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Review: Rabbit Rabbit

By Suzanne
Dori Hillestad Butler and Sunshine Bacon
New York : Holiday House, 2025. Fiction. 328 pgs.

Rabbit Rabbit by Dori Hillestad Butler and Sunshine Bacon is a thoughtful contemporary novel for middle-grade readers. The story follows twelve-year-old cousins Alice and Bee, whose families have been estranged for years. When a family gathering finally brings them together, the girls quickly bond despite growing up with very different experiences and viewpoints. Their curiosity about the family divide leads them to investigate what caused the conflict in the first place.

This book may be especially meaningful for a mature reader who is beginning to notice and think about the different opinions adults hold. The story touches on family disagreements, beliefs, and communication in ways that reflect conversations many families have experienced in recent years. Because it explores social, religious, and political differences, the book can provide a thoughtful starting point for discussion at home. Butler and Bacon ultimately emphasize empathy, listening, and understanding as important tools for maintaining relationships—even when people strongly disagree.

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