Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Synopsis
Some extraordinary rats come to the aid of a mouse family in this Newbery Medal Award–winning classic by notable children’s author Robert C. O’Brien. 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.
  • Virtue
    VIRTUE
    Is this the way I want my child to think and act?
    Ratings are based on how much a book extols Islamic morality and espouses classical ideals.
  • Language
    LANGUAGE
    Is this the way I want my child to speak?
    Ratings are based on a book's vocabulary, cadence, and overall eloquence suited to age level.
  • Story
    STORY
    Does this story resonate with my child?
    Ratings are based on the integrity of plot structure, the depth of characters, the palpability of the book's conflict and resolution, and the lure of its setting.
  • Beauty
    BEAUTY
    Does this book develop my child's ability to recognize beauty?
    Ratings are based on aesthetics, linguistic beauty, poignancy, and how well a book embodies ihsan—harmonizing excellence.
VIEW FLAGS
Mindful Muslim Review

The true hero of this story is Mrs. Frisby, a mother on a quest to save her home and her son. Younger children will be enthralled by the story of the rats and their brave and loyal attempt to help rescue young Timothy from certain death. But the real beauty of the story is in the tension the author shows between a life built around technology and one lived with purpose. The rats want a meaningful existence, relying on themselves and their ability to use their knowledge to work hard and build a new life for themselves. Can they do so while letting go of the creature comforts they’ve come to rely on? What happens when a small group abandons the others to maintain their life of luxury and ease? The author’s story and lessons inspire us to look deeper into the purpose of our life. Is it to collect the good things of this life? Or can we be challenged to consider that a meaningful life comes only with the search for knowledge and wisdom? This book earns our Gold Star.

Mindful Muslim Reader may not necessarily recommend all books in this series/collection.

Ages: ,
Series:
Publishers: Aladdin Paperbacks, Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 1986
Page Count: 233
ISBN13: 9780689710681
*This review applies only to ISBN number noted above.

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