Newbery Medal Winner
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
by Robert C. O'Brien
Summary
A widowed field mouse named Mrs. Frisby seeks help to save her sick son and her home from the farmer's plow, leading her to a colony of extraordinary rats who escaped a laboratory at the National Institute of Mental Health. These rats gained heightened intelligence and the ability to read through scientific experiments, and they now plan to build a self sufficient society free of stealing from humans. The book blends animal fantasy with science fiction and raises questions about ethics, intelligence, and what it means to live independently.
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Historical Context & Significance
The novel inspired the 1982 animated film The Secret of NIMH and launched a series later continued by the author's daughter, Jane Leslie Conly.