This was an enjoyable read and a well developed children's story. Although I've never seen it, I can understand why Disney made a movie loosely based on the book. Full disclosure: I'm not generally a big fan of mice or rodents but I overlooked that in this case. The illustrations by Garth Williams were especially cute. ( )

One of my FAVORITES when I was young - have to go back ad read it again! ( )

I read this as a kid—actually, three or four in the series—and coming back to it as an adult, my opinion didn't really change much. It's a sweet and frothy little story, but only because of how it's told: it's quite "jolly hockey sticks," with a narrative voice that feels as pampered and at a remove as Miss Bianca herself. It's all a bit camp, making tiny, fussy details of the mice's world important, while at the same time downplaying the true danger. The stereotypical Big Bad Cat obstacle, when he shows up, speaks in velvety, George Sanders-esque tones, calling Miss Bianca "my dear little lady." It's that kind of book, and I remember it feeling that way even when I was eight years old.

All of this is slightly contrasted by Garth Williams' wonderfully textured drawings, which bring back the action and terror to the story—particularly with Mamelouk, the aforementioned Big Cat (who, in Williams' depiction, is little more than a giant mountain of fur with a face). Sharp has also chosen, oddly, to write about what is clearly a political prisoner who needs "rescuing"—but we never learn why, or which government is in charge of the Black Castle, or what relevance any of this has to the humans. It's just important—and we have to accept it—which feels more than a little underdeveloped and, again, removed. (I don't think it's any mistake that the sequel, Miss Bianca, focuses on a child that needs rescuing. Sharp clearly understood the weakness of that first book, and it's similarly no mistake that the second book forms most of the basis of the Disney film.)

However, I offer all of this up less as criticism than as simple analysis. The Rescuers was very pleasant to read and frequently delightful, and I would be happy to spend more time in the company of these characters. ( )

How did I miss reading this in my childhood? As I read every animal book I came across, I'm going to blame our public library for not having a copy.

It's a story of perseverance in the face of impossible odds, bravery and selflessness by characters that should be hiding in fear, and of humor in difficult situations. And Garth Williams illustrations are a plus! ( )

Well, it was written in 1959 so I guess that explains the parts where Miss Bianca has "domestic instincts" (as all women do) enough to find the pantry, and can't possibly be left alone as all she's got is her charm, and it's totally acceptable to think that beautiful women shouldn't have to do anything but be beautiful, just sit there and be pampered and beautiful. I mean, she's obviously very brave and caring, but she's still the lady and her two male companions (and she herself sometimes) act as though she always needs protecting and she can't do the stuff they do, like jumping through a grate...they're all mice, there's no other reason for her to not be able to also jump through the grate except that she's a lady, so the manly mice have to jump through first and then catch her in their handkerchief. Eva Gabor's Miss Bianca from the movie version was way cooler...though the dude mice around her were kind of gross and leery and "a woman on a mission? HOW NOVEL" she was completely confident in her own abilities and never apologized for being a lady.

Other than that, this book is pretty charming and lovely. ( )