An engaging adventure that expertly wraps heavy themes in a simple bunny tale.
Young’s middle-grade novel chronicles friendship and peril among a group of rabbits.
Harrow and Arty are hares and the newest patrollers for the Eastside Warren. Scrounging for food, they discover a fence has been put around the last available garden—meaning their warren is doomed unless they can find a way to break through it. They appeal to Hawkseer, known as a wise but extremely intimidating problem solver, who instructs them to seek out the beaver Samuel Strongtooth for help. The hare council appoints Harrow and Arty to embark on the dangerous mission to find Samuel alongside patrol leader Ruther’s daughter, Sunny, an aggressive and shockingly violent bully who regularly terrorizes the two newbie patrollers. Warned to avoid the inner city—a dangerous place populated by exiled rabbits, criminal rabbit gangs, and rabbits who have been captured and enslaved—the unlikely trio heads off on an adventure that will test their bravery and preconceived notions about each other and the world around them. The book’s portrayal of verbal abuse and physical fighting will likely remind readers of that other novel about bunnies resorting to violence: Watership Down. The parallels are strong; Young’s novel also explores darker themes through the use of traditionally “innocent” characters, as when gang leader Marcus One Ear starves his helpless subordinate: “Little babies that get left out by themselves are no good. So you need to be ever so grateful that I rescued ya. Why...your parents couldn’t even be bothered to give you a name. That’s why I call you No-Name. No name for a no-good little runt like you.” These characters, however, are very much their own. The multilayered portrayal of animal society, as well as the beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Popowich that open each chapter, makes this an ideal book to spark conversation between children and adults about the larger world.
An engaging adventure that expertly wraps heavy themes in a simple bunny tale.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 9781039163744
Page Count: 148
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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