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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Anthropomorphic animals help one another when an urgent need to move house arises.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My opinion of this book is completely marred by the movie version I watched growing up. Certain liberties were made with the ending that made it more happy, as well as the addition of the cool, magical amulet (also not featured in the book). So, I didn’t enjoy this story as I could have. But, I can acknowledge that the premise - super intelligent rodents and where they got that intelligence from - is a fascinating and clever narrative. I have to ask, though, why was Ms. Frisby so smart if she were just a regular mouse?
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was surprised that most of this book was written as a flashback, which is a bummer.
Rated G
Rated G
I had a vague remembrance of my sons watching "The Secret of NIMH" animated movie, but I don't think I ever watched it with them. When the audiobook of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was available from the library, I decided it was time for me to listen. This isn't one of those books I read or loved as a child, but it was a wonderful story to read as an adult. Mrs. Frisby is a widowed mouse who is determined to get help moving her family of young mice before their home gets crushed when Farmer Fitzgibbon plows the garden where they live. Young Timothy is sick with pneumonia and can't be moved, so Mrs. Frisby must gather the courage to speak to the owl for advice. When the owl advises that she speak to the rats that live under the rosebush, things really get interesting. The rats themselves have a rather spectacular story, but I really admired the courage, determination, persistence, and love that Mrs. Frisby showed.
This book has been on my TBR for over 10 years, so I made it a point to actually get it read in 2023. I had watched the movie version many times when I was younger, so knew the general premise of the book, but there were still enough things that were different to keep me moderately entertained. The book is a bit slow, the writing a bit old-fashioned, but all in all this is a tale of adventure, with some sci-fi elements thrown in regarding the rats and their medical history, and I'm glad to have finally read it. Now I need to rewatch the film to see how well they actually compare.
2018 Review:
Weirdly, I have fewer issues with this one as time goes on. It's a smart, exciting little book that has aged surprisingly well. I do wish we got to know the characters a little better but I had no issues connecting to them.
2011 Review:
This was my favorite book as a child. I read it a thousand times and I was ridiculously in love with Justin. I always loved it because of the little twists and turns and the simple but smart way it was written.
I haven’t read it in five years or more, however, so it was interesting going back to it for the first time in so long. First of all, it used to take me days to read the entire book. This time it took me two hours.
I think the pace I read it at indicates how entertaining the book can be for adults, or little girls who loved the book and only grew up a bit, anyway.
It’s still a smart little book. All of the little pieces of the puzzle are laid out so well and nothing is too easy or too sugar-coated. The rats in the book do a good job to put an end to their bad reputation in the human world, without being completely ridiculous.
The characters in this book are genuinely charming and lovable.
But, now, I have a few problems with it. Because it’s meant for children, perhaps, the book is too shallow and short. I wanted so much more depth in it. I wanted to know so much more about all of these characters and I wanted them to grow and develop. However, the only character who seems to change at all is Mrs. Frisby herself.
The plot is well done, but it lacks some little intricacies and details I would’ve liked. It was fascinating and I found myself wanting to know more about things.
And although I appreciate books with open endings, that let you mull over things and figure out and draw conclusions, the way this book ends really hurts me a little bit. And I can remember being devastated over it as a child.
I’m very interested in re-reading the two sequels that I know exist (that I don’t remember the plots to at all) and seeing what I think about them.
Weirdly, I have fewer issues with this one as time goes on. It's a smart, exciting little book that has aged surprisingly well. I do wish we got to know the characters a little better but I had no issues connecting to them.
2011 Review:
This was my favorite book as a child. I read it a thousand times and I was ridiculously in love with Justin. I always loved it because of the little twists and turns and the simple but smart way it was written.
I haven’t read it in five years or more, however, so it was interesting going back to it for the first time in so long. First of all, it used to take me days to read the entire book. This time it took me two hours.
I think the pace I read it at indicates how entertaining the book can be for adults, or little girls who loved the book and only grew up a bit, anyway.
It’s still a smart little book. All of the little pieces of the puzzle are laid out so well and nothing is too easy or too sugar-coated. The rats in the book do a good job to put an end to their bad reputation in the human world, without being completely ridiculous.
The characters in this book are genuinely charming and lovable.
But, now, I have a few problems with it. Because it’s meant for children, perhaps, the book is too shallow and short. I wanted so much more depth in it. I wanted to know so much more about all of these characters and I wanted them to grow and develop. However, the only character who seems to change at all is Mrs. Frisby herself.
The plot is well done, but it lacks some little intricacies and details I would’ve liked. It was fascinating and I found myself wanting to know more about things.
And although I appreciate books with open endings, that let you mull over things and figure out and draw conclusions, the way this book ends really hurts me a little bit. And I can remember being devastated over it as a child.
I’m very interested in re-reading the two sequels that I know exist (that I don’t remember the plots to at all) and seeing what I think about them.