A group of God-playing doctors begin creating super-intelligent rats, with the hope of using them for some unknown purpose. But before the doctors are done with the experiments the rats form a plan and escape the laboratory. This plot sounds like it could began a horror or somewhat edgy plot, and in a few ways, it does. The first view the readers see of NIMH is a large brutalist building, and a white van appearing in the middle the night to capture rats. NIMH appears large, faceless, and apparently, merciless. However, soon the author introduces the NIMH characters in more detail and begins humanizing them-he even gives them names. The rats are, also, instead of being portrayed as horrible experiments gone wrong, are more like the characters in the borrowers-cute and smart. It is fun to watch the ways they live-harvesting light bulbs, living in a rose bush. However, it would be untrue to say there is no tingly parts.
-Chris, Grade 8, CSCL
