to Mrs. Frisby to go to the rats and ask their assistance, very wise.
  • Jonathan Frisby: Mrs Frisby's husband, deceased; one of the experimental mice of NIMH
  • Justin and Brutus: guards of the entrance of the rose bush
  • Arthur: One of the rats of NIMH.
  • Gerald: Nicodemus's brother
  • Nicodemus: Leader of the rats of NIMH.
  • Martin: Strong, darkhaired son of Mr. Fitzgibbon.
  • Mr. Fitzgibbon: The farmer who owned the land the rats and Mrs Frisby stayed on.
  • Julie: One of Dr. Schultz's assistant scientists at NIMH
  • Teresa: The oldest of Mrs Frisby's children.
  • Billy: Younger son of the Fitzgibbons.
  • Aavia: Add a description of this character.
  • George: One of Dr. Schultz's two assistant scientists at NIMH
  • Paul
  • Cynthia: Slim, pretty, light haired, light headed daughter of Mrs. Frisby.
  • Brutus: One of the rats of NIMH.
  • Dragon: Farmer Fitzgibbon's cat
  • Isabella: Student Rat, smitten with Justin.
  • Henderson
Show all 28 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “By teaching us how to read, they had taught us how to get away”

Organizations edit see section history

  • NIMH: National Institute of Mental Health

First Sentence edit see section history

Mrs. Frisby, the head of a family of field mice, lived in an underground house in the vegetable garden of a farmer named Mr. Fitzgibbon.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1:The Sickness of Timothy Frisby
2:Mr.Ages
3:The Crow and the Cat
4:Mr.Fitzgibbon's Plow
5:Five Days
6:A Favor for Jeremy
7:The Owl
8:"Go to the Rats"
9:In the Rosebush
10:Brutus
11:In the Library
12:Isabella
13:A Powder for Dragon
14:The Marketplace
15:In the Cage
16:The Maze
17:A Lesson in Reading
18:The Air Ducts
19:The Boniface Estate
20:The Main Hall
21:The Toy Tinker
22:Thorn Valley
23:Captured
24:Seven Dead Rats
25:Escape
26:At the Meeting
27:The Doctor
28:Epilogue

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 3 in NIMH. (standard series)

Followed by Racso and the Rats of NIMH.

Preceded by The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and followed by My Side of the Mountain.

This is book 591 of 986 in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. (authoritative list)

Preceded by Carpet People, and followed by Cucumber King.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Robert C. O'Brien (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Aladdin
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1971
ISBN: 978-0689710681
Page Count: 240

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3565.B74
  • Dewey: <Fic>

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Racso and the Rats of NIMH
  • R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of N I M H (BookFestival)

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • A Guide for Using Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH in the Classroom
  • Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh: A Study Guide
  • A Teaching Guide to Mrs. Frisby & Rats of Nimh (Discovering Literature)

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