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 contemporary middle-grade novel about two twelve-year-old cousins, Alice and Bee, whose families have been divided for years. When a family gathering brings them together, the girls quickly form a connection despite having grown up with very different experiences and beliefs. As they spend more time together, they begin to question why their relatives stopped speaking in the first place and become determined to understand the conflict that caused the rift.
Told through alternating viewpoints, the story explores how large social and political disagreements can affect families on a personal level. As Alice and Bee work to piece together the truth, they also learn to listen, challenge their assumptions, and think for themselves. The novel highlights themes of empathy, communication, and the importance of maintaining relationships even when people disagree. It offers readers a thoughtful look at how young people can navigate complicated family dynamics.
If there is concern over which topics are discussed, I would recommend pre-reading the book. As an adult reading this, I saw my own family scenarios on the page. I saw my own parenting style as well as mistakes I've made on the page. I saw my values represented as well as other traditions of thought in a new light. The story demonstrates how conflicts can occur even when no one is wrong. Another option could be reading it together with your child. I can see a lot of real, heartfelt conversation coming from the different situations in the story. Overall, the amount of love the cousins have for each other and their extended family is impressive and inspiring despite their challenges.
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