The Secret of NIMH
Reviewed by: Zoey Zaether


     The streets were dark, and the rats were scuttling, looking for food. Being chased by humans, they were captured into little cages and brought to a gigantic lab with the initials N.I.M.H. They were brought into a little room to get medication. The rats got shots to make them learn how to read. They escaped from NIMH with the help of a  young field mouse named Johnathan Frisby. This fantastic book called The Secret of NIMH was written by Robert C O’Brien. 

     This story takes place under the rosebush at the Fizzgibbon’s farm. The space under this rosebush is HUGE! There are over 1,000 rats under there. Some escaped from NIMH, and some came from other places. It has a library full of books, so the rats can read. This place is very mysterious.  It’s hidden under a rosebush so it won’t be noticed. It has several passageways. The rats go out every night to get things for the place. It is also deluxe. It stores fresh water for the rats to drink. It has great electricity so the rats know where to go. It also has a huge fan to keep them nice and cool. Mrs. Frisby is known there.

     Mrs. Frisby is the main character of the story. She has four young children and lives in a lovely cinderblock She is a widow. She has bark-colored hair, and she wears a blood-red shawl. She is very brave for a woman mouse. She is brave enough to put the powder in Dragon's (the cat's) food. She is brave to go to Mr. Ages house alone. She is also brave to go to the rat hole alone. Mrs. Frisby is very caring. She cares for Timmothy and wants him to get better with the disease he has. She cares for Jeremy the bird, because he is very clumsy. She also cares for Mr. Ages because he is very old himself. Mrs. Frisby is also very trustworthy. She trusts her children because they have to stay on their own when Mrs. Frisby has to go somewhere. She trusts the owl because he helped her and didn't eat her. She also trusts the rats because they helped her. Mrs. Frisby has a bigger problem.

     The problem of the story is moving Mrs. Frisby's house without Mr. Fizzgibbon crushing it. The first rising event of the story is Mrs. Frisby meets Jeremy. The second rising event of the story is Mrs. Frisby meets the rats under the rosebush. The third rising event of the story is the rats and Mrs. Frisby have to move. The theme of the story is to never give up. Mrs. Frisby learned that helping others is like helping yourself. 
     My overall impression of the story is surprised because things kept jumping out of nowhere. The author kept good details on everything. I think he doesn't need to change anything. I've never read such a fantastic book like this. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read it because it is such a great animal fantasy book.