An interesting fact about this, seemingly childish, novel is that it was intended as commentary on the abuse of lab animals. He really believed that lab rats could be that intelligent. At least this is how my mom introduced it to me. Seeing as Robert C. O'Brien is my cousin, and she knew him, I trusted her. This makes Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH fit well with O'Brien's other works, which were largely social commentary on what continue to be 'hot' topics.