Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

About this book

A widowed field mouse must move her family before the farmer plows over her home, and turns for help to a colony of intelligent rats who escaped a laboratory. O'Brien's Newbery Medal novel is a 4th-6th grade staple with strong thematic depth.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 4–6. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on family and courage; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Common Core State Standards (ELA)

  • required·5th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 Newbery Medal
  • recommended·6th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 6-8 exemplar

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Common questions

What grade level is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–6, with a Lexile measure of 790L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH has a Lexile measure of 790L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

How long does it take to read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?

It takes about 4h 15m to read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (233 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 255 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH hard to read for 4th grade?

At 790L, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

What curricula assign Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.