Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Recommended. Age: 9+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Mrs. Frisby is a mouse mother whose son is very sick, and the farmer's plow is about to crush their home. She asks for help from a colony of super-smart rats who escaped from a science lab. In return she bravely helps them, and the rats decide to stop stealing and live by honest work. A gripping, good-hearted story with some scary moments and deaths. Age 9, set by Common Sense Media's 9+ rating and the publisher's 9-12 range.
For parents
Age 9, set by Common Sense Media's 9+ rating and the publisher's 9-12 range (Lumen's read-alone age is also 9). Read it aloud from 7. Mrs. Frisby's husband was killed by a cat, rats die by electrocution and poison gas, and the rats were captured for lab experiments. Talk about the rats' big decision: they had brains and power, but they chose to stop stealing and work honestly. Ask: why is it not enough to be clever? Praise Mrs. Frisby's courage for her children. Note that the 1982 film adds a magical amulet that is not in the book.