This is one of the books that I had always wanted to read, but for some reason, I was never able to do more than pick up a copy. I had tried at least half a dozen times, but I never even got past the cover on most of those attempts. I don't know what was causing the block, but I'm glad that I got over it because this is a great book.
Unlike some of the earlier Newberry Medal books that have animals that live and act like people, the characters in this book seem genuine. I can believe in these animals.
Mrs. Frisby is the widow of Johnathan Frisby. She has a very nice winter home in a mostly buried cement block in a field owned by Mr. Fitzgibbons. Her youngest child, Timothy is sick, and the spring is coming soon. It is very likely that Timothy will not survive the cold trip to their summer home.
Mrs. Frisby obtains medicine from an old friend of her husband, Mr. Ages. On the way home, she is saves the life of a crow named Jeremy from Mr. Fitzgibbon's cat, Dragon. Jeremy suggests she visit a wise old owl for advice and even offers to take her there.
After seeing Timothy again, Mrs. Frisby works up the nerve to visit the owl in his home. It is a dangerous endeavor to visit a predator in its own home, but after the owl learns that her husband was Johnathn Frisby, he advises her to go and visit the rats that live near the rose bush and ask them to move her house a safe location.
Mrs. Frisby is more nervous about going to the rats since mice and rats are natural enemies, but since she doesn't have a better plan, she decides to risk that as well. Once again, the name of Johnathan Frisby sparks recognition and gains her aid she didn't really expect.
The rats formulate a plan to pull the block out of the ground using a pulley system and then use sticks to create a crude wheel system. Mrs. Frisby is amazed at the intelligence of the rats, and the world they have created under the rose bush.
This story has two stories to tell which adds to the interest. You see the rats were part of an experiment ran by an organization simply known as NIHM. They were seeing if they could increase the intelligence of mice and rats, but the experiment worked better than they expected, because the animals organized an escape. Only two mice managed to escape, Mr. Ages and Johnathan Frisby. The rats had several adventures and learned much before arriving at Mr. Fitzgibbon's farm where they have been stealing electricity to create their rat utopia.
The rats also have a plan to break free of dependence on stealing from the farm. They want to see if it is possible to create their own society that doesn't depend on being rats any more. They have grown beyond that lifestyle.
I won't tell you if the plans succeed, because you should read the book for yourself. Don Bluth made an animated movie in the 80's that is entertaining, although not completely faithful to the book. Both are worth a look.
So what can you do with this book in the classroom? Let's look at the differences between mice and rats. what about considering predators vs prey. You can also look at the technology that the rats use, and how it works.
This book has plenty of applications to the classroom, and would be a great fit for your students.
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