About the Author

Jane Leslie Conly's first novel, Rasco and the Rats of NIMH, an ALA Booklist Children's Editors Choice, and its sequel, R-T, Margaret and the Rats of NIMH, were included on a multitude of state library masterlists. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed Trout Summer (an ALA Notable Children's Book and Best Book for Young Adults) and the Newbery Honor Book Crazy Lady! She lives in Baltimore, MD.

Reviews

"The book is cleverly and gracefully built upon both the philosophy of self-sufficiency and the details of the plot of its predecessor.... An outstanding success."--"The Horn Book"Conly does a superb job of imbuing her animals withthe originality of character and wry wit they displayedin the earlier book." --"ALA Booklist"Short, fast-pace chapters make this an excellent classroom read-aloud." --" Bulletin of the Center for Children's' Books

Taking up the tale where her father Robert C. O'Brien ended Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Conly does full justice to his Newbery-winning novel. So does Lubin, depicting the endearing company that now includes a cheeky little rat named Rasco. Growing up in the city, Rasco has heard about the intelligent NIMH escapees from his father, Jenner. Leaving home, the boy is looking for the legendary rats who, he hopes, will help him to become educated and valorous. Rasco meets the gentle field mouse Timothy Frisby, on his way to the rats' school in the valley. The long journey cements their friendship as they rescue each other from perils before arriving at the peaceful colony. As time passes, the members get news of the worst possible danger, when Mrs. Frisby flies in on the wings of the crow Jeremy. Human beings, the widow warns, are about to flood the river, wiping out the rats' settlement. Rasco's learning is interrupted by the need to prove his heroism. He does that, rejoined by his father, who lends a self-sacrificing hand to his old comrades. The story is tense, funny and poignant in the classic tradition. (9-12)