Bernard the Brave: A Miss Bianca Story

The Rescuers #8

by Margery Sharp

Bernard, secretary of the Mouse Prisoner's Aid Society, and his teddy bear ally Algernon attempt to rescue an orphan heiress who has been kidnapped by her guardian.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Animals, Classics, Young Adult, Middle Grade

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Margery Sharp was born Clara Margery Melita Sharp in Salisbury. She spent part of her childhood in Malta.

Sharp wrote 26 novels, 14 children's stories, 4 plays, 2 mysteries and many short stories. She is best known for her series of children's books about a little white mouse named Miss Bianca and her companion, Bernard. Two Disney films have been made based on them, called The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under.

In 1938, she married Major Geoffrey Castle, an aeronautical engineer.

Reviews

[AR]

This was really fun except for the rather creepy marriage of the just barely legal rescued girl and the who knows how old pilot :( Margery Sharp needed to stop putting in weird random romances like that and the one at the end of Miss Bianca in these books because it takes away from their charm considerably :/

[L Y N N]

Ah, well, now I have read the whole series and have been quite entertained! Just wish I had had these when I was a young child! But better late than never!

[Allyson]

This is the 8th in the series. My library system only has this and book 1 in the series, so that’s all we’ve read. But the kids enjoyed this one as much as the first. I was a bit dubious about Algernon being a stuffed animal but the kids completely accepted him from the beginning.

[Agnes]

2.5 stars- not enough Miss B!

[Rubi]

It seems I've been giving a lot of four star ratings lately haha
I would've given this a five, for it's one of my favorites in the series, since Bernard finally defended himself and proved it's not just Miss Bianca that does all the work.
It kinda breaks my heart how little credit Bernard gets, Miss Bianca is kinda annoying sometimes.
But anyway, the plot was decent and interesting. And for once it's Miss Bianca worrying about Bernard.
But....the whole hypnotizing thing didn't sit well with me. It kinda ruined the whole poppy tea thing, that did seem more plausible in keeping a young girl sedated. (Poor thing.)
And it seemed too lucky that a helicopter just happened by when Bernard needed it....he didn't really plan at all, which I KNOW he can do. It kinda disappointed me. I had been looking forward to what kind of plan he'd come up. He's come up with some great stuff in his other adventures.
But, it's still a great read for The Rescuer's fans, better than the last four before it, I think.
Thumbs up for Bernard! ;)

[livi schloneger]

it was a 3 1/2 star for me