“Emmy was the sort of child who, if she had been born in a medieval village, would have been considered an omen.”
— Introduction to Emmy's unusual nature and her quiet, observant personality.
Archivist's Choice
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat
Lynne Jonell (2007)
Genre
Fantasy / Children's / Mystery / Young Adult
Reading Time
280 min
Key Themes
See below
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When a good girl named Emmy befriends a mischievous, talking, and shrinking rat, she uncovers the truth behind her strict nanny and the rat's predicament.
Synopsis
Emmy, a well-behaved girl under her nanny Miss Barmy's strict care, finds friendship with a pet rat. When the rat begins to shrink, Emmy suspects Miss Barmy's odd behavior and strange concoctions. Emmy finds a hidden diary, which reveals Miss Barmy is a disgruntled scientist named Dr. Mildred Barmy. Dr. Barmy, with her accomplice Mr. Cachaz, uses a shrinking potion to steal jewels. The rat, actually a transformed human boy named Charlie, was a victim of their potion and is shrinking back to his original size. Emmy, aware of the danger, must find the antidote to save Charlie and expose Miss Barmy. She searches, confronts Miss Barmy and Mr. Cachaz, and, with Charlie's help, escapes. In a final showdown, Emmy gives Charlie the antidote, returning him to human form. With Miss Barmy and Mr. Cachaz captured, Emmy's life changes, as she gains a true friend in Charlie and a loving new family.
Reading time
280 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Whimsical, Mysterious, Adventurous, Humorous, Heartwarming
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy whimsical mysteries with a touch of magic, quirky characters, and a heartwarming message about friendship.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer gritty realism or stories without fantastical elements and talking animals.
Plot Summary
A Life of Strict Rules and a Secret Friend
Emmy, an eight-year-old girl, lives in a large, isolated San Francisco house. Her nanny, Miss Barmy, dictates her life with strict chores, bland food, and solitude. Emmy's wealthy, often absent parents remain unaware. Emmy's only companion is a large, intelligent rat she finds in her room. She names him Rat and secretly feeds him, finding comfort in his wildness. This secret friendship is the center of her otherwise monotonous days, as she longs for a different life.
Rat's Peculiar Behavior and Emmy's Growing Suspicion
One day, Emmy notices Rat has shrunk. This continues over several days. At the same time, Rat acts more human-like, understanding her words and communicating through gestures and squeaks. He seems to be trying to tell her something. Emmy senses a mystery. Her attempts to discuss Rat's shrinking with Miss Barmy are met with dismissal and threats. This reinforces Emmy's isolation and her belief that she must solve this puzzle alone. She starts watching Miss Barmy more closely, noticing her strange behavior and secret meetings.
The Discovery of the Diary
Because of Rat's condition and her nanny's suspicious actions, Emmy explores hidden corners of her house. She finds a secret compartment with an old diary belonging to her great-grandmother, Dr. Amelia Nim. The diary details Dr. Nim's research into a shrinking potion from a rare plant and her experiments on animals, including a rat. The entries also hint at a family secret and a betrayal, suggesting the potion has a dark history and dangers.
The Truth About Miss Barmy and the Potion
Through the diary, Emmy learns that Miss Barmy is Agatha Barmy, Dr. Nim's disgruntled former assistant. Agatha was obsessed with the shrinking potion, believing it held power and wealth. She stole Dr. Nim's research and now tries to recreate the potion, using Emmy's house as her base. Emmy realizes Rat's shrinking is a direct result of Miss Barmy's experiments, likely using him as a test subject. This shows Miss Barmy as a dangerous person, threatening Rat and possibly Emmy.
Rat's Transformation and Desperate Measures
Rat continues to shrink until he is the size of a human finger, but then he begins to grow. As he grows, his intelligence and communication abilities increase. He eventually reveals, through gestures and a few whispered words, that he is not just a rat, but a person accidentally shrunk by Dr. Nim's original potion. He explains he has been trapped in a rat's body for decades and needs an antidote to fully reverse the shrinking. This raises the stakes, as Emmy realizes she is saving a human life.
The Search for the Antidote
With Rat's true identity revealed, Emmy and the now-speaking Rat (who identifies himself as a former colleague of Dr. Nim) search for the antidote. The diary provides clues, leading them through hidden passages and forgotten rooms of the mansion. Miss Barmy, aware Emmy is uncovering her secrets, becomes more aggressive, setting traps and trying to stop them. The search becomes a race against time, as Rat's partial transformation is unstable, and the antidote is the only way to restore him permanently.
Confrontation and Capture
Miss Barmy, having anticipated Emmy's actions, manages to corner and capture both Emmy and Rat. She reveals her full plan: to perfect the shrinking potion and sell it to the highest bidder for power and wealth. She intends to use Emmy's house and Dr. Nim's remaining research to do this. Miss Barmy shows no remorse for her actions or for the distress she caused Emmy. Trapped, Emmy and Rat realize they are in danger and must escape before Miss Barmy completes her scheme.
The Escape and the Final Showdown
Using their combined intelligence and Emmy's bravery, they escape from Miss Barmy. This leads to a frantic chase through the house, ending in a confrontation. Emmy, with knowledge from the diary, challenges Miss Barmy and exposes her treachery. The showdown involves a struggle for the remaining potion and antidote, with Rat's fate hanging in the balance. The tension is high as Emmy must outwit her cunning nanny.
The Antidote and Rat's Return
In a climactic moment, Emmy gives Rat the antidote. The effect is immediate: Rat quickly transforms back into his original human form, a man named Mr. J.L. Smudge. This is a moment of relief and joy for Emmy, marking the successful end of her journey. Mr. Smudge, now fully restored, is grateful and surprised to be human again after decades as a rat. This event shows good triumphing over evil and the power of friendship.
The Aftermath and a New Beginning
With Miss Barmy's scheme exposed, authorities apprehend her, ending her control over Emmy. Emmy's parents, finally told the truth by Mr. Smudge, are horrified by Miss Barmy's actions and Emmy's neglect. They promise to be more present parents. Mr. Smudge, grateful to Emmy, becomes a trusted friend and mentor, helping her navigate her new life. Emmy, no longer controlled by Miss Barmy, begins a normal, happy childhood, filled with love, freedom, and genuine connection. The house, once a prison, becomes a home.
Principal Figures
Emmy
The Protagonist
Emmy transforms from a docile, repressed child into a courageous, independent problem-solver who saves a life and reclaims her own.
Rat / Mr. J.L. Smudge
The Supporting/Protagonist
Mr. Smudge goes from a desperate, shrinking rat to a fully restored human, finally free from his decades-long curse.
Miss Barmy / Agatha Barmy
The Antagonist
Miss Barmy's arc is one of escalating villainy, culminating in her defeat and exposure.
Dr. Amelia Nim
The Mentioned/Supporting
Though deceased, Dr. Nim's legacy is redeemed as her research, intended for good, is used to correct her past mistake.
Emmy's Parents
The Supporting
They evolve from neglectful figures to engaged and loving parents, realizing the error of their ways.
Themes & Insights
The Power of Friendship and Loyalty
The bond between Emmy and Rat is the emotional center of the story. Despite their initial species difference, Emmy's loyalty to Rat drives her to defy Miss Barmy and solve a complex mystery. Rat trusts Emmy, relying on her bravery and intelligence. Their friendship shows how true connection can overcome isolation and fear, empowering people to do extraordinary things. This theme is clear when Emmy risks her safety for Rat's antidote, and when Rat, even small, tries to guide and protect Emmy.
“He was not good at all, but he was hers.”
Childhood Neglect and Resilience
Emmy's life under Miss Barmy is a clear picture of childhood neglect, despite her parents' wealth. She is isolated, controlled, and emotionally deprived. However, Emmy's resilience shows as she copes, finds comfort in her imagination and her secret friend, and takes charge of her own fate. Her ability to handle challenges and keep her moral compass despite her difficult situation shows the strength of a child determined to find happiness and justice.
“She was a good girl. At least she tried very hard to be good.”
The Dangers of Unchecked Scientific Ambition
The shrinking potion, from Dr. Nim's research, is a warning about the ethics of scientific discovery. Dr. Nim's intentions were not malicious, but her accidental shrinking of Mr. Smudge and Miss Barmy's attempts to exploit the potion show the potential for harm when scientific ambition lacks caution and morality. Miss Barmy's villainy comes from her desire to control and profit from this powerful discovery, showing the corrupting influence of unchecked power.
“The diary was full of wonderful, terrifying things.”
The Search for Identity and Belonging
Both Emmy and Mr. Smudge search to reclaim their true identities and find their place. Emmy, stifled by Miss Barmy, wants to be her true self, not just the 'good girl' she pretends to be. Mr. Smudge, trapped in a rat's body, desperately wants to return to his human form and reclaim his life. Their shared quest for authenticity and belonging forms a strong story arc, ending with both characters finding freedom and acceptance. Emmy finds a loving home, and Mr. Smudge regains his humanity.
“He was a man, she realized, a man trapped in a rat's body.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Shrinking Potion
A magical scientific concoction that alters size.
The shrinking potion is the central magical element and catalyst for the entire plot. Developed by Dr. Amelia Nim, it is initially responsible for Mr. Smudge's transformation into a rat and later becomes the object of Miss Barmy's obsession. Its properties drive the mystery, the conflict, and the race for the antidote. It functions as both a scientific marvel and a source of great danger, representing the power and peril of scientific discovery.
Dr. Nim's Diary
A hidden journal containing crucial clues and exposition.
The diary of Dr. Amelia Nim serves as the primary expositional device. Discovered by Emmy, it provides the backstory of the shrinking potion, the identity of Mr. Smudge, and the true nature of Miss Barmy. It functions as Emmy's guide and mentor, allowing her to piece together the mystery and understand the stakes. Without the diary, Emmy would be unable to comprehend the events unfolding around her, making it indispensable to the plot's progression.
The Hidden Passages and Secret Rooms
Concealed architectural features of Emmy's house.
The large, old house Emmy lives in is filled with hidden passages, secret rooms, and forgotten compartments. These architectural features serve multiple functions: they are where Emmy discovers Dr. Nim's diary, where Miss Barmy conducts her experiments, and where much of the cat-and-mouse chase between Emmy, Rat, and Miss Barmy takes place. They create a sense of mystery and adventure, enhancing the suspense and providing practical locations for the unfolding drama and escapes.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“The world, Emmy had learned, was full of things that made perfect sense if you knew what they were, and no sense at all if you didn't.”
— Emmy's internal reflection on understanding the world around her, especially the strange occurrences.
“There was a fine line, Emmy knew, between being polite and being invisible.”
— Emmy's struggle with her quiet nature and being overlooked by adults.
“It was a scientific fact, Emmy thought, that the more ridiculous something was, the more likely it was to be true.”
— Emmy's internal thought process when confronted with the incredible shrinking rat.
“Mrs. Scherbatsky had a voice like sandpaper and a smile like a shark.”
— Description of the formidable and unpleasant governess, Mrs. Scherbatsky.
“The rat wasn't just shrinking; it was becoming more... rat-like. More essentially rat.”
— Emmy observing the changes in the shrinking rat, beyond just its size.
“Sometimes, when you're looking for something, it helps to know what it isn't.”
— A piece of advice given to Emmy as she tries to solve the mystery.
“Secrets, like rats, had a way of multiplying in the dark.”
— Emmy's realization about the escalating nature of the secrets she uncovers.
“Being small didn't mean you couldn't be important. Sometimes it meant you could see things others missed.”
— Emmy's reflection on her own size and the rat's, and the advantages it brings.
“The truth, Emmy discovered, was often much stranger than any lie you could invent.”
— Emmy's internal thought as she uncovers the bizarre reality of her situation.
“Even the most ordinary things could be extraordinary if you looked at them the right way.”
— Emmy's evolving perspective on the world around her, finding wonder in the mundane.
“Fear was a funny thing. It could make you run, or it could make you think.”
— Emmy's contemplation of how fear affects her actions and her problem-solving.
“A good plan, Emmy knew, was like a good piece of cheese: full of holes, but still delicious.”
— Emmy's humorous internal thought about the imperfect but effective plans she devises.
“Sometimes, the smallest creature can make the biggest difference.”
— A thematic reflection on the role of the shrinking rat and Emmy's own quiet strength.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
The story centers on Emmy, an exceptionally well-behaved girl who discovers her pet rat, Mrs. Norris, is mysteriously shrinking. This bizarre phenomenon leads her to uncover secrets about her absent parents, her strict nanny Miss Barmy, and the peculiar nature of her own home life, propelling her into an unexpected adventure.
